ICAL SCIENCE: Unraveling Hawking's Paradox and Controversial Theories

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Stephen Hawking's information paradox related to black holes and the implications of parallel universes. Participants explore the validity of Hawking's theories, the nature of information in black holes, and the broader philosophical questions raised by these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a Science Channel program discussing Hawking's claim that information thrown into a black hole is lost, which could challenge concepts of cause and effect.
  • Another physicist is mentioned as having proposed that information is not destroyed in black holes, suggesting no paradox exists.
  • Hawking's recent proposal involving infinite parallel universes is noted, with concerns raised about the speculative nature of this idea and its lack of empirical support.
  • A participant references Douglas Adams to argue that if there are infinite universes, then this universe may not exist, questioning the validity of the discussion itself.
  • There is a general skepticism expressed regarding Hawking's ideas and reputation among some participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on Hawking's theories, with some skepticism about his ideas and the speculative nature of parallel universes. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the information paradox.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the speculative nature of parallel universes and the challenges in proving their existence, as well as the implications of Hawking's theories on established concepts in physics.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in theoretical physics, black hole information theory, and the philosophical implications of scientific theories may find this discussion relevant.

RAD4921
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Last night (Sunday 10/22/06) they had a special on the Science Channel called “Hawkins’s Paradox”. It was about how Hawkin proposed the idea that information thrown into a black hole gets destroyed and lost forever. For reasons they didn’t get into and therefore I don’t understand, this would cause problems with cause and effect and even bring what is in our memories into question. Another physicist was supposed to have shown that information does not get destroyed in a black hole and there is no paradox. Hawking just lately stated that that if there is an infinite amount of parallel universes and there are universes without black holes, this would resolve the paradox. In proposing this he admitted that he was wrong the first time.

The problem I see in Hawkins’s second proposal is that parallel universes is a highly speculative idea and it is probably impossible to prove that other universes exist. We only have evidence that the one we inhabit exist and that is it. The other physicist was not too impressed either. The program also mentioned how Hawkin has declined in his reputation as a physicist in the general population. With this and his idea that computer viruses are a form of life, makes me question some of his ideas as well.
RAD
 
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@RAD4921,

Are you wanting to open a discussion on the "Information Paradox" or are you just venting?
 
Hawking.

Ahem.
 
Well, if you are going to talk about infinite universes, I feel it is my duty to take a page from Douglas Adams. Or at least use his general argument. With an infinite number of parallel universes, there must be one of this universe, except a finite number(1) over infinity is equal to zero. Therefore this universe does not exist, and neither does this question. You're welcome.
 
What is your general opinions about S. Hawking? I too have always been skeptic about his ideas.
 

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