Some questions stay with us throughout life, especially the ones about what comes after. Stephen Hawking faced those same questions, even while living with a body that slowly failed him. Yet he carried a calm, steady view that surprised many people who admired him.

Hawking became one of the world’s most respected scientists despite being diagnosed with motor neuron disease at 21. His sharp mind and determination brought us bestselling books like A Brief History of Time. But behind his success, he often warned the world about dangers rising around us.

He believed humanity faced real threats, including climate change, nuclear conflict, and fast-growing artificial intelligence. At one point, he said AI could redesign itself so quickly that humans would no longer keep up. That turning point in his thinking pushed him to join other experts in urging global caution.

Hawking also feared that advanced aliens could harm us if they ever reached Earth. He compared a possible encounter to the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, which brought great suffering to Native populations. His message was simple: intelligence does not always mean kindness.

But one thing he never feared was death. In interviews, Hawking explained that he saw the brain as a computer that simply stops when its parts fail. He believed the universe followed natural laws, not divine plans, and felt comfort in that understanding.

His words remind us that curiosity and courage can guide us, even when answers feel larger than life.