A collection of newly published essays written by Stephen Hawking before his death reveal the iconic physicist believed wealthy people could create a new race of "superhumans" by editing their children's DNA. The collection of articles and essays, which has appeared in part in the Sunday Times, will be published in their entirety as a book called: 'Brief Answers to the Big Questions', due to be released on October 16. Hawking, who died in March, writes that he is sure breakthroughs in genetic engineering will allow people to create a superhuman race within this century. He also predicted that while laws will try to prevent it, the rich and greedy will be unable to resist the temptation. "I am sure that during this century, people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts such as aggression," he wrote. "Laws will probably be passed against genetic engineering with humans. But some people won't be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as