The same week a Southern physics professor proclaimed there are no black holes, renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, whose work involves black holes, confirmed one of his longtime beliefs: there is no God.

Laura Mersini-Houghton, a physics professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the College of Arts and Sciences, said in a study announced Sept. 23 that she's proven, mathematically, that black holes could never happen in the first place, because after dying stars explode, they lose the mass and density they would need to become singularities, otherwise known as black holes.

Likewise, in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Hawking elaborated on his theories on the origin of the universe, and emphasized his theories do not support the world being created by a deity.

"Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation. What I meant by 'we would know the mind of God' is, we would know everything that God would know, if there were a God, which there isn't. I'm an atheist," said Hawking, who gave the interview while attending the astronomy-focused Starmus International Festival in the Canary Islands.

Hawking told ANC News in a 2010 interview that humans created the idea of God to make sense of the universe before they knew the science behind the phenomena of the world.

He added in that prior interview that because science is rooted in observation and reason rather than authority, science will eventually "win."

In his session with El Mundo, Hawking contended that "religion believes in miracles, but these aren't compatible with science."

Meanwhile, said the English-born professor with earnestness, "In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind."

Hawking suggested exploring the universe may well keep the human race alive, as "It could prevent the disappearance of humanity by colonizing other planets."

Hawking said he may not expect any divine intervention, but there could be intervention by beings from alien worlds, which he does believe in, if us humans aren't careful.

He cautioned a visit from galactic neighbors could develop in a similar fashion to when Christopher Columbus showed up in the New World.

That, Hawking noted, "didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans."