大学英语精读5电子教案U7

BR_MAIN1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading1.BackgroundInformation2.AbouttheSolarSystem3.GroupDiscussionBR_MAIN2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading1.LeonJaroff2.Galileo3.RogerPenrose4.JamesHartle5.StephenHawking6.LucasianProfessorofMathematics7.ALS—AmyotrophicLateralSclerosisBR_MAIN3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading1.Warm-upQuiz2.DwarfPlanets3.BlackHoles4.BigBangBeforeReading_1.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingLeonJaroff

LeonJaroffwasthefoundingmanagingeditorofDiscover,thenewsmagazineofscience,andwasalongtimecorrespondent,writerandeditorforTimeandLife.HehadwrittenmanyfamousstoriessuchasScienceUnder

Siege,SecretsofHeredity,GreatBallofFire(TheSun),Viruses,AllergiesandLifeonMars.What’smore,hisstoriesonblackholesandRichardLeakeywonfirstprizeandhonorablemention,respectively,fromAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScienceforthebestsciencestoriesin1978.A1975coverstoryonthebrainanda1988coverstoryonviruseswontopjournalismawardsfromtheAmericanMedicalAssociation.His1991coverstoryAllergieswonthetopawardfromtheAmericanCollegeofAllergyandImmunology.BeforeReading_2.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingGalileoGalileowasagreatItalianscientistwhohelpedunlockmanysecretsofastronomyandnaturalmotion.Galileo’sachievementsinclude:buildingthefirsthigh-poweredastronomicaltelescope;inventingahorse-poweredpumptoraisewater;showingthatthevelocitiesoffallingbodiesarenotproportionaltotheirweights;describingthetrueparabolicpathsofcannonballsandotherprojectiles;comingupwiththeideasbehindNewton’slawsofmotion;andconfirmingtheCopernicantheoryofthesolarsystem.Becausehebelievedthattheplanetsrevolvedaroundthesun,andnottheEarth,GalileowasdenouncedasahereticbytheChurchinRome.HefacedtheInquisitionandwasforcedtorenouncethosebeliefspublicly,thoughlaterresearch,ofcourse,provedhimtobecorrect.BeforeReading_2.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading1.WhatwasGalileo’sgreatestachievementtohumanbeings?Hehelpedunlockmanysecretsofastronomyandnaturalmotion.2.WhywasGalileopunishedbytheChurchinRome?Becausehebelievedthattheplanetsrevolvedaroundthesun.BeforeReading_2.3RogerPenroseBeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingRogerPenroseisanEnglishmathematicalphysicistandEmeritusRouseBallProfessorofMathematicsattheMathematicalInstitute,UniversityofOxfordandEmeritusFellowofWadhamCollege.Heishighlyregardedforhisworkinmathematicalphysics,inparticularhiscontributionstogeneralrelativityandcosmology.Heisalsoarecreationalmathematicianandphilosopher.

RogerPenroseiswell-knownfor:1.His1974discoveryofPenrosetilings,whichareformedfromtwotilesthatcanonlytiletheplaneperiodically.2.Anothernoteworthycontributionishis1971inventionofspinnetworks,whichlatercametoformthegeometryofspacetimeinloopquantumgravity.BeforeReading_2.3.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.3.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.3.3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.3.4BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.3.5BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.4BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingJamesHartleJamesB.HartleisanAmericanphysicistandprofessorofphysicsattheUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara(UCSB)since1966.Heisknownforhisworkingeneralrelativity,astrophysics,andinterpretationofquantummechanics.TogetherwithStephenHawking,heproposedtheHartle-HawkingwavefunctionoftheUniverse—aspecificsolutiontotheWheeler-DeWittequationmeanttoexplaintheinitialconditionsoftheBigBangcosmology.BeforeReading_2.4.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.4.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.4.3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.5BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingStephenHawkingStephenHawkingisconsideredtheworld’sforemostlivingtheoreticalphysicist.He’sanexpertonblackholeswhosestatedintentionistounifyquantummechanicswithEinstein’sgeneraltheoryofrelativity,formingasingletheorytoexplaintheorigin(andend)oftheuniverse.Hawking,aprofessorofmathematicsatCambridgeUniversity,istheauthorofthebest-sellingbookABriefHistoryofTimeandsomethingofacelebrity:HawkinghassufferedfromALS(amyotrophiclateralsclerosis,alsocalledLouGehrig’sdisease)sincehewasayoungmanandisconfinedtoawheelchair.In1979HawkingtookthepostofLucasianProfessorofMathematicsatCambridge.AccordingtoHawking’sownsite,“Thechairwasfoundedin1663withmoneyleftinthewilloftheReverendHenryLucas,whohadbeentheMemberofParliamentfortheUniversity.ItwasfirstheldbyIsaacBarrow,andthenin1663byIsaacNewton.”BeforeReading_2.5.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.5.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.5.3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.5.4BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.5.5BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.6BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingLucasianProfessorofMathematicsFillintheblankswiththeexactwordsorphrasesyouhaveheard.Directions:LucasianProfessoristheofamathematicalprofessorshipatCambridgeUniversity.Thepostwasfoundedin1663byHenryLucas,whowasCambridgeUniversity’sMemberoffrom1639to1640,andwasholder_____Parliament_____________officially________establishedbyKingCharlesIIonJanuary18,1664.Lucas,inhiswill,hislibraryof4,000volumestotheuniversityandleftinstructionfortheoflandwhoseyieldingwouldprovide£100ayearforthefoundingofaprofessorship.OneoftherequirementsinLucas’swillwasthattheholderoftheprofessorshipshouldnotbeactiveintheChurch.IsaacNewtonwouldlaterKingCharlesIIthatthisrequirementtakingholyorders,whichwasforFellowsoftheUniversityatthattime(savesomeexemptFellowships).TheKingsupportedNewtonandexcusedallholdersoftheprofessorship,inbequeathed___________purchase_________appealto_______excusedhimfrom______________compulsory__________perpetuity________therequirementtotakeholyorders.,fromThecurrentLucasianProfessorofMathematicsistheoreticalphysicistStephenHawking.Hewasappointedin1980.renowned________DescriptionBeforeReading_2.7.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingALS—AmyotrophicLateralSclerosisAmyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS)isadiseasethatbreaksdowntissuesinthenervoussystemofunknowncausethataffectsthenervesresponsibleformovement.ItisalsoknownasmotorneurondiseaseandLouGehrig’sdisease,afterthebaseballplayerwhosecareeritended.CausesThesymptomsofALSarecausedbythedeathofmotorneuronsinthespinalcordandbrain.Asmotorneuronsdie,themusclestheyenervatecannotbemovedaseffectively,andweaknessresults.AlthoughmanycausesofmotorneurondegenerationhavebeensuggestedforALS,nonehasyetbeenprovenresponsible.SymptomsBeforeReading_2.7.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingTheearliestsignofALSismostoftenweaknessinthearmsorlegs,usuallymorepronouncedononesidethantheotheratfirst.Inadditiontoweakness,theothercardinalsignsofALSaremusclewastingandpersistenttwitching.Whileinitialweaknessmaybelimitedtooneregion,ALSalmostalwaysprogressesrapidlytoinvolvevirtuallyallthevoluntarymusclegroupsinthebody.DiagnosisThediagnosisofALSbeginswithacompletemedicalhistoryandphysicalexam,plusaneurologicalexaminationtodeterminethedistributionandextentofweakness.Anelectricaltestofmusclefunction,calledanelectromyogram,orEMG,isanimportantpartofthediagnosticprocess.Variousothertests,includingbloodandurinetests,Xrays,andCTscans,maybedonetoruleoutotherpossiblecausesofthesymptoms.TreatmentsBeforeReading_2.7.3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingThereisnocureforALS,andnotreatmentthatcansignificantlyalteritscourse.Therearemanythingswhichcanbedone,however,tohelpmaintainqualityoflifeandtoretainfunctionalabilityeveninthefaceofprogressiveweakness.PrognosisALSusuallyprogressesrapidly,andleadstodeathfromrespiratoryinfectionwithinthreetofiveyearsinmostcases.Theslowestdiseaseprogressionisseeninthosewhoareyoungandhavetheirfirstsymptomsinthelimbs.About10%ofpeoplewithALSlivelongerthaneightyears.PreventionThereisnoknownwaytopreventALSortoalteritscourse.BeforeReading_2.8.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingWarm-upQuizChoosethemostappropriateanswertoeachofthefollowingquestions.Directions:1.TheSunisA)theonlystarinourgalaxyB)justoneofthebillionstarsthatmakeupourgalaxyC)thelargestplanetinourgalaxyD)technicallyspeaking,oneofthe

Earth’smoon____.2.Whichofthefollowingfeaturesmakesthe

Earthuniqueamongplanets?A)Itistheonlyroundplanet.B)Itistheonlyplanetwithitsownmoon.C)Itistheonlyplanetwithenoughoxygentosustainlife.D)Itistheonlyringedplanet.KEYKEYBeforeReading_2.8.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading3.Cometsareicymassesoffrozengasesanddustparticles.WhathappenswhenacometgetstooclosetotheSun?A)Thegasescatchfire,makingthecometglow.B)Theicebeginstomelt,leavingatrailofgasesanddebris.C)Thecometexplodes,anditiscalledasupernova.D)ThecometbouncesofftheSun’smagnetosphere.4.Whatisthecentralandlargestbodyofoursolarsystem?A)Jupiter.B)TheMilkyWay.C)Mars.D)The

Sun.5.WhatwouldchangeifourSunweresuddenlyreplacedbyablackholeofthesamemass?A)TheEarthwouldbesuckedintotheblackhole.B)Theplanetswouldnothavethesameorbit.C)OnlythetemperatureontheEarthwouldchange.KEYKEYKEYBeforeReading_2.9.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingDwarfPlanetsAdwarfplanetisabody,otherthananaturalsatellite(moon),thatorbitstheSunandthatis,forpracticalpurposes,smallerthantheplanetMercuryyetlargeenoughforitsowngravitytohaveroundeditsshapesubstantially.TheInternationalAstronomicalUnionadoptedthiscategoryofsolarsystembodiesinAugust2006,thefirstmembersofthecategoryareasfollows:PlutoErisCeresThesethreebodiesarenotmassiveenoughandareinorbitstooelliptical,tooinclined,orbothtohavesweptupmostsmallernearbybodiesbygravitationalattraction;theythusfailtogrowlarger.BeforeReading_2.9.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.9.3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.9.4BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.9.5BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.9.6BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.9.7BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.10BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingAblackholeisanobjectwithagravitationalfieldsopowerfulthataregionofspacebecomescutofffromtherestoftheuniverse—nomatterorradiation,includingvisiblelight,whichhasenteredtheregion,caneverescape.■BlackHolesBeforeReading_2.11BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBigBangInastronomy,itisatheoryaccordingtowhichtheuniversebeganbillionsofyearsagoinasingleevent,similartoanexplosion.ThereisevidencefortheBigBangtheoryintheobservedredshiftofdistantgalaxies,whichindicatesthattheyaremovingawayfromtheEarth,intheexistenceofcosmicmicrowavebackground,andfromotherdata.MostastronomersaccepttheBigBangtheoryoftheoriginoftheuniversetoday.Scientistshaverecentlyfoundthattheexpansionoftheuniverseisactuallyspeedingup.Thiseffectisattributedtothepresenceofdarkenergy.BeforeReading_2.11.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading_2.11.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBR_MAINBeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingGroupDiscussion1.WhatcanyoulearnfromStephenHawking’sexperience?2.Whatdoyouthinkofblackholes?GlobeReading_mainBeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading1.PartDivisionoftheTextForPart2ForPart3GroupDiscussionQuestionsTableCompletion2.FurtherUnderstandingForPart1TrueorFalseForPart4GlobeReading_1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingPartDivisionoftheTextMainIdeasParts12Paragraphs1-23-9Inspiteofhisillness,Hawkingstillworkshardinhisresearchfield.Hawkingiswidelyacknowledgedasoneofthemostfamousphysicists.310-12Hawking’smostinnovativeideasaboutblackholesandBigBang.413-14Recently,Hawkingistryingtorecanthisformerwork.FGlobeReading_2.1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingTrueorFalse1.AsStephenHawking,oneofthegreatesttheoreticalmathematicians,controlledhisvehicledownthethoroughfare,peoplegreetedhimeagerly.StephenHawkingisoneoftheworld’smostfamoustheoreticalphysicists.()F2.Hawking’sillnesshasbeenadvancingevenmorequickly,whichrobbedhimofanyphysicalmovement.EventhoughHawking’sillnessseemedtobestabilized,thisillnessstillrobbedhimofcontrolovermostofhismuscles.()F3.Regardlessofillness,StephenHawkingcanstillspeak.StephenHawkingcannotspeakanymore,butbyoperatinghiswheelchair’sbuilt-incomputerandvoicesynthesizer,hecan“utter”hiswords.()FGlobeReading_2.2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading4.AfterStephenHawkingwasstrickenbytheseriousillness,hisresearchwasvirtuallystopped.Hismentalexpeditionshaveneverbeenstopped.Hawkingconceivedtheoriesaboutblackholes,andhesuggestedthattheuniversehasnoboundaries.()GlobeReading_3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingQuestions1.WasStephenHawking’sdailyroutineworkverytoughanddemanding?Yes.Hawkingfollowsaroutinethatwouldevenbeatoughjobtothoseable-bodiedpeople,letaloneadisabledone.2.HowwasStephenHawking’sstudyinhischildhood?Hewasslowtolearntoread,andhelikedtotakethingsapartbutwasnevergoodatputtingthemback.3.HowwasStephenHawking’sstudybeforeALSstruckhim?Incollege,hewasnotanoutstandingstudentatall.Andingraduateschool,hestillfoundstudywastough.4.WhatwasHawking’searlybehaviorafterhewasinformedofhisphysicalsituation?Hewasoverwhelmedandtotallyignoredhisstudy.5.WhatmadeHawkingpickuphisresearchagain?Inthefirstplace,theprogressofALSseemedtobeslowed.ButthemostimportantreasonwasthathewasgoingtogetmarriedwithJane.Einstein’sideaaboutblackholesGlobeReading_4BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingTableCompletionMostphysicists’ideasaboutblackholesHawking’sideasaboutblackholeswasaregionsurrounding,whichisandensepointwithandgravity.Ablackhole___________asingularity__________infinitely_______nodimensions______________irresistible_________Blackholes,butattheheartofa

blackholewouldbe

anddense.exist____theobject_________smallbutnotdimensionless_______________________extremely_________Ifiscorrect,mustexist.What’smore,themusthavesprungfromgeneralrelativity_____________singularity________entireuniverse____________onesingularity____________.GlobeReading_5BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingGroupDiscussionDividestudentsintoseveralgroups,andthenaskthemtoholdadiscussionaboutthefollowingquestions.Afterdiscussions,invitesomegroupstodotheirpresentations.Directions:1. RecentlyHawkingwastryingtoprovethathisfamousproof—singularitiesexist—waswrong.Whatdoesthisimply?2. Accordingtothepassage,whatarethepersonalitiesofStephenHawking?Andlistseveralpiecesofevidencetoproveyourideas.

Avictimofanincurabledisease,StephenHawkingisalmostcompletelyparalysed,confinedtoawheelchair,andunabletospeak.Yet,hehasovercomeeveryobstacleandachievedfarmorethanmostable-bodiedpeopleeverdreamofaccomplishingandbecomeoneofthegreatestphysicistsofourtime.Article0BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingArticle1BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingDarknesshasfallenonCambridge,England,andonadampandchillyeveningKing’sParadeisfilledwithstudentsandfaculty.Then,downthecrowdedthoroughfarecomestheUniversityofCambridge’smostdistinctivevehicle,bearingitsmostdistinguishedcitizen.Inthemotorizedwheelchair,boyishfacedimlyilluminatedbyaglowingcomputerscreenattachedtotheleftarmrest,isStephenWilliamHawking,46,oneoftheworld’sgreatesttheoreticalphysicists.Asheskillfullymaneuversthroughthecrowd,motoristsslowdown,somehonkingtheirhornsingreeting.Peoplewaveandshouthello.RoamingtheCosmosLeonJaroffWhileALShasmadeHawkingavirtualprisonerinhisownbody,ithaslefthiscourageandhumorintact,hisintellectfreetoroam.Androamitdoes,fromtheinfinitesimaltotheinfinite,fromthesubatomicrealmtothefarreachesoftheuniverse.Inthe

courseof

thesementalexpeditions,

HawkinghasconceivedstartlingnewtheoriesaboutblackholesandthedisorderlyeventsthatimmediatelyfollowedtheBigBangfromwhichtheuniversesprang.

Article2BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading

AhugesmilelightsupHawking’sbespectacledface,buthecannotwaveorshoutback.Sincehisearly20s,hehassufferedfromamyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS),aprogressivedeteriorationofthecentralnervoussystemthatusuallycausesdeathwithinthreeorfouryears.Hawking’sillnesshasadvancedmoreslowly,andnowseemsalmosttohavestabilized.Still,ithasrobbedhimofvirtuallyallmovement.Hehasnocontrolovermostofhismuscles,cannotdressoreatbyhimselfandhaslosthisvoice.Nowhe“speaks”onlybyusingtheslightvoluntarymovementleftinhishandsandfingerstooperatehiswheelchair’sbuilt-incomputerandvoicesynthesizer.Article3BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading

Morerecently,hehasshakenbothphysicistsandtheologiansbysuggestingthattheuniversehasnoboundaries,wasnotcreatedandwillnotbedestroyed.

MostofStephenHawking’sinnovativethinkingoccursatCambridge,whereheisLucasianprofessorofmathematics,aseatonceoccupiedbyIsaacNewton.There,intheDepartmentofMathematicsandTheoreticalPhysics,hebenevolentlyreignsovertherelativitygroup,15overachievinggraduatestudentsfromninecountries.OnhisofficedoorisasmallplaqueirreverentlyreadingQUIET,PLEASE.THEBOSSISASLEEP.Hardly.Frommidmorninguntilhedepartsfordinneraround7p.m.,Hawkingfollowsaroutinethatwouldtaxthemostable-bodied,workinginhisbook-linedoffice,amidphotographsofhiswifeJaneandtheirthreechildren.Whenherolledintothedepartment’scommonroomonemorninglastmonth,hisstudentsweretalkingshoparoundlowtables.Maneuveringtooneofthetables,Hawkingclickedhiscontrolswitch,evokingtinybeepsfromhiscomputerandselectingwordsfromlistsdisplayedonhisscreen.

Article4BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading

Thesewords,assembledinsequenceatthebottomofthescreen,finallyissuedfromthevoicesynthesizer:“Goodmorning.CanIhavecoffee?”Then,forthebenefitofavisitor:“IamsorryaboutmyAmericanaccent.”(ThesynthesizerisproducedbyaCaliforniacompany.)

Whentheconversationshiftedtocreativityandhowmathematiciansseemtoreachacreativepeakintheirearly20s,Hawking’scomputerbeeped.“I’moverthehill,”hesaid,toachorusoflaughter.

HawkingwasbornonJan.8,1942—300yearstotheday,heoftennotes,afterthedeathofGalileo.Asasmallboy,hewasslowtolearntoreadbutlikedtotakethingsapartthoughheconfessesthathewasneververygoodatputtingthingsbacktogether.Whenhewastwelve,herecallshumorously,“oneofmyfriendsbetanotherfriendabagofsweetsthatIwouldnevercometoanything.Idon’tknowifthisbetwaseversettledand,ifso,whowon.”

ThenHawking’sluckturned.

Theprogressofthediseaseslowed,andEinsteinianspace-timesuddenlyseemedlessformidable.Butwhatreallymadethedifference,hesays,“wasthatIgotengagedtoJane,”whowasstudyingmodernlanguagesatCambridge.“Thisgavemesomethingtolivefor.”Asheexplains,“Ifweweretogetmarried,Ihadtogetajob.Andtogetajob,IhadtofinishmyPh.D.Istartedworkinghardforthefirsttimeinmylife.Tomysurprise,IfoundIlikedit.”Article5BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingFascinatedbyphysics,StephenconcentratedinthesubjectatOxford’sUniversityCollege,butdidnotdistinguishhimself.Hepartied,tookagreatinterestinrowingandstudiedonlyanhourorsoaday.MovingontoCambridgeforgraduateworkinrelativity,hefoundthegoingrough,partlybecauseofsomepuzzlingphysicalproblems;hestumbledfrequentlyandseemedtobegettingclumsy.Doctorssoongavehimthebadnews:hehadALS,itwouldonlygetworse,andtherewasnocure.Hawkingwasoverwhelmed.Beforelong,heneededacanetowalk,wasdrinkingheavilyandignoringhisstudies.“Theredidn’tseemtobemuchpointincompletingmyPh.D.,”hesays.Article6BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingWhatparticularlyinterestedStephenwassingularities,strangebeastspredictedbygeneralrelativity.Einstein’sequationsindicatedthatwhenastarseveraltimeslargerthanthesunexhaustsitsnuclearfuelandcollapses,itsmattercrushestogetheratitscenterwithsuchforcethatitformsasingularity,aninfinitelydensepointwithnodimensionsandirresistiblegravity.Avoluminousregionsurroundingthesingularitybecomesa“blackhole,”fromwhich—becauseofthatimmensegravity—nothing,notevenlight,canescape.Scientistsyearsagofoundcompellingevidencethatblackholesexist,buttheywereuncomfortablewithsingularities,becauseallscientificlawsbreakdownatthesepoints.Mostphysicistsbelievedthatintherealuniversetheobjectattheheartofablackholewouldbesmall(butnotdimensionless)andextremelydense(butnotinfinitelyso).

Article7BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReading

EnterHawking.Whilestillagraduatestudent,heandMathematicianRogerPenrosedevelopednewtechniquesprovingmathematicallythatifgeneralrelativityiscorrect,singularitiesmustexist.Hawkingwentontodemonstrate—againifgeneralrelativityiscorrect—thattheentireuniversemusthavesprungfromasingularity.Ashewroteinhis1966Ph.D.thesis,“Thereisasingularityinourpast.”StephenlaterdiscernedseveralnewcharacteristicsofblackholesanddemonstratedthattheamazingforcesoftheBigBangwouldhavecreatedmini-blackholes,eachwithamassaboutthatofaterrestrialmountain,butnolargerthanthesubatomicproton.Then,applyingthequantumtheory(whichaccuratelydescribestherandom,uncertainsubatomicworld)insteadofgeneralrelativity(which,itturnsout,faltersinthattinyrealm),Hawkingwasstartledtofindthatthemini-blackholesmustemitparticlesandradiation.Evenmoreremarkable,thelittleholeswouldgraduallyevaporateand,10billionyearsorsoaftertheircreation,explodewiththeenergyofmillionsofH-bombs.Recently,Hawking,whohasnoqualmsaboutrecantinghisownworkifhedecideshewaswrong,mayhavetranscendedhisfamousproofthatsingularitiesexist.WithPhysicistJamesHartle,hehasderivedaquantumwavedescribingaself-containeduniversethat,liketheearth’ssurface,hasnoedgeorboundary.Ifthatisthecase,saysHawking,Einstein’sgeneraltheoryofrelativitywouldhavetobemodified,andtherewouldbenosingularities.“Theuniversewouldnotbecreated,notbedestroyed;itwouldsimplybe,”heconcludes,addingchallengingly,“Whatplace,then,foraCreator?”Article8BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingHawkinghasvisitedtheU.S.30times,madeseventripstoMoscow,takenaround-the-worldjourney,andpilotedhiswheelchairontheGreatWallofChina.Ontheroad,theactivitiesoccasionallydeviatesomewhatfromphysics.OnenightStephenaccompaniedagroupto