Can a 74-year-old theoretical physicist stay playful? If you are talking about Stephen Hawking, it is quite possible. He is a famous Star Trek fan (and even starred as himself in one of the episodes of the Next Generation) and was sincerely glad when he got the opportunity to fly on an airplane that mimics microgravity. Stephen Hawking is also the co-author of several children's books.
“Since Stephen Hawking works in a wheelchair and barely moves because of the progressive motor neuron disease, he produces most of his scientific fabrication in his head,” said Ben Bowie, producer of the new PBS series, which will try to repeat Stephen Hawking’s thinking thought experiments.
Titled “The Steven Hawking Genius,” the six-part film will air on Wednesdays from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Eastern Time from May 18 to June 1. This will be a continuation of the Bowie space series made in recent years, including the 2013 Hawking documentary.
Bowie points out that many documentaries show something to viewers and expect them to memorize it. His approach is different; The series will involve three volunteers who need to understand certain things through a series of thought experiments. Bowie refused to share the specific results of the experiment in an interview, saying that the viewer should try to think about it himself, but said that in one episode they would explain the principles of evolution, partially using a plug, a device capable of throwing objects over long distances.
“We wanted to let adults play again, because they can be trained through the game,” Bowie said. “Three volunteers have to go through five mental and physical tests, and by the end of these tests, they need to understand something important about the universe and their world. "
In six episodes, topics will be raised: “Can I travel in time?”, “Are we alone?”, “Why are we here?”, “Where did the universe come from?”, “Who are we?” And “Where are we?”. More exercises will be available on the PBS website for those who want to get deeper into the topics of discussion, including interviews with subject matter experts.
