Hawking: Humans must colonize other planets

[ZeoBandit]

Hawking: Humans must colonize other planets
POSTED: 12:50 p.m. EST, November 30, 2006
Story Highlights
• Renowned physicist says we need to explore and colonize other worlds
• Hawking: Ideas in "Star Trek" not that far fetched
• Hawking to get Copley medal, world's oldest award for scientific achievement
• Hopes Virgin tycoon Richard Branson can help him get to space

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Humans must colonize planets in other solar systems traveling there using "Star Trek"-style propulsion or face extinction, renowned British cosmologist Stephen Hawking said on Thursday.

Referring to complex theories and the speed of light, Hawking, the wheel-chair bound Cambridge University physicist, told BBC radio that theoretical advances could revolutionize the velocity of space travel and make such colonies possible.

"Sooner or later disasters such as an asteroid collision or a nuclear war could wipe us all out," said Professor Hawking, who was crippled by a muscle disease at the age of 21 and who speaks through a computerized voice synthesizer.

"But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe," said Hawking, who was due to receive the world's oldest award for scientific achievement, the Copley medal, from Britain's Royal Society on Thursday.

Previous winners include Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.

In order to survive, humanity would have to venture off to other hospitable planets orbiting another star, but conventional chemical fuel rockets that took man to the moon on the Apollo mission would take 50,000 years to travel there, he said.

Hawking, a 64-year-old father of three who rarely gives interviews and who wrote the best-selling "A Brief History of Time", suggested propulsion like that used by the fictional starship Enterprise "to boldly go where no man has gone before" could help solve the problem.

"Science fiction has developed the idea of warp drive, which takes you instantly to your destination," said.

"Unfortunately, this would violate the scientific law which says that nothing can travel faster than light."

However, by using "matter/antimatter annihilation", velocities just below the speed of light could be reached, making it possible to reach the next star in about six years.

"It wouldn't seem so long for those on board," he said.

The scientist revealed he also wanted to try out space travel himself, albeit by more conventional means.

"I am not afraid of death but I'm in no hurry to die. My next goal is to go into space," said Hawking.

And referring to the British entrepreneur and Virgin tycoon who has set up a travel agency to take private individuals on space flights from 2008, Hawking said: "Maybe Richard Branson will help me."

[theicecreamman]

Well, I think that was his wheelchair talking...I am pretty happy here on planet earth thank you very much...and to construct something like the Enterprise on Star Trek..well, that is just too far fetched in my opinion...but oh well, we will see what happens i guess

[ZeoBandit]

It isn't as far fetched as you think. All we need is some Vulcans to kick us in the rear.

[YankeeRose]

That's interesting, but I expect we will all be dead before people invent a ship that can travel at warp speed. So it's hard for me to get excited about it.

[Bugs Meanie]

Men Mars? Women Venus?

[Kevy5150]

Okay Steve, get off your fucking ass and build us a warp drivin' ship!

[ZeoBandit]

He'll do it, too!

[G3fan]

This is all coming from a man who still believes we came from apes and monkeys. Not surprising.

[Van Squalen]

This is all coming from a man who still believes we came from apes and monkeys. Not surprising.

As opposed to coming from sugar and spice and everything nice?

[mistere]

Larry Flynt is right - let's get 'em!

[Lightning Fingers]

Okay Steve, get off your fucking ass and build us a warp drivin' ship!

Before warpdrive, we need a Six Million Dollar Man. LOL

[ZeoBandit]

As opposed to coming from sugar and spice and everything nice?

No kidding.

[CanCanSingSing]

Fuck Star Trek. What they need is the Millenium Falcon.

She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself.

[SecretWind]

This is all coming from a man who still believes we came from apes and monkeys. Not surprising.

...and people once scoffed at the idea of flying in the sky in a mechanical bird, or a man walking on the moon. Or, how about the silly notion of an "information super highway?"

I believe it's inevitable...but maybe not in my lifetime. It would be cool though...

"Hey, where are you vacationing this year?"

"We're doing 'ClubSaturn' again. Wonderful time machine activities for the kids, and the wife practically lives at the Lunar-Gel Spa."

[mistere]

Turns out Venus spins backwards and one of it's days is longer than its year.
...just like a woman.