EVIDENCES FOR DESIGN IN THE UNIVERSE
from Limits for the Universe by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. in Astronomy
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1. |
Gravitational coupling constant | If larger: | No stars less than 1.4 solar masses, hence short stellar life spans |
| If smaller: | No stars more than 0.8 solar masses, hence no heavy element production | ||
2. |
Strong nuclear force coupling constant | If larger: | No hydrogen; nuclei essential for life are unstable |
| If smaller: | No elements other than hydrogen | ||
3.
|
Weak nuclear force coupling constant | If larger: | All hydrogen is converted to helium in the big bang, hence too much heavy elements |
| If smaller: | No helium produced from big bang, hence not enough heavy elements | ||
4. |
Electromagnetic coupling constant | If larger: | No chemical bonding; elements more massive than boron are unstable to fission |
| If smaller: | No chemical bonding | ||
5.
| Ratio of protons to electrons | If larger: | Electromagnetism dominates gravity preventing galaxy, star, and planet formation |
| If smaller: | Electromagnetism dominates gravity preventing galaxy, star, and planet formation | ||
6.
| Ratio of electron to proton mass | If larger: | No chemical bonding |
| If smaller: | No chemical bonding | ||
7.
| Expansion rate of the universe | If larger: | No galaxy formation |
| If smaller: | Universe collapses prior to star formation | ||
8.
| Entropy level of universe | If larger: | No star condensation within the proto-galaxies |
| If smaller: | No proto-galaxy formation | ||
9. |
Mass density of the universe | If larger: | Too much deuterium from big bang, hence stars burn too rapidly |
| If smaller: | No helium from big bang, hence not enough heavy elements | ||
10. |
Age of the universe | If older: | No solar-type stars in a stable burning phase in the right part of the galaxy |
| If younger: | Solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would not yet have formed | ||
11. |
Initial uniformity of radiation | If smoother: | Stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed |
| If coarser: | Universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space | ||
12. |
Average distance between stars | If larger: | Heavy element density too thin for rocky planet production |
| If smaller: | Planetary orbits become destabilized | ||
13. |
Solar luminosity | If increases too soon: | Runaway green house effect |
| If increases too late: | Frozen oceans | ||
14. |
Fine structure constant* | If larger: | No stars more than 0.7 solar masses |
| If smaller: | No stars less then 1.8 solar masses | ||
| *(A function of three other fundamental constants, Planck's constant, the velocity of light, and the electron charge each of which, therefore, must be fine-tuned) | |||
15.
| Decay rate of the proton | If greater: | Life would be exterminated by the release of radiation |
| If smaller: | Insufficient matter in the universe for life | ||
16.
| 12C to 16O energy level ratio | If larger: | Insufficient oxygen |
| If smaller: | Insufficient carbon | ||
17.
| Decay rate of 8Be | If slower: | Heavy element fusion would generate catastrophic explosions in all the stars |
| If faster: | No element production beyond beryllium and, hence, no life chemistry possible | ||
18.
| Mass difference between the neutron and the proton | If greater: | Protons would decay before stable nuclei could form |
| If smaller: | Protons would decay before stable nuclei could form | ||
19.
| Initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons | If greater: | Too much radiation for planets to form |
| If smaller: | Not enough matter for galaxies or stars to form | ||
20.
| Galaxy type | If too elliptical: | Star formation ceases before sufficient heavy element buildup for life chemistry |
| If too irregular: | Radiation exposure on occasion is too severe and/or heavy elements for life chemistry are not available | ||
21.
| Parent star distance from center of galaxy | If farther: | Quantity of heavy elements would be insufficient to make rocky planets |
| If closer: | Stellar density and radiation would be too great | ||
22.
| Number of stars in the planetary system | If more than one: | Tidal interactions would disrupt planetary orbits |
| If less than one: | Heat produced would be insufficient for life | ||
23. |
Parent star birth date | If more recent: | Star would not yet have reached stable burning phase |
| If less recent: | Stellar system would not yet contain enough heavy elements | ||
24. |
Parent star age | If older: | Luminosity of star would change too quickly |
| If younger: | Luminosity of star would change too quickly | ||
25. |
Parent star mass | If greater: | Luminosity would change too fast; star would burn too rapidly |
| If less: | Range of distances appropriate for life would be too narrow; tidal forces would disrupt the rotational period for a planet of the right distance; uv radiation would be inadequate for plants to make sugars and oxygen | ||
26. |
Parent star color | If redder: | Photosynthetic response would be insufficient |
| If bluer: | Photosynthetic response would be insufficient | ||
27. |
Supernovae eruptions | If too close: | Life on the planet would be exterminated |
| If too far: | Not enough heavy element ashes for the formation of rocky planets | ||
| If too infrequent: | Not enough heavy element ashes for the formation of rocky planets | ||
| If too frequent: | Life on the planet would be exterminated | ||
28. |
White dwarf binaries | If too few: | Insufficient fluorine produced for life chemistry to proceed |
| If too many: | Disruption of planetary orbits from stellar density; life on the planet would be exterminated | ||
29. |
Surface gravity (escape velocity) | If stronger: | Atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane |
| If weaker: | Planet's atmosphere would lose too much water | ||
30. |
Distance from parent star | If farther: | Planet would be too cool for a stable water cycle |
| If closer: | Planet would be too warm for a stable water cycle | ||
31. |
Inclination of orbit | If too great: | Temperature differences on the planet would be too extreme |
32. |
Orbital eccentricity | If too great: | Seasonal temperature differences would be too extreme |
33. |
Axial tilt | If greater: | Surface temperature differences would be too great |
| If less: | Surface temperature differences would be too great | ||
34. |
Rotation period | If longer: | Diurnal temperature differences would be too great |
| If shorter: | Atmospheric wind velocities would be too great | ||
35. |
Gravitational interaction with a moon | If greater: | Tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe |
| If less: | Orbital obliquity changes would cause climatic instabilities | ||
36. |
Magnetic field | If stronger: | Electromagnetic storms would be too severe |
| If weaker: | Inadequate protection from hard stellar radiation | ||
37. |
Thickness of crust | If thicker: | Too much oxygen would be transferred from the atmosphere to the crust |
| If thinner: | Volcanic and tectonic activity would be too great | ||
38. |
Albedo (ratio of reflected light to total amount falling on surface) | If greater: | Runaway ice age would develop |
| If less: | Runaway green house effect would develop | ||
39. |
Oxygen to nitrogen ratio in atmosphere | If larger: | Advanced life functions would proceed too quickly |
| If smaller: | Advanced life functions would proceed too slowly | ||
40. |
Carbon dioxide level in atmosphere | If greater: | Runaway greenhouse effect would develop |
| If less: | Plants would not be able to maintain efficient photosynthesis | ||
41. |
Water vapor level in atmosphere | If greater: | Runaway greenhouse effect would develop |
| If less: | Rainfall would be too meager for advanced life on the land | ||
42. |
Ozone level in atmosphere | If greater: | Surface temperatures would be too low |
| If less | Surface temperatures would be too high; there would be too much uv radiation at the surface | ||
43. |
Atmospheric electric discharge rate | If greater: | Too much fire destruction would occur |
| If less: | Too little nitrogen would be fixed in the atmosphere | ||
44. |
Too little nitrogen would be fixed in the atmosphere | If greater: | Plants and hydrocarbons would burn up too easily |
| If less: | Advanced animals would have too little to breathe | ||
45. |
Oceans to continents ratio | If greater: | Diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited |
| If smaller: | Diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited | ||
46. |
Soil materializations | If too nutrient poor: | Diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited |
| If too nutrient rich: | Diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited | ||
47. |
Seismic activity | If greater: | Too many life-forms would be destroyed |
| If less: | Nutrients on ocean floors (from river runoff) would not be recycled to the continents through tectonic uplift | ||