“There is nothing bigger or older than the universe.”
- 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
“There is nothing bigger or older than the universe.”
Explanation
In this succinct statement, Stephen Hawking underscores a fundamental truth about our existence: the universe is the largest and most ancient entity we can observe, and it defines the very limits of what is knowable in physical terms. The universe encompasses everything—space, time, matter, and energy. There is no known object or entity beyond the universe that we can detect or even conceive of. This statement reflects a key concept in modern cosmology: the universe is not just a place we live in, but a singular reality that contains all of space-time.
The idea that “nothing is bigger or older than the universe” is also connected to the way scientists understand the origins of the universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago from an incredibly dense and hot state, and it has been expanding ever since. The expansion of the universe, described by Hubble’s law, means that the universe is not only the largest structure known, but it is also dynamic and ever-changing. As our understanding of the cosmos advances, the question of whether the universe had a “beginning” or will have an “end” becomes a matter of great theoretical inquiry.
Hawking’s perspective emphasizes the limits of human understanding: while we can explore the vast expanses of space and time, the universe itself represents a boundary beyond which we cannot meaningfully go. There are no greater structures or older entities that exist beyond the universe’s vast scope—making the universe both our home and our ultimate frontier. Hawking’s statement is a reminder of the awe-inspiring scale of the cosmos, and it also speaks to the ongoing scientific endeavor to explore its deepest mysteries, such as the true nature of dark matter, dark energy, and the potential for parallel universes.
