It's clearly possible for a something to acquire higher intelligence than its ancestors: we evolved to be smarter than our ape-like ancestors, and Einstein was smarter than his parents.

If we can avoid disaster for the next two centuries, our species should be safe as we spread into space. If we are the only intellegent beings in the galaxy we should make sure we survive and continue. . . . Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain inward looking on planet Earth but to spread out into space. We have made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years, our future is in space.

Someone told me that each equation I included in the book would halve the sales.

thus, in a sense, we are all doomed. even if we stay away from black holes

There ought to be something very special about the boundary conditions of the universe and what can be more special than that there is no boundary?

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.

Science makes God unnecessary.