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Stephen Hawking: Master of the Universe header image
Ask An Expert: Your Questions & Answers
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Question 5

Will it be possible to reach other planets that are capable of supporting life, so we can populate them?

Prof Pethica: The prospects for outside the solar system are not looking good. In theory it is possible, with sufficient continuous acceleration, to reach the stars, but there would be a problem of serious time dilation if you then returned to Earth. Same if you somehow hibernated.

The technology required for all that is not in sight at the moment and there are some very basic difficulties.

All this of course leaves aside the perhaps more important question - what about the life that might already be on those habitable planets...?


Master of the Universe: Video Clips
Watch Master of the Universe on 4oD
String Theory and how the universe works
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Discover the truth behind time travel
Black holes, asteroid collision and much more...