Title: A Fine Tuned Cosmos: Illusion, God, or Multiple Universes David Heddle Christopher Newport Universit
1A Fine Tuned Cosmos Illusion, God, or Multiple
Universes?David HeddleChristopher Newport
UniversityThomas Jefferson National Accelerator
Laboratory
If there is only one universe, you might have to
have a fine-tuner. If you dont want God, youd
better have a multiverse. (Bernard Carr)
2Outline
- Introduction
- Fine-Tuning
- Cosmology
- Big bang, Cosmological Constant
- Fine Tuning Examples
- Other Possibilities
- Tie Breaker?
- Conclusion
3What is Fine Tuning?
- Fine Tuning Observation that complex life of any
kind would be impossible anywhere in the
universe if the values of physical constants
differed by small amounts.
Example If the universe expanded faster, stars
could not have formed. If slower, the universe
would have recollapsed. No stars means no life of
any kind.
Based on the modest assumption that life of any
kind requires stars to produce heavy elements,
and that complex life requires water.
4A preview (from the Discover article)
- Had matter in the universe been more evenly
distributed, it would not have clumped together
to form galaxies. Clumpier, and it would have
condensed into black holes. - If the nuclear force (which holds nuclei
together) was slightly stronger, protons would
have paired off and there would be no hydrogen,
which fuels long-lived stars. Water would not
exist, nor would any known form of life.
5Just to Ponder Amazing Water
Anomalous properties
Effects
- High latent heats
- High specific heat of water
- Ices low thermal conductivity
- Great ability to dissolve
- Expansion on freezing
- High melting/boiling points
- High surface tension
- Thermal stabilization of cells, organisms, Earth
- Chemical weathering (rocks broken down into
nutrients) - Chemical reactions (especially with carbon
chemistry)
6A remarkable fact Ice Floats
- One of only a few substances that floats in its
own melt - If water didnt float
- Rivers, lakes, etc. would freeze from bottom up
- All marine life would die
- Climate on earth altered so radically that
complex life would be unlikely
7Who Believes in Fine-Tuning?
- Everyone. Virtually all physicists of agree that
the universe is fine-tuned. - There is no testable explanation for fine-tuning.
Theism is one (untestable, supernatural)
explanation. Multiple universes (multiverse) is
another (untestable, naturalistic) explanation.
Although most would argue that the fine-tuning
is apparent. That is, the universe was not
actively fine tuned by an intelligence.
8The Possibilities
God
One universe or many universes?
everyone accepts this
We are lucky
There is only one universe
Our Universe is fine-tuned
Its an illusion
Many universes (multiverse) each with different
constants
Our universe appears fine tuned because if it
werent, we wouldnt be here
9Fine Tuning is related to sensitivity, not
improbability
- If some constant has to be close to its actual
value for life to exist we have fine tuning
regardless of the improbability of the value. - In fact
- The is no way to calculate the a priori
probability - Multiverse theories in fact predict our constants
are low probability - Opposite what most ID proponents suggest,
fine-tuning (sensitivity) plus high probability
(fundamental theory) is the strongest case for a
designer
10Quotes on Fine Tuning
- Youll see quotes from world-class physicists
throughout this talk. - All view it as an interesting problem that
demands an explanation - Some view it as evidence for multiple universes
- A few view it as prima facie evidence for an
designer
11My Perspective as Christian and Scientist
- The bible and science cannot, ultimately,
disagree.
- When theologians and scientists disagree,
scientists are often right - Galileo is still a good example.
- But for the question of a beginning of our
universe, theists were there first. - Homosexuality nature or nurture?
That is, the original autographs. We affirm
biblical inerrancy along the lines of the
Chicago Statement.
12For anti-Science Christians Consider Special
and General Revelation
Scripture
Special Revelation
Fallible Translations
Fallible Exegesis
Theology
We should not make snap judg-ments about which
side is wrong
As a result of human error on either/both sides,
these can be in conflict
Cannot be in conflict
Fallible Interpre- tations
Science
Fallible Observations
General Revelation
Creation
13My niche ministry, such as it is
- To proclaim the necessary compatibility between
science and the bible/Christian Faith - Opposition
- Militant atheistsseek no reconciliation
- My fundamentalist brothersview science as evil
and in opposition to the Truth - Support
- Mainstream scientists
- Mainstream Christians
14 Fine Tuning Poker Analogy
- Suppose I take a deck of cards
- I tell you that unless I shuffle them and deal
you a royal flush of hearts (one try) youll die - And then I do just that
Three competing explanations
- Blind Luck.
- (Naturalistic) There are an infinite number of
universes, in most of them you died. - (Design) I cheated.
1514 Billion Years Ago The Big Bang
- Was not an explosion that hurled matter into
pre-existing space
- Was an expansion of space occurring everywhere at
once
time
Furthermore
- The observable universe was tiny at the big bang,
but perhaps not the entire universe - Because of expansion, the farthest visible object
is not 14 but 46 billion light years away - God cannot put us in the center, because there is
no center
16Fine TuningCarbon Production
- No other element equals its ability to form large
molecules needed to store information (for
complex life.) - Water fits carbon chemistry H20 is liquid over
the range of temperatures at which carbon
chemistry is most active. - Non Carbon-based life is probably science
fictiononly Silicon and Boron based life is
possible, and their chemistry is not as rich as
Carbon nor as synergetic with water.
17Water and Carbon
Despite our best efforts to avoid chauvinism
and to seek out other chemistries for life, we
are forced to conclude that water is the best of
all possible solvents, and carbon compounds are
apparently the best of all possible carriers of
complex information. John Lewis, Planetary
Scientist (Univ. of Arizona) If you want
physicists (or any other life forms) you need
carbon. Robert Dicke, Astrophysicist,
(Princeton University)
18So it would seem
- We (minimally) need Hydrogen, Carbon, and Oxygen.
Where do they come from? - The Big Bang produced a universe which at first
had only Hydrogen and Helium (and a little
Lithium) - Where did the heavier elements such as Carbon and
Oxygen get made?
19We are made of Star Dust
- Big-Bang ? Hydrogen and Helium
- Inside stars, heavier elements (e.g., Carbon) are
manufactured through nuclear fusion - Stars explode (super novae) seeding space with
these life-essential elements - Other stars, planets, and humans are made from
this star dust
20Anthropic Principle (Barrow Tipler)
- (Weak) The observed values of the physical
constants take on values restricted by the
requirement that there exist sites where
carbon-based life can evolve. - (Strong) The Universe must have those properties
which allow life to develop within it at some
stage in its history. - To paraphrase we can use the fact that we are
here to guide predictions. Science need not
ignore the obvious fact of the existence of
humans.
21Anthropic Prediction (Hoyle)
Carbon is made inside stars. One way He4 He4
He4 ? C12 Unlikely (3 He have to
meet.) Maybe Step 1 He4 He4 ? Be8 Step
2 He4 Be8 ? C12
C
22But Wait, theres More
- Short lifetime of Be8 (10-17 s) prevents runaway
fusion. Be8 instability leads to stellar
stability. - So two fine-tunings short life of Be8 and the
lucky level of C12 that together allow Carbon
production at a fortuitous rate. - But wait Two more coincidences (1) The lack of
a similar state in O16 prevents all the C12 from
converting to O16 and (2) A conservation law
prevents O16 from being easily converted to Ne20.
C
Be
C
Net Result Carbon and Oxygen produced
abundantly, and in comparable amounts
23From Hoyle, an anti-theist
- A superintellect has monkeyed with the physics,
as well as the chemistry and biology. - Fred Hoyle, Astrophysicist, The Universe Past
and Present Reflections", Ann. Rev. Ast. and
Astrophys. 20, 1982, p. 16.
Hoyle also reported that his atheism was greatly
shaken by the discovery that carbon just manages
to form and then avoids complete conversion into
oxygen.
24Recent Discoveries
- The Universe is Flat (Normal, High-School
Geometry works!) - After a period of slowing down, the expansion of
the universe is now accelerating. It will not
bounce back and start over.
The Little Princes universe is not flat
25Best Evidence Cosmic Background Radiation
3000 K
hot
c o l d
3 K
- When the universe was 0.3 My old atoms formed,
decoupling light from matter (universe no longer
opaque) - Temperature is related to the wavelength
longer wavelengths ? lower temperature - As the universe expands, the wavelength
increases, so the temperature drops (has expanded
by factor of 1000) - Today, the temperature (nearby) is about 2.7 K
OK, thats debatable. The other two best
evidences for the standard Big Bang model are
Hubbles Law and the abundance of light elements.
26Background is not perfectly uniform. Cosmic
Background Explorer (COBE) 1992
Background fluctuations account for galaxies
(with fine-tuning of 10-6) This is a picture of
the universe when light separated at 0.3 Million
Years
Problem Such uniformity requires superluminal
communication. Solved by introducing cosmic
inflation1050 size increase in 10-32 s
27Implication The Universe, began
- The best data we have (concerning the Big Bang)
are exactly what I would have predicted, had I
nothing to go on but the five books of Moses, the
Psalms, and the Bible as a whole. - Arno A. Penzias, Nobel Laureate
- (Physics), and co-discoverer of
- the Cosmic Background Radiation
28The Big Bang was Resisted by Some
Philosophically the notion of a beginning of the
present order is repugnant to me. I should like
to find a genuine loophole. I simply do not
believe the present order of things started off
with a bang the expanding Universe is
preposterous it leaves me cold We must allow
evolution an infinite time to get started.
Sir Arthur Eddington, astronomer
29The Cosmological Constant L
- L measures the energy and pressure of empty
space. It causes an anti-gravity stretching. - Observation The universes expansion is
accelerating. A nonzero L can explain this
observation.
In 1998, the Cosmological Constant was awarded
the breakthrough of the year by the journal
Science.
30Constituents of the Universe
Dark Matter passed a recent experimental test
(2006)
Dark Matter 26
Normal Matter 4
Dark Energy (L) 70
Dark Energy (L) explains the universes flatness.
It must be comparable to the matter contribution
(it cant be too small) If L is too big, space
would be too curved and stars and galaxies would
not exist (expansion too fast)
Not to mention we would all be vampires.
31The Greatest Fine Tuning Problem
Best Calculations L 1
Some unknown fine-tuning gets us from here to
here
Observed L 0.0000000 01
to here
120 zeroes
Unacceptable L 0.0000000 10
without stopping here (notionally)
Unacceptable L Exactly Zero
or proceeding to there
32On The Fine-Tuning Problem of L
- Our current understanding of gravity and quantum
mechanics says that empty space should have about
120 orders of magnitude more energy than the
amount we measure it to have. That is 1 with 120
zeroes after it! How to reduce the amount it has
by such a huge magnitude, without making it
precisely zero, is a complete mystery. Among
physicists, this is considered the worst
fine-tuning problem in physics. - Lawrence Krauss, Cosmologist, Sci. Am., Aug.
2004, pp. 83-84.
33Fine Tuning Number Of Dimensions
- String Theory Universe is 10 or 11 dimensional
- At 10-43 seconds six of the dimensions stopped
expanding1, leaving us with three (expanding)
space dimensions (length, width, depth) and one
time dimension. - Exactly three expanding space dimensions is
critical for life - Resulting force law (r -2) is necessary for
stable planetary and atomic orbits. - Only 3D universes allow for transmission of high
fidelity signals2.
1 The details of these six dimensions determine
the physical constants 2 J.D. Barrow,
Dimensionality, Phil. Trans. Royal Soc of
London A310 (1983) p, 341
34Coincidences
- The possibility of life as we know it depends on
the values of a few basic physical constants and
is, in some respects remarkably sensitive to
their numerical values. Nature does exhibit
remarkable coincidences. - Martin Rees, Cosmologist, Cambridge University
35Strong Nuclear Force
- Binds neutrons and protons in the nucleus
- If weaker, then fewer stable nuclei. (50 weaker
reduces number of elements to 20 no iron,
iodine, molybdenum) Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen
probably radioactive. - Other calculations suggest that if the strong
force were stronger or weaker by as little as
0.5-2, life would be impossiblee.g., the
effect on Red Giant stars1,2 and on the diproton
catastrophe.
1 Barrow and Tipler, The Anthropic Cosmological
Principle. Oxford Univ. Press, (1986) 322. 2 H.
Oberhummer, A. Cst, and H. Schlattl, Stellar
Production Rates of Carbon and Its Abundance in
the Universe, Science 289 (2000) 88-90.
36More on Fine Tuning
- The present arrangement of matter indicates a
very special choice of initial conditions The
really amazing thing is not that life on Earth is
balanced on a knife-edge, but that the entire
universe is balanced on a knife-edge, and would
be total chaos if any of the natural 'constants'
were off even slightly. - Paul Davies, Professor of theoretical physics,
Adelaide University
37Gravity
- If stronger, stars would be hotter, burn up too
quickly and unevenly - If weaker, stellar nuclear furnace would not
ignite, so no heavy elements - If gravity/EM was changed by 1 part in 1040, then
no life-sustaining stars like our sun1 - A star of the right mass, color, and life cycle
that, allows a planet to get close enough for
liquid water not so close that the planet phase
locks has a very stable luminosity period etc.
1 Related to convection/radiative heat transfer.
Balance related to (a/G)20. B. Carter, Large
Number Coincidences and the Anthropic Principle
in Cosmology, M. S. Longair, ed., (1974) pp,
291-298.
38What does one part in 1040 look like?
- Suppose you win the lotto on Monday
- Then you win it again on Tuesday
- And again on Wednesday
- Now suppose that to collect your money you had to
close your eyes and, with one try, select the
only red grain of sand in the world. - Your chance of doing all this is about one in
1040
39More on Fine Tuning
- The remarkable fact is that the values of these
numbers seem to have been very finely adjusted to
make possible the development of life. - Steven Hawking, A Brief History of Time, 10th
ed., p. 129. - The universe, in some sense, must have known we
were coming - Freeman Dyson, Theoretical Physicist, Princeton
Institute for Advanced Studies
40Electron to Proton Mass Ratio
8
? (electrons become nucleus)
10
Unstable relativistic atoms
No Ordered Structures
me/mp
1
0.1
We are here
No Stars
0
0
0.1
1
10
8
Electron charge
41Matter/Anti-Matter
For every 10 billion antiparticles created by the
big bang, there were 10 billion plus 1
particlesthis minute excess of particles
accounts for the matter in the universe. If the
excess was smaller not enough matter in the
universe larger too much radiation trappedno
stars (and diamonds arent forever)
matter and antimatter annihilate, producing
energy
42Neutron Mass
- The neutron is 0.14 more
- massive that the proton.
- After the Big Bang, there were
- about seven times as many protons
- If the neutron were about 0.1 heavier, there
would not be enough of them to make the nuclei of
heavy elements - If the neutron were 0.1 lighter, protons would
transform into neutrons so readily that stars
would collapse into neutron stars or black holes
43Lunar Fine Tuning
- Generally, the greater a planets gravity and
distance from the sun, the thicker its
atmosphere. Earth violates this rule, with an
atmosphere 40 times lighter that Venus. - Usually moons are much smaller than the planet
and are formed of the same material. Earth has a
huge moon which is not made of the same material
as the earth.
What happened? An object the size of Mars
collided with the young (250 My) earth, and
mostly absorbed into the core. The collision
blasted most of the original overly-thick
atmosphere into space. The cloud of debris
coalesced into the moon. Belbruno and Gott, The
Ast. J., 129, 1724-1745, 2005
44The Collision
- Destroyed a thick, poisonous atmosphere.
- Increased in the earths mass just enough its
gravity can retain water vapor (18), but not
ammonia (17) or methane (16). - Boosted iron content of the earth (magnetic
field) and made the oceans nutrient rich. - Slowed the earths rotation rate, which
stabilized weather patterns.
- Because the moon is big, its tidal effect cleans
coastal waters and replenishes ocean nutrients. - However the moon is not too big no excessive
erosion, no excessive alteration of earths
orbit.1 - The moon also stabilized the tilt of the earths
axis, preventing climactic extremes.
1 A new calculation shows that if the moon were
slightly bigger, the earth-moon system would go
unstable. See Dave Waltham, Astrobiology 4, No.
4 460-468 (2004)
45What else could explain fine tuning?
- Luck? If we only had to be a little lucky, then
this would be viable. But 25 or more fine
tunings makes this untenable. - Fundamental Theory? No fine tuning is not an
artifact of not knowing how to calculate the
constants, but of lifes sensitivity to their
values. - Multiverse? Yes, this explanation of fine tuning
competes with design. If there are an infinity of
universes, then we would show up in one of the
lucky ones.
46One Multiverse Cosmic Landscape
- There are 101000 String Theory solutions each ?
a different universe with different constants - Like most multiverse theories, our universe is
(apparently) fine-tuned because it is one of the
few habitable universes - Not testable (its leading proponent suggests that
we may have to give up sciences scared
testability requirement) - No hope for a fundamental theory explaining the
constantsthis, along with the previous point,
means that physics is dead
47It really is ID or Multiple Universes
- Q If we do not accept the landscape idea are we
stuck with intelligent design?A If, for some
unforeseen reason, the Multiverse turns out to
be inconsistent - I am pretty sure that
physicists will go on searching for natural
explanations of the world. But I have to say that
if that happens, as things stand now we will be
in a very awkward position. Without any
explanation of nature's fine-tunings we will be
hard pressed to answer the ID critics. One might
argue that the hope that a mathematically unique
solution will emerge is as faith-based as ID. -
- Leonard Susskind, Physics Professor, Stanford
University, author of The Cosmic Landscape.
48Another Possibility Cosmic Evolution
- Black Holes create new universes with similar
constants - By Darwinism, universes with many black holes
would be selected - The same kind of universe (with stars) that
produces black holes are also life friendly - Advantage habitable universes common
- Disadvantages No testable reason why black holes
produce similar universes. (No proof that black
holes produce universes at all.) No way to detect
other universes. Where did the first universe
come from? What if it had no black holes? If it
was from a multiverse, then the whole theory is
superfluous.
49Tie Breaker?
- If neither a designer or another universe is
detectable, is there any additional evidence that
favors one view? - Maybewhat if our location is not just fine-tuned
for life, but also for scientific observation? - Ironically, the IDers who propose this view
(Gonzalez and Richards in the Privileged Planet)
also neuter it (they argue that habitable planets
are necessarily good observation
platformsobservability is not an extra miracle.
50Observability Coincidence 1
Is the universe also fine-tuned for doing
science? Because of accelerated expansion, were
in an era of maximal observability. Distant
galaxies will begin to blink off their light
will no longer be able to reach our telescopes.
This is the first time in cosmic history that
light from the most distant galaxies has reached
the Milky WayG. Veneziamo, Sci. Am., May 2004
51Is Our Galactic Location Mediocre?
- Safe between spiral armsaway from stars that
would disrupt the suns orbit, and away from
radiation. - Also, the sun stays between the arms requiring
a special rdistance from the galactic center. - Observability coincidence 2 Location gives us
a window to the heavens. In an arm, interstellar
dust would make it impossible to see outside the
galaxy. In the bulge, theres no night.
No our location is privileged.
52Observability Coincidence 3
Our moon (at this moment in history) provides for
almost perfect solar eclipses. Solar eclipses
provided the first test of General
Relativity. Study of the chromosphere, made
possible by solar eclipses, has benefited our
knowledge of astrophysics.
The moon is 400 times smaller than the sun. It is
(presently) 400 times closer.
53Observability Coincidence 4
The suns spectrum peaks near yellow Evolution
explains why our eyes are most sensitive to
(near) yellow It does not explain, however, the
lucky coincidence that our atmosphere is also
(narrowly) transparentwhich permitted the
development of science
Our atmosphere is transparent in the narrow
visible range, where the suns intensity peaks
54Conclusion
- There are really only three choices
- We are the lucky beneficiaries of amazingly
fortuitous coincidences. - There are many parallel universes, mutually
inaccessibleand most are sterile. We obviously
live in one of the lucky ones, otherwise we
wouldnt be here to talk about it. - God (or someone god-like) designed the universe
for the purpose of supporting life.
55A Final Quote
- For the scientist who has lived by his faith in
the power of reason, the story ends like a bad
dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance
he is about to conquer the highest peak as he
pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted
by a band of theologians who have been waiting
there for centuries. - Robert Jastrow, astronomer, in
- God and the Astronomers, W. W. Norton, p. 116,
(1978).
56END OF PRESENTATION