British physicist Stephen Hawking visited a stem cell lab in Los Angeles, Calif. where he spoke to an audience comprised of employees at Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute, ALS patients and their families.
Hawking suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and has been wheelchair-bound since 1963.
The best-selling author and distinguished scientist also took a tour of the facility where research is being done using stem cells to develop treatments for ALS.
And Hawking commented on the work being done at the facility and how it compares to the universe.
"If you understand how the universe operates, you control it in a way," he said.
While using a device that uses eye and cheek movements as a way to convey his ideas and translate them into speech, Hawking shared some existential thoughts.
"To understand the universe at the deepest level, we have to understand why is there something rather than nothing," Hawking said.
"Why do we exist? Why this particular set of laws, and not some other? I believe the answers to all of these things is M-theory."
M-theory is a combination of different elements of both math and physics, according to Hawking who also said that it remains a work in progress.
And the renowned cosmologist also spoke about what he thinks about the future of Earth.
"We continue to go into space for humanity," he said. "We won't survive another 1,000 years without escaping our fragile planet."
Hawking ended his hour-long speech on an encouraging note.
"Your universe is a great triumph," he said.
"I want to share my enthusiasm and excitement about this great quest. So remember to look up at the starts and not at your feet. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at."
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