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The universe is a remarkable place. Not just because it is so big or because it contains so many things (including us), but also because it is able to sustain life.
Here on Earth, it is easy to assume that life is nothing special. We see it all over the place. Life even thrives in vastly different conditions here on our planet, ranging from very hot to very cold, on the surface to deep underground, and everywhere in between.
For life here on Earth to be possible, however, the conditions in the universe itself must be such that life could be possible. This is where the scientific and philosophical idea of a ‘fine-tuned’ universe comes in.
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At this point, scientists only have evidence that life can exist in a place where there is water, carbon molecules, energy, and certain other factors. While it is possible that there are other scenarios where life can evolve, it is not known.
There are a variety of cosmological ‘constants’ that would make life as we know it (and quite possibly, life in general) impossible.
For example, if the strength of electromagnetic interactions were just slightly stronger or weaker, stars would not create carbon (or many other elements), which would eliminate all known types of life.
If the strength of gravity were a little different, the universe would either collapse in on itself or planets would never come into an orbit around the sun, which also dramatically reduces the chances of life developing.
There are quite a few other ‘settings’ for the universe that indicate that it is fine-tuned for life as we know it, and perhaps, for life itself.
But what does that really mean? What is the explanation for this?
There could be quite a few.
For many, the fine-tuned concept is evidence that there is a god or some type of higher entity that created the universe in such a way as to ensure it can support life. This could be any number of gods, a completely unknown god, an extra-cosmic being, or even a kid playing with an advanced simulator that set up our universe in a game.
Another potential explanation comes from the multiverse theory. If there are a massive or even infinite number of universes, each with different configurations, then even if our universe is fine-tuned for life, it wouldn’t mean much. There may be one universe that can support life out of every trillion.
Since no life could be in the other universes, nobody would be there to ask why.
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A related explanation is that universes spawn other universes through black holes. If a universe can create both life and black holes, the ‘sub-universe’ it spawns would be able to as well.
In the end, while the concept of a fine-tuned universe is interesting and important, it doesn’t give us any definitive answers. It does, however, prompt the asking of many new questions, which in the world of science can be just as important.
If you thought that was interesting, you might like to read about a second giant hole has opened up on the sun’s surface. Here’s what it means.