Researchers propose fundamental constants sit in life-enabling liquid-flow sweet spot
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · May 8
Researchers propose fundamental constants sit in life-enabling liquid-flow sweet spot
6 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · May 8
Queen Mary University of London physicists, led by Kostya Trachenko, say even a few per cent shift could make water or blood too thick or thin for cells.
The study argues fine-tuning for life may depend not only on stars and heavy elements forming, but also on viscosity and diffusion staying within a narrow bio-friendly range.
Published in Science Advances in 2023, the work is theoretical and speculative, but it broadens debate over why physical constants have their observed values.
Is our universe's 'sweet spot' for life a cosmic miracle, or are we just one lucky ticket in a multiverse lottery?
If water flowed like tar in another universe, could a different form of life still emerge and thrive there?
The Fundamental Constants Governing Viscosity and Diffusion Limits for Cellular Life
Overview
Recent discoveries reveal that fundamental physical constants set a universal minimum viscosity for all liquids, creating a narrow 'bio-friendly window' essential for life. This viscosity range balances molecular movement and stability, enabling vital biological processes like nutrient transport and cellular reactions. Molecular crowding inside cells increases viscosity and forms transient clusters, further restricting diffusion. Even small changes in these constants would disrupt this delicate balance, making life impossible. These viscosity constraints act as a second layer of cosmic fine-tuning, filtering which universes can support cellular life. This insight guides astrobiology and synthetic biology by highlighting the physical limits life must respect across different environments and chemistries.