This would render them incapable of producing heavy elements. If this value were to be decreased slightly, all stars would be at least 20% less massive than the sun. This would mean that stellar burning would be too brief and too uneven to support complex life. If this value were to be increased slightly, all stars would be at least 40% more massive than our Sun. The ratio of the electromagnetic force to gravity must be finely balanced to a degree of one part in 10^40. If this fundamental constant were to be any larger or smaller than this, the electromagnetism would dominate gravity - preventing the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets. The ratio of electrons to protons must be finely balanced to a degree of one part in 10^37. Again, the result would be no planets, no solar systems and hence no life. Conversely, if the amount of matter converted were increased to 0.8% instead of 0.7%, fusion would occur so rapidly that no hydrogen would remain. Without the presence of heavy elements, planets would not form and hence no life would be possible. If the amount of matter converted were slightly smaller - say, 0.6% instead of 0.7% - a proton would not be able to bond to a neutron and the universe would consist only of hydrogen. When two hydrogen atoms fuse, 0.7% of the mass of the hydrogen atoms is converted into energy. The sun derives its ‘fuel’ from fusing hydrogen atoms together. Either way, the universe would be uninhabitable.Īnother finely tuned value is the strong nuclear force that holds atoms - and therefore matter - together. Conversely, if this factor were increased slightly, the universe would consist only of large black holes. If this factor were even slightly smaller, the cosmos would exist exclusively as a collection of gas - stars, planets, and galaxies would not exist. The ripples in the universe left over from the original ‘Big Bang’ singularity (often referred to as CMB, or cosmic background radiation) are detectable at one part in 10^5 (100,000). The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.” British astrophysicist Fred Hoyle writes: “A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The degree to which the constants of physics must match precise criteria is such that a number of agnostic scientists have concluded that indeed there is some sort of transcendent purpose behind the cosmic arena. The concept of cosmic fine tuning relates to a unique property of our universe whereby the physical constants and laws are observed to be balanced on a ‘razor’s edge’ for permitting the emergence of complex life.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |