Physicists link fundamental constants to the viability of life

Physicist Kostya Trachenko of Queen Mary University of London has identified a connection between fundamental physical constants and the viability of life. According to a study published in Science Advances, the values of these universal constants must allow liquids to flow in ways that support essential biological processes within and between cells.

The research suggests that even minor shifts in basic physical constants, such as the mass or electric charge of an electron, could significantly alter liquid viscosity. If liquids were too thick, living cells would be unable to function, even if the chemical ingredients for life were present. This finding provides a new constraint on why the universe's physical laws appear so well-suited to supporting life.