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Over the past century, scientists have discovered that if certain properties of the universe were changed very slightly from what they are, we would not be here. They have to be within a very narrow range for our universe to make life possible and be habitable. <\/span><\/p>\r\n The universe is fine-tuned for the existence of intelligent life with a complexity and delicacy that literally defy human comprehension. <\/span><\/p>\r\n 1. Fine tuning of the laws of nature.<\/span><\/p>\r\n 2. Fine-tuning of the constants of physics.<\/span><\/p>\r\n 3. Fine tuning of the initial conditions of the universe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There are two ways to look at this aspect of fine-tuning:<\/span><\/p>\r\n A. Precisely the right laws are needed for highly complex life to exist. If one of these were missing, such life would not be possible. An example is the the law of gravity. Without it, there won’t be any stars or planets. Another example is the electromagnetic force without which there would be no atoms because there would be no force to hold the negatively charged electrons with the positively charged protons that allow for chemical bonds. <\/span><\/p>\r\n B. Harmony between nature and mathematics: Only in the 20th century have we come to understand that what we observe in nature can be described by only a few physical laws, each of which is described by simple mathematical equations. <\/span><\/p>\r\n The ‘constants’ are the unchaning numbers that appear in the methamatical equations that express the laws of nature. The laws of nature do not determine the value of these constants. There could be a universe governed by the same<\/em> laws, but with different<\/em> values of these constants. Depending on the values of those constants, a universe governed by the same<\/em> laws of nature will look very different<\/em>. An example is G, the Gravitational Constant. If one increased the strength of gravity by one part in 1034<\/sup>, even single-celled organisms would be crushed, and only planets less than around 100 feet in diameter would sustain life with our brain-size. A 400-fold measure in G would result in any such planet having a surface force at least 10 times as large. Such a planet would be far less ideal than earth for humans. <\/span><\/p>\r\n In addition to the constants, there are certain arbitrary quantities that are just put in as initial conditions on which the laws of nature operate. Because these quantities are arbitrary, they are also not<\/em> determined by the laws of nature. <\/span><\/p>\r\n Scientists have discovered that that these constants and initial conditions must fall into an extremely narrow range of values for the universe to exist. This is what is meant by ‘the universe has been fine tuned for life.’<\/span><\/p>\r\n This is an example of fine-tuning that allows a habitable planet. A number of factors must be fine-tuned in order to have a planet that supports life:<\/span><\/p>\r\n A rough but conservative calculation that the chance of one such planet existing in the universe is about 1 in 1030<\/sup>.<\/span><\/p>\r\nTypes of Fine-Tuning<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
1. Fine tuning of the laws of nature<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
2. Fine-Tuning of the Constants<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
3. Fine-Tuning of the Initial Conditions of the Universe<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
An Example of Fine Tuning<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
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The Most<\/em> Extreme Example of Fine Tuning<\/span><\/h2>\r\n