tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post767134969637469446..comments2023-11-14T20:44:36.587-06:00Comments on Cosmic Yarns: Could We Still Exist if the Constants of Nature Were Different?Robert Scherrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341214577362261827noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post-44985904994105631222015-11-27T18:53:26.164-06:002015-11-27T18:53:26.164-06:00That would be a great idea for an anthology. the p...That would be a great idea for an anthology. the premise is: life will arise regardless of the conditions in a given universe, but it won't all be alike. Life without atoms, life without chemical reactions (??), life without gravity (easy??).<br /><br />I think the Andromeda bug in Crichton's novel lacked any proteins. But that was really a minor point in the plot.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post-85737301451368572162015-11-26T10:12:35.850-06:002015-11-26T10:12:35.850-06:00It's true that changing the constants of natur...It's true that changing the constants of nature could make the element abundances completely different, or even eliminate the possibility of bound atoms at all! But would that make life itself impossible? I don't know. Lots of science fictional opportunities there, I think.Robert Scherrerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17341214577362261827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post-3518264626030127022015-11-25T08:43:08.630-06:002015-11-25T08:43:08.630-06:00What we do see everywhere in the universe, is that...What we do see everywhere in the universe, is that small particles and structures spontaneously form larger and more complex structures. You know, quarks, gluons and leptons form atoms, atoms form molecules, molecules form crystals, stars, planets, cats, etc. all within the constraints of existing forces and natural law.<br /><br />The natural assumption is that such things would still happen even if the values of constants were different. <br /><br />One can easily imagine a wise, old Hard One in the heyday of his civilization pondering how life would be impossible if the strong nuclear force were weaker. Why, stars would require huge amounts of matter to even begin fusing hydrogen! They couldn't produce significant amounts of heavier elements, either. Why, such a universe would consists almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, with essentials like tungsten and iron as mere infinitesimal traces!<br /><br />Wouldn't it?Kathynoreply@blogger.com