Abandon Earth or Face Extinction, Stephen Hawking Warns -- Again

[SMR 368]

Interesting to think about, but I think Hawking is a little conceited to refer to himself as a scientist. He's a philosopher, in the classic sense. He isn't basing this on any sort of facts. This is Steven Hawking sitting in his room and thinking about things and spouting off about it.

Because his name is Steven Hawking, people listen to him. But he still has no evidence and it's not as if he can't make mistakes.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm readying my ship for the planet Hollywood if anyone wants to hop along.

[Peikko 1,575]

Interesting to think about, but I think Hawking is a little conceited to refer to himself as a scientist. He's a philosopher, in the classic sense. He isn't basing this on any sort of facts. This is Steven Hawking sitting in his room and thinking about things and spouting off about it.

Because his name is Steven Hawking, people listen to him. But he still has no evidence and it's not as if he can't make mistakes.

In this instance he may be philosophising, but that doesn't mean he is not a scientist, he's a theoretical physicist and cosmologist and his mathematical models have shown him that life on earth is statistically untenable for various very sound reasons and should mankind wish to continue to exist we would do well to put effort into realizing space travel and look for alternate habitats. That's not stupidity, that's rational thinking on an epic scale.

[웃 910]

Or we can all live a luxurious life in Australia paradise.

[Peikko 1,575]

Personally, I think they should send all the warrior classes out into space to conquer new worlds

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

Personally, I think they should send all the warrior classes out into space to conquer new worlds

oh noes guns in space!

[HAL 9000 96]

In this instance he may be philosophising, but that doesn't mean he is not a scientist, he's a theoretical physicist and cosmologist and his mathematical models have shown him that life on earth is statistically untenable for various very sound reasons and should mankind wish to continue to exist we would do well to put effort into realizing space travel and look for alternate habitats. That's not stupidity, that's rational thinking on an epic scale.

Or rational thinking on a time scale that I think is inevitable anyway.

His science is not bad either. I did snort how SMR feels the authority to classify a scientist as not one, but hey... this is VJ after all.

I better begin my course on expert handstanding so I can also judge.

[SMR 368]

In this instance he may be philosophising, but that doesn't mean he is not a scientist, he's a theoretical physicist and cosmologist and his mathematical models have shown him that life on earth is statistically untenable for various very sound reasons and should mankind wish to continue to exist we would do well to put effort into realizing space travel and look for alternate habitats. That's not stupidity, that's rational thinking on an epic scale.

Wow, you really like putting words in my mouth. I never used the word stupid or even implied it. All I said is that it isn't science. Science is based on experimental data of which his has none. Mathematical models can be powerful but they are only as good as the assumptions that go into them.

[HAL 9000 96]

but I think Hawking is a little conceited to refer to himself as a scientist. He's a philosopher, in the classic sense.

Improper word choice then?

[Peikko 1,575]

Wow, you really like putting words in my mouth. I never used the word stupid or even implied it. All I said is that it isn't science. Science is based on experimental data of which his has none. Mathematical models can be powerful but they are only as good as the assumptions that go into them.

No, you didn't say stupid, you said he is conceited to call himself a scientist even though quite blatantly he is one, and one who has rightly been placed at the forefront of thinking in his areas of expertise at that. You also said that you could not see any evidence for his statements and that he could be wrong. His evidence is mathematical - and he isn't wrong - but statistical predictions are % liklihoods not statements of what will happen. It helps if you understand the concepts, just a little hint.

Edited August 16, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

even i've known for decades that eventually, our sun will turn into a red giant.

The Sun does not have enough mass to explode as a supernova. Instead, in about 5 billion years, it will enter a red giant phase, its outer layers expanding as the hydrogen fuel in the core is consumed and the core contracts and heats up. Helium fusion will begin when the core temperature reaches around 100,000,000 K and will produce carbon, entering the asymptotic giant branch phase.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun

so yeah, the world will end - hawking is right. it's just a matter of time and whether nature does it, or we do it.

[Peikko 1,575]

I should have said statistical analysis is not predictive in nature, it is a % likelihood of a given scenario occurring or not occurring based on current data.

[Captain Oates 911]

even i've known for decades that eventually, our sun will turn into a red giant.

The Sun does not have enough mass to explode as a supernova. Instead, in about 5 billion years, it will enter a red giant phase, its outer layers expanding as the hydrogen fuel in the core is consumed and the core contracts and heats up. Helium fusion will begin when the core temperature reaches around 100,000,000 K and will produce carbon, entering the asymptotic giant branch phase.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun

so yeah, the world will end - hawking is right. it's just a matter of time and whether nature does it, or we do it.

don't buy no green bananas then....

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

don't buy no green bananas then....

it sure makes social security obsolete.

[Captain Oates 911]

In 5 billion years, human beings will all look like Larry King - even at birth

I therefore have no incentive to suggest ways to help them survive