In his book “The God Delusion,” Richard Dawkins, British evolutionary biologist, ethologist, and author, discusses the concept of fine-tuning in the universe. This is the argument that physical functions, forces, and processes in the universe are precisely fine-tuned to enable life to exist and to function adequately (see the many fine-tuned items in the table below, and the Section 'Multi-tiered Coordinated Planning').
Richard Dawkins, in his book, uses the analogy of a "god" playing with a machine that has *just* eight “knobs” or parameters, that are precisely adjusted to allow for the existence of life within the universe.
However, the fine-tuning of our universe for life, relies on far more than just eight parameters!
The table given below, quite technical in nature, summarises no less than 40 of these fine-tuning elements. And this is by no means a complete list.
All of these must be tuned with precision, and sometimes extreme precision, to enable life to begin and to be sustained. Note how this ties in with the multi-tiered project discussed elsewhere.
Apologies to those not familiar with the subject of physics; however, an examination of these items will prove to be rewarding.
Each item is listed below, along with a description of the physical consequences of this item being either greater or smaller than it actually is in the universe. If any one of these items was not so fine-tuned, then life would either not exist at all, or would be unbearably uncomfortable.
In the table below, the following legend applies:
A minus sign (–) represents smaller, slower, less dense, or younger properties.
A plus sign (+) represents larger, faster, more dense, or older properties.
Note how the following elements or items are presented. For example, the first item, the 'Strong nuclear force,' if it was very slightly greater, would result in the effects described against the plus (+) sign; and if it was very slightly smaller, this would result in the effects described against the minus (-) sign; and so on for each of the remaining items.
Strong nuclear force
+ no hydrogen would form; atomic nuclei for life-essential elements would be unstable; life would not be possible
– no elements heavier than hydrogen would exist: life would not be possible
Weak nuclear force constant
+ too much hydrogen would convert to helium; stars would convert too much matter into heavy elements; life would not be possible
– too little helium would be produced; stars would convert too little matter into heavy elements; life would not be possible
Strength of force of gravity at all time stages of universe
+ stars would be too hot and would burn too rapidly and too unevenly
– stars would be too cool for nuclear fusion; elements needed for life would never exist
Strength of force of gravity at all size stages of universe
+ gravity would overwhelm the expansion of the universe and fatal contraction would occur
– gaseous nebulae would never succeed in forming stars; preventing life
Electromagnetic force
+ chemical bonding would not occur; essential elements would be unstable
– chemical bonding would be unstable and life would not be possible
Ratio of electromagnetic force to gravitational force
+ all stars would be at least 1.4 times the mass of our stable sun; life-cycle of stars would be too brief to support life
– all stars would be at least one fifth the mass of the sun, making them incapable of producing heavy elements
Mass of the neutrino
+ If neutrinos have even a small amount of mass, their high density throughout the universe would increase the Omega value (the mass in the universe) causing its eventual collapse; galaxy clusters and galaxies would be too dense, making conditions impossible for sustained, comfortable life
– If Omega (the mass in the universe) is infinitesimally less than 1.0, it would be unable to prevent the universe from expanding forever; galaxy clusters, galaxies, and stars would not form
The lambda particle
+ If lambda ("vacuum energy" or "quintessence") is non-zero, universal expansion may be accelerating
– If lambda is zero, the universe may easily collapse
Ratio of electron to proton mass
+ chemical bonds would be too few, meaning life would not be possible
– chemical bonds would be unstable, meaning life would not be possible
Ratio of number of protons to number of electrons
+ electromagnetic force would be too great for gravity, preventing formation of galaxies, stars, planets
– electromagnetic force would be inadequate … stars would never form
Expansion rate of the universe
+ no galaxies would exist
– universe would quickly collapse
Entropy level of the universe
+ stars would not exist within proto-galaxies
– proto-galaxies would not exist
Mass density of the universe
+ excess of deuterium (in contrast to helium) would mean stars would burn out too rapidly for life to exist
– insufficient helium would mean shortage of heavier elements essential for life
Velocity of light
+ stars would be too bright
– stars would be too dark
Age of the universe
+ no stars sufficiently stable would exist in required locations of the galaxy
– stable stars would not have formed
Initial uniformity of radiation
+ if more uniform: stars, star clusters, galaxies and galactic clusters could never form
– if less uniform: the universe would quickly have become “over-run” with black holes and be predominantly devoid of stars essential for life
Distance of moon from the earth
+ If much closer, tidal waves would be 1,000 times greater than they are today
– If much further away, earth's day would be only 8 hours long; winds and hurricanes would be considerably greater; oceans would not be chemical-rich and therefore inadequate for life
Distance of earth from the sun
+ Freezing temperatures would not permit life to survive, or even to develop
– Heat would scorch the atmosphere, as well as land; oceans would be evaporated, and no chemicals required for life-synthesis would exist
Size of the moon
+ Sun's gravitational effect on the moon (currently about twice that of the earth) would be greater, causing severe irregularities in moon's orbit with consequences like those explained for 'Distance of moon from the earth'
– The moon would have less mass and would therefore draw rapidly closer to the earth; earth’s day would be only about two thirds its current length; less scattered sunlight; greater seasonal fluctuations; life would be uncomfortable
Average distance between stars
+ heavy element density would be too sparse for rocky planets to form
– planetary orbits would be too unstable for life
Average distance between galaxies
+ lack of material for star formation
– gravitational effects would destabilize the sun's orbit
Density of galactic cluster
+ galaxy collisions and mergers would destabilize the sun's orbit
– lack of material for star formation
Fine structure constant
+ too many stars would have significantly less mass than the sun; matter would be unstable in large magnetic fields
– all stars would have significantly greater mass than the sun, decreasing the chances of an adequate “goldilocks” distance
Decay rate of protons
+ radiation would prevent the existence of life
– universe would contain insufficient matter for life
Ratio of neutron mass to proton mass
+ neutron decay would yield too few neutrons for the formation of many life-essential elements
– neutron decay would produce so many neutrons that stars would collapse into neutron stars or black holes
Initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons
+ radiation would prohibit planet formation
– availability of matter would be insufficient for galaxy or star formation
Supernovae eruptions
+ if too distant, too infrequent, or too soon: heavy elements would be too sparse for rocky planets to form, hence life would not be possible
– if too close, too frequent, or too late: radiation would prevent life from existing for sufficient time
White dwarf binaries - quantity
+ if too many: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life
– if too few: insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry
White dwarf binaries - timing
+ if formed too late: fluorine would arrive too late for life chemistry
– if formed too soon: insufficient fluorine production
Ratio of exotic matter mass to ordinary matter mass
+ universe would collapse before solar-type stars could form
– no galaxies would form
Number of dimensions in early universe
+ quantum mechanics, gravity, and relativity could not coexist; life would be impossible
– same result
Number of dimensions in present universe
– quantum mechanics, gravity, and relativity could not coexist; life would be impossible
+ electron, planet, and star orbits would be unstable, preventing life
Big bang ripples
+ galaxies/galaxy clusters would be too dense for life; black holes would dominate; universe would collapse even before life-site could form
– galaxies would not form; universe would expand too rapidly
Cosmological constant
+ universe would expand too quickly to form stars capable of sustaining life
– the expansion rate of the universe would be slower; the universe would quickly collapse or too much time would be allowed for gravitational forces to pull matter together, leading to denser and more numerous structures, and making gravitational forces too great either for life to exist comfortably or even for life to begin at all
© Copyright 2024, Michael A. Barber. All rights reserved.
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