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The following table shows what would happen if the delicate balance in each individual detail of this vast universe is violated. This obligates us to thank our God who bestows upon us with this delicate balance so that we can live in this universe.
Allah says in Quran "Lo! We have created every thing by measure" (Quran 54:49)
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
The delicate balance in the universe - What if this balance is violated?
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