Bet on the 'Black Hole Information Paradox'
- maker:
- Stephen Hawking ,
- Kip Stephen Thorne and
- Preskill, John Phillip
Typed document with two handwritten signatures and a thumbprint. Bet By Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne against John Preskill. Signed in Pasadena, California, 6 February 1997.
Hawking collaborated with scientists from around the world and spiced up their disagreements by making bets. In 1997 he wagered that information entering black holes would get lost for ever, contradicting the expectation held by most physicists that it should be preserved.
In 2004 Hawking conceded the bet, agreeing that information would be scrambled but could theoretically be retrieved – although scientists continue to debate exactly how.
Details
- Category:
- Stephen Hawking Office
- Collection:
- Stephen Hawking’s Office
- Object Number:
- 2021-561/8
- Materials:
- paper (fibre product), plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
- Measurements:
-
overall (window mount): 355 mm x 279 mm x 2 mm,
overall (frame): 373 mm x 298 mm x 25 mm, 1.06 kg
overall (paper sheet): 278 mm x 216 mm .035 kg
- type:
- document
- credit:
- Accepted in lieu of Inheritance Tax by H M Government from the Estate of Stephen Hawking and allocated to the Science Museum, 2021
