Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest scientists of our time. His research and theories about space remain among the most resonant in the scientific community. Each of his works made him think about complex things: the role of mankind in the fate of the Universe, the possible end of the world, extraterrestrial life forms. In his book, Igor Prokopenko tries to understand in detail the statements that Hawking has repeatedly voiced. For example, did you know that twenty light-years away there is the planet Gliese, which is almost a complete clone of Earth? Or that photos of the hot sands of Venus show a creature that strongly resembles an earthly scorpion? You will find out what is the likelihood of a person meeting an alien life form, what could be the end of the world and what will be the fate of earthlings in such a situation.