Stephen Hawking and the Theory of Everything

Twenty years after *A Brief History of Time* baffled readers with its complex concepts and cosmic imagery, its author, Stephen Hawking, acknowledged that the "ultimate theory" he once believed to be near—offering a definitive explanation of the origins of life, the universe, and everything—remains out of reach. Despite his deteriorating health and the daunting nature of the challenge, Hawking continued to dedicate himself to his work. This determination is illustrated in brief interview segments and scenes showing the scientist sharing a meal with some admiring PhD students. While the pop-science explanations featured in the first part of this two-part biography are engaging and lively, Hawking himself remains as difficult to understand as the intricate quantum theories he explores.