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Stephen Hawking Has a Message For One Direction Fans

Posted by samzenpus on from the in-another-time-and-place dept.

An anonymous reader points out that Stephen Hawking recently gave some advice for One Direction fans. What is the cosmological effect of singer Zayn Malik leaving the best-selling boy band One Direction and consequently disappointing millions of teenage girls around the world? The advice of British cosmologist Stephen Hawking to heartbroken fans is to follow theoretical physics, because Malik may well still be a member of the pop group in another universe. The physicist took a break from speaking about his work as one of the world's leading scientists to answer the question from one upset fan during a talk at Sydney Opera House at the weekend. 'Finally a question about something important,' Hawking, who appeared via hologram, said to loud laughs from the audience. 'My advice to any heartbroken young girl is to pay attention to the study of theoretical physics because, one day, there may well be proof of multiple universes. It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that somewhere outside of our own universe lies another, different universe and, in that universe, Zayn is still in One Direction.'"

22 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. George W. still president by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    What I want is a universe where George W. is still president of the free world. Fool me once, shame on somebody...

    1. Re:George W. still president by ravenshrike · · Score: 4, Funny

      Sooo, you want a universe where Washington got access to the Fountain of Youth and people keep voting him into the presidency against his will?

    2. Re:George W. still president by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 2

      What I want is a universe where George W. is still president of the free world. Fool me once, shame on somebody...

      There could even be a universe where GW is this awesome leader that everyone looks up to and admires, "Ace" Rimmer style!

    3. Re:George W. still president by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 2

      I want a universe where Hawaii has legalized pot, which would mean being able to build the Thirty Meter telescope with no opposition.

    4. Re:George W. still president by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 2

      Does he kill vampires or werewolves? Everything significant hinges on this.

  2. I'm really conflicted... by Shoten · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not sure if I think it's incredibly disheartening that Stephen Hawking had been following that whole situation, or that I think it's incredibly cool that he's that in touch with kids. Hm.

    Can it be both?

    --

    For your security, this post has been encrypted with ROT-13, twice.
    1. Re: I'm really conflicted... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      There may be a universe where it can be both....

    2. Re:I'm really conflicted... by alvinrod · · Score: 2

      I think it's just an easy way to add some science to the lives of those who might not otherwise care.

      There's a lot of advanced physics for which we currently lack practical applications or even a good way of relating what's being done to the public. If this sparks an interest in a few dozen kids I'd say it's a good thing.

    3. Re:I'm really conflicted... by pubwvj · · Score: 2

      You assume he has been following the situation. Just as likely he simply was able to grasp the situation form the small amount of data provided and present a good humored response on the fly. Intelligence can often make up for a lack of fine data.

  3. oh sweet lord by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    the AI which hacked hawking's system and is using him as a puppet has developed a sense of humor.

    we're doomed, and it will be hilarious.

  4. This is stupid by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is really stupid. What next - don't mourn the passing of your child - in another universe they might be alive? Fat lot of good that does for anyone here - after all, neither their nor their child's doppelganger in another universe would be an exact replica.

    But I'll look at the bright side - in another universe crap like this wouldn't make it to slashdot's front page.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    1. Re:This is stupid by RavenLrD20k · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What next - don't mourn the passing of your child - in another universe they might be alive? Fat lot of good that does for anyone here - after all, neither their nor their child's doppelganger in another universe would be an exact replica.

      Wasn't that the core plot to Fringe? That the entire series wouldn't have existed if a crackpot physicist didn't muck up the balance of things by stealing a different version of his kid from a universe where he didn't die, thus starting an interuniversal war?

      On a different note: Is there any character that John Noble has played that wasn't some kind of Crackpot? If not, what does that say for the psyche of Mr. Noble himself?

    2. Re:This is stupid by Jaime2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's worse than that. If you accept that there is a parallel universe where One Direction didn't break up and decide it matters to you, then you also have to accept that there is a parallel universe where the most heinous thing you can imaging has happened to you. Since you decided to be emotionally invested in what happens in other universes, that should affect you the same way. If not, then the parallel universe thing wasn't science, it was denial.

    3. Re:This is stupid by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

      What if it's not infinite?

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  5. Sooo....Two Directions? by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Subscribers to the Many Worlds Theory would also argue that in some of them...wait for it...One Direction never existed...*GASP*

    1. Re:Sooo....Two Directions? by captnjohnny1618 · · Score: 2

      In which case the heartbreak wouldn't exist either... so... success? ;-)

  6. It's stupid. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The "multi universe" hypothesis is religion for physicists.

    The evidence just isn't there. The models that predict it are a bit dubious and there are some solid scientific challenges to them.

    Believing that things went the way you wanted them to go, in "some other universe," is cold comfort at best, and at worst it is every bit as nonsensical as believing that your departed loved ones are somehow still alive in some higher plane, or somehow came back as another person.

    Until solid evidence of parallel realities is attained, every self-respecting Dawkins fan should denounce the belief as fantasy.

    1. Re:It's stupid. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      "The evidence just isn't there."

      You're wrong; it just isn't HERE. The evidence is all in some other universe...

    2. Re:It's stupid. by rubycodez · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Some would say the fact of quantum mechanical effects such as the split beam interference experiment suggest such a mutiverse does exist. And quite credible scientists are debating it.

  7. The Universe That Sucks by sudon't · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why am I always in the universe where things aren't going right?

    --
    -- sudon't

    Air-ride Equipped

    1. Re:The Universe That Sucks by DigiShaman · · Score: 2

      Because someone else is in the universe where everything is going right. Sorry bub, but you're the counterweight to make his life a success.

      #rawendofthedeal

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  8. Re:Hologram? by LMariachi · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.zdnet.com/article/h...

    I guess the screen is polarized so that the different camera angles appear from corresponding audience viewpoints? Nifty, but not a "hologram."