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How Hawking changed our understanding of the universe with one equation? The secret of E=mc² revealed!
There are moments in the history of science that take people by surprise, one of which was the publication of A Brief History of Time by physicist Stephen Hawking in 1988. This book explores the origin, structure and future of the universe in an easy-to-understand way, attracting millions of readers around the world. Hawking used a natural and not difficult way to help people understand some fundamental concepts in the universe, including time and space, gravity, and physical phenomena that are closely related to our daily lives.
Hawking's books broke through the walls of physics, allowing ordinary readers to peek into the mysteries of the universe.
Hawking explicitly mentioned the formula "E=mc²" for the first time in the book, which is Einstein's principle of mass-energy equivalence. This simple equation shows the direct relationship between energy (E) and mass (m), with the speed of light (c) being the conversion factor between the two. This relationship means that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa. This discovery completely overturned our understanding of matter and energy and had a profound impact on the development of nuclear energy technology.
Origin and evolution of the universe
Starting from the Big Bang theory, Hawking explained the origin and evolution of the universe. He cited the discovery of American astronomer Hubble, pointing out that the universe is continuously expanding, which overturned the long-standing scientific belief in a static universe. He explains in detail how the scientific theories of the time are related to today's cosmology, and gradually guides readers to think about the ultimate fate of the universe:
When we think about the moment when time began, we are also thinking about the end of the universe.
The book not only discusses the concept of the Big Bang, but also describes the formation process of black holes and the role they play in the universe. Research by Hawking and several of his colleagues has shown that when a star reaches the end of its life, it may collapse into an inescapable black hole, which is an extreme case of the combination of gravity and quantum mechanics.
Exploration of Black Holes
Black holes were another key theme in Hawking's research, and he used mathematical models to show how they challenge our understanding of the laws of physics. Hawking proposed the famous "Hawking Radiation" theory, pointing out that black holes are not completely dark, but may continuously release energy due to quantum effects and may eventually evaporate. This theory has caused the scientific community to rethink the nature of black holes and whether information can really disappear.
The concept of Hawking radiation has not only sparked widespread discussion in the study of black holes, but also challenged some basic concepts of existing physics.
His detailed explanations and clear writing style make these complex concepts easy to understand, allowing readers to feel the vastness and mystery of the universe. In addition to constantly challenging traditional ways of thinking, Hawking also inspired the pursuit of finding a unified theory. This theory aims to integrate all theories of physics into a unified framework to explain all phenomena in the universe.
The combination of quantum mechanics and cosmology
With the advancement of science, Hawking gradually incorporated the concepts of quantum mechanics into the discussion of cosmology. He guides readers to think about deeper questions: Does the certainty of causality still exist in the quantum world? His work revealed that even in seemingly plausible physical models, there are still unpredictable factors.
The progress of science is not only the exploration of the unknown, but also the challenge and rethinking of the known.
Hawking also mentioned that with the development of technology, we can obtain more accurate data and further understand the working principles of the universe. However, this process is not always smooth, and scientists often need to face many challenges and constantly revise their theories.
ConclusionHawking's A Brief History of Time not only provides a new perspective for the exploration of cosmology, but also allows ordinary readers to appreciate the wonders of the universe through simplified expressions. As our understanding of the universe continues to deepen, Hawking's work has undoubtedly laid the foundation. How will future scientific exploration reshape our understanding of the universe?
