isaac asimov the last question read online

They discuss the theory of entropy, which is a physical property of objects in thermodynamics that is connected with increasing levels of disorder or dysfunction in all objects. In the resulting argument, Lupov reminds Adell that even the Sun won’t last forever, and Adell thinks of switching to another Sun when the current one is exhausted. Lupov, however, disagrees, and says that it will not last forever, but just until the end of humanity, for a few billion years, which is certainly not forever. In drunken amazement, Adell wonders aloud about how Multivac’s feat has made sure that human beings have an infinite supply of energy that lasts forever. However, on May 14th, 2061, Multivac transforms into reality what had only existed in theory, when it successfully converted, stored, and utilized solar energy to fuel all energy-based operations across the planet. After a week of constant media attention from the glory of the most important technological advancement in human history, Adell and Lupov sneak off to the underground chambers where Multivac is kept, to share a quick drink and celebrate.

For decades now, the computer has built spaceships and designed trajectories of journeys to other planets, but Earth’s depleting energy resources, although used with increasing efficiency, are unable to fulfil the tremendous energy requirements of these missions. Adell and Lupov ‘s jobs are to enter data in Multivac, adjust questions according to its needs and translate answers, and they are part of Multivac’s glory. The question was a result of a five-dollar bet between two computer engineers – Alexander Adell and Bertram Lupov, both of whom are “faithful servants” of Multivac, a giant, “self-adjusting and self-correcting” supercomputer that controls all major technological and energy-based operations on the planet.

The story begins with the omniscient narrator informing the readers that the last question was first raised, half-jokingly, on May 21, 1961, at a time when humanity has just succeeded in a technological development that will permanently change the future of the planet.

Isaac asimov the last question read online