“It is no good getting furious if you get stuck. What I do is keep thinking about the problem but work on something else. Sometimes it is years before I see the way forward. In the case of information loss and black holes, it was 29 years.”
- January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018
- British
- Theoretical physicist, science writer
- Announced the black hole singularity theorem and Hawking radiation, and contributed to the popularization of science with his book “Talking about the Universe”
Quote
“It is no good getting furious if you get stuck. What I do is keep thinking about the problem but work on something else. Sometimes it is years before I see the way forward. In the case of information loss and black holes, it was 29 years.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking reflects on the process of problem-solving in science, particularly the importance of patience and perseverance when faced with intellectual roadblocks. Hawking advises against becoming frustrated or discouraged when a solution seems elusive. Instead, he suggests that the key is to step back from the problem, continue thinking about it in the background, and often redirect focus to different areas of research. This method of indirect problem-solving mirrors a broader scientific approach, where breakthroughs often come after long periods of rumination and unconscious processing. It reflects the idea that insight often emerges when you allow the mind to rest or engage with other questions, rather than trying to force an immediate solution.
Hawking’s reference to the information loss paradox and his own 29-year struggle with it highlights a specific example of how the scientific process can be long and nonlinear. The paradox—central to understanding black holes—involved the question of whether information that falls into a black hole is lost forever or if it can be recovered. For years, physicists, including Hawking, believed that information was lost beyond the event horizon, violating principles of quantum mechanics. However, after decades of thought and research, Hawking eventually revised his views, suggesting that the information might be preserved in a holographic form. This revision was a key moment in the development of modern theoretical physics.
Hawking’s story illustrates that scientific discovery is rarely a straightforward or immediate process. It can take years, even decades, to see the solution to a particular problem. The fact that Hawking was able to revisit and revise his position on the black hole information paradox after 29 years exemplifies the importance of intellectual humility and the willingness to rethink one’s ideas. It also highlights the role of serendipity and persistent inquiry in the scientific method—often, breakthroughs emerge after long periods of thought, experimentation, and reflection. Hawking’s approach can serve as an inspiration for anyone facing complex challenges, not just in science but in any field, showing that perseverance and open-mindedness are key to finding a way forward.
