Study suggests Universe may be finely tuned for life, scientists say

Scientists have proposed a new theory suggesting that the basic laws of the Universe may be closely linked to the existence of life itself.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London say the Universe's fundamental physical constants appear to fall within a very narrow range that allows liquids such as water and blood to flow properly, making life possible.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances in 2023, argues that even a small change in these constants could make liquids either too thick or too thin for living organisms to survive.

Scientists explained that life depends heavily on the movement of liquids at microscopic levels. Nutrients must travel through cells, proteins need to fold correctly and molecules constantly move through watery environments inside the body.

All of these processes depend on viscosity, the property that determines how easily a liquid flows.

According to the researchers, if the fundamental constants of physics changed by only a few percent, water and other biological fluids could behave very differently, possibly preventing complex life from developing.

Physicist Kostya Trachenko said the findings show a surprising connection between everyday liquid flow and some of the deepest questions in physics.

He noted that if water became as thick as tar, life in its current form might not exist at all. The same would apply to blood and cellular fluids that living organisms rely on.

The researchers said even slight changes in constants such as the Planck constant or electron charge could make blood too thick or too thin for the human body to function properly.

Scientists have long debated why the Universe's physical constants appear to be "fine-tuned" for life. Earlier theories mainly focused on stars, galaxies and the formation of heavy elements needed for planets.

However, this research shifts attention to biology, suggesting that life may also depend on liquids maintaining very precise flow conditions inside cells.

The study adds a new dimension to the long-running scientific debate about why the Universe appears suitable for life.

Researchers say the idea remains theoretical, and there is still no widely accepted explanation for why nature's constants have their current values.Still, scientists believe the findings could help reshape discussions about the connection between physics, biology and the origins of life in the Universe.