The delicate balance in the universe - What if this balance is violated?

From a paper “Limits for the Universe” by Hugh Ross, Ph.D

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 formation

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

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 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

25

Parent star age

If older:

Luminosity of star would change too quickly

If younger:

Luminosity of star would change too quickly

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

Oxygen quantity in 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

From a paper “Limits for the Universe” by Hugh Ross, Ph.D