1. Physicists Are Asking: Are Universe's Traits Random or Inevitable?
- Author
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Begley, Sharon
- Subjects
- *
METAPHYSICAL cosmology , *INFLATIONARY universe , *PHYSICS , *PHYSICAL sciences , *NATURAL law , *STOCHASTIC processes , *INTERSTELLAR medium , *ANTHROPIC principle - Abstract
Examines whether the traits of the universe are random or inevitable. Discussion of "counterfactual history," in which historians brainstorm about how the course of human history would have changed if events turned out differently; Similarities between this exercise and what scientists are doing when they ask which numbers in physics and cosmology are accidents or emerge inevitably from unified laws of nature; Examples of questions that scientists are asking; Research into the density of matter in the university and what would occur if density were less or more than it currently is; Discussion of the anthropic principle and how it relates to density; Reason why anthropic thinking can be dangerous, according to astronomer Mario Livio; View that cosmic numbers necessary for matter, galaxies, stars and life have yet to be determined if they are an accident or fundamental physics.
- Published
- 2005