劍橋物理學家邁克·格林（Michael Green）首度提出宇宙萬物都是由一段段震動的微小能量弦構成，他即將取代史蒂芬·霍金，獲得在全世界享有最高聲望的學術職位。

邁克·格林教授是英國皇家學會成員，也是極為錯綜復雜的弦理論的共同創立者之一；在本月劍橋大學召開會議后，他獲邀就任盧卡斯數學教授（Lucasian professor of mathematics）。

霍金于本月初從這個職位卸任，因為劍橋大學規定，被授予該職位的教授必須在年滿67歲時退任。霍金在這個職位上已經有30年。他現在是劍橋大學應用數學以及理論物理系的研究主任。

此榮譽職位始于1664年，許多科學史上的顯赫名人都擔任過該職務，在霍金之前就有伊薩克·牛頓以及保羅·狄拉克。

格林和霍金在同一個系工作，他在弦理論的發展中扮演著重要的角色。弦理論研究的是宇宙中的各種粒子以及它們如何互相作用。

在官方發表聲明之前，一位科學家說，讓一位從弦理論創始之初就大力推動其發展的科學家獲此殊榮，這次任命實至名歸。

弦理論的支持者們相信，這個理論為人們了解自然界的各種力量開辟了道路，這些力包括電磁力、結合原子核的強力、控制某些放射作用的弱力、以及使我們站在地面或推動地球公轉的引力。

早在發表《時間簡史》而聲名大噪之前，霍金就擔任此職位了。在他擔任盧卡斯教授時期，他不僅在《辛普森一家》以及《星際旅行：下一代》中客串亮相，還出現在倫敦一家叫做弦友（Stringfellows）的脫衣舞俱樂部里，于是，一家報紙以這樣的標題報道了這件事情：《弦友理論》（Stringfellow theory）。

The next Stephen Hawking: string theory pioneer gets Cambridge post

Michael Green, one of the pioneers of string theory, takes prestigious role at University of Cambridge

A Cambridge physicist who pioneered the idea that everything in the universe is made up of tiny vibrating strings of energy is to succeed Stephen Hawking in the most prestigious academic post in the world.

Professor Michael Green, a fellow of the Royal Society and co-founder of the fiendishly complex idea of string theory, was offered the position of Lucasian professor of mathematics following a meeting at the university this month.

Hawking stepped down from the position at the beginning of the month in accordance with Cambridge rules that stipulate the post must be vacated when the incumbent reaches their 67th birthday. Hawking had been in the job for 30 years. He is now director of research at the university's department of applied mathematics and theoretical physics.

The chair was created in 1664 and has been occupied by some of the greatest names in the history of science, with Sir Isaac Newton and Paul Dirac among Hawking's predecessors.

Green, who works in the same department as Hawking, played a major role in developing a form of string theory that describes all of the different types of particles in the universe and how they interact with each other.

Ahead of the official announcement, one scientist said it was an excellent appointment for a physicist who had been a driving force for string theory from the start.

Advocates of string theory believe it paves the way to understanding all of nature's forces, including electromagnetism, the strong force that holds atomic nuclei together, the weak force that governs certain forms of radiation, and gravity that keeps our feet on the ground and the Earth in orbit around the Sun.

Hawking occupied the position long before he rose to fame on the back of his bestseller, A Brief History of Time. During his time as Lucasian professor, he made appearances in The Simpsons and Star Trek: The Next Generation, and also at the London lap dancing club, Stringfellows, a story covered by one newspaper under the headline: "Stringfellow theory".

（Source: Guardian.co.uk，英國使館文化教育處提供）