This paper has been made available by Reasons to Believe. The original can be found here. Reprinted by permission.

Evidence for Design of the Cosmos

by Hugh Ross, Ph.D.

More than two dozen parameters for the universe must havevalues falling within narrowly defined ranges for life of anykind to exist at any time in the history of the universe.

related articles:

• The Designed 'Just So' Universe (this link added by the WWCW)
• New Astronomical Proofs for the Existence of God
• Quantum Gravity and the Origin of the Universe
• Quantum Mechanics, a Modern Goliath
• Design and the Anthropic Principle
• Astronomical Evidences for the God of the Bible

1. Strong nuclear force constant

• if larger: no hydrogen; nuclei essential for life would be unstable
• if smaller: no elements other than hydrogen

2. Weak nuclear force constant

• if larger: too much hydrogen converted to helium in big bang, hence too much heavy element material made by star burning; no expulsion of heavy elements from stars
• if smaller: too little helium produced from big bang, hence too little heavy element material made by star burning; no expulsion of heavy elements from stars

3. Gravitational force constant

• if larger: stars too hot; they would burn up quickly and unevenly
• if smaller: stars too cool; nuclear fusion would not ignite; no heavy element production

4. Electromagnetic force constant

• if larger: insufficient chemical bonding; elements more massive than boron would be too unstable for fusion
• if smaller: insufficient chemical bonding

5. Ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitationalforce constant

• if larger: no stars less than 1.4 solar masses, hence short and uneven stellar burning
• if smaller: no stars more than 0.8 solar masses. hence no heavy element production

6. Ratio of electron to proton mass

• if larger: insufficient chemical bonding
• if smaller: insufficient chemical bonding

7. Ratio of number of protons to number of electrons

• if larger: electromagnetism dominates gravity preventing galaxy, star and planet formation
• if smaller: electromagnetism dominates gravity preventing galaxy, star, and planet formation

8. Expansion rate of the universe

• if larger: no galaxy formation
• if smaller: universe collapses prior to star formation

9. Entropy level of the universe

• if larger: no star condensation within the proto-galaxies
• if smaller: no proto-galaxy formation

10. Mass density of the universe

• if larger: too much deuterium from big bang, hence stars burn too rapidly
• if smaller: insufficient helium from big bang, hence too few heavy elements forming

11. Velocity of light

• if larger: stars would be too luminous
• if smaller: stars would not be luminous enough

12. Age of the universe

• if older: no solar-type stars in a stable burning phase in the right part of the galaxy
• if younger: solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would not yet have formed

13. Initial uniformity of radiation

• if smoother: stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed
• if coarser: universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space

14. Fine structure constant (a number used to describe thefine structure splitting of spectral lines)

• if larger: no stars more than 0.7 solar masses
• if smaller: no stars less than 1.8 solar masses

15. Average distance between galaxies

• if larger: insufficient gas would be infused into our galaxy to sustain star formation over an adequate time span
• if smaller: the sun's orbit would be too radically disturbed

16. Galaxy cluster type

• if too rich: galaxy collisions and mergers would disrupt solar orbit
• if too sparse: insufficient infusion of gas to sustain star formation for a long enough time

17. Average distance between stars

• if larger: heavy element density too thin for rocky planets to form
• if smaller: planetary orbits would become destabilized

18. Decay rate of the proton

• if greater: life would be exterminated by the release of radiation
• if smaller: insufficient matter in the universe for life

^{19. 12}C to ¹⁶O nuclear energy levelratio

• if larger: insufficient oxygen
• if smaller: insufficient carbon

20. Ground state energy level for ⁴He

• if larger: insufficient carbon and oxygen
• if smaller: insufficient carbon and oxygen

21. Decay rate of ⁸Be

• if slower: heavy element fusion would generate catastrophic explosions in all the stars
• if faster: no element production beyond beryllium, hence no life chemistry possible

22. Mass excess of the neutron over the proton

• if greater: neutron decay would leave too few neutrons to form the heavy elements essential for life
• if smaller: proton decay would cause all stars to rapidly collapse into neutron stars or black holes

23. Initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons

• if greater: too much radiation for planets to form
• if smaller: not enough matter for galaxies or stars to form

24. Polarity of the water molecule

• if greater: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too great for life to exist
• if smaller: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too small for life; liquid water would be too inferior a solvent for life chemistry to proceed; ice would not float, leading to a runaway freeze-up

25. Supernovae eruptions

• if too close: radiation would exterminate life on the planet
• if too far: not enough heavy element ashes for the formation of rocky planets
• if too infrequent: not enough heavy element ashes for the formation of rocky planets
• if too frequent: life on the planet would be exterminated
• if too soon: not enough heavy element ashes for the formation of rocky planets
• if too late: life on the planet would be exterminated by radiation

26.White dwarf binaries

• if too few: insufficient fluorine produced for life chemistry to proceed
• if too many: disruption of planetary orbits from stellar density; life on the planet would be exterminated
• if too soon: not enough heavy elements made for efficient fluorine production
• if too late: fluorine made too late for incorporation in protoplanet

27. Ratio of the mass of exotic matter to ordinary matter

• if smaller: galaxies would not form
• if larger: universe would collapse before solar-type stars can form

Not just the universe bears evidence for design. The sun andthe earth also reveal a number of parameters necessary to supportof life. A sample is listed below.

Evidence for the fine-tuning of the galaxy-sun-earth-moonsystem for life support

1. Galaxy type

• if too elliptical: star formation would cease before sufficient heavy element build-up for life chemistry
• if too irregular: radiation exposure on occasion would be too severe and heavy elements for life chemistry would not be available
• if too large: infusion of gas and stars would disturb sun's orbit and ignite too many galactic eruptions
• if too small: insufficient infusion of gas to sustain star formation

2. Supernovae eruptions

• if too close: life on the planet would be exterminated by radiation
• if too far: not enough heavy element ashes would exist for the formation of rocky planets
• if too infrequent: not enough heavy element ashes present for the formation of rocky planets
• if too frequent: life on the planet would be exterminated
• if too soon: not enough heavy element ashes would exist for the formation of rocky planets
• if too late: life on the planet would be exterminated by radiation

3. White dwarf binaries

• if too few: insufficient fluorine would be produced for life chemistry to proceed
• if too many: planetary orbits disrupted by stellar density; life on planet would be exterminated
• if too soon: not enough heavy elements would he made for efficient fluorine production
• if too late: fluorine would be made too late for incorporation in protoplanet

4. Parent star distance from center of galaxy

• if farther: quantity of heavy elements would be insufficient to make rocky planets
• if closer: galactic radiation would be too great; stellar density would disturb planetary orbits

5. Number of stars in the planetary system

• if more than one: tidal interactions would disrupt planetary orbits
• if less than one: heat produced would be insufficient for life

6. Parent star birth date

• if more recent: star would not yet have reached stable burning phase; stellar system would contain too many heavy elements
• if less recent: stellar system would not contain enough heavy elements

7. Parent star age

• if older: luminosity of star would change too quickly
• if younger: luminosity of star would change too quickly

8. Parent star mass

• if greater: luminosity of star would change too quickly; star would burn too rapidly
• if less: range of planet distances for life would be too narrow; tidal forces would disrupt the life planet's rotational period; uv radiation would be inadequate for plants to make sugars and oxygen

9. Parent star color

• if redder: photosynthetic response would be insufficient
• if bluer: photosynthetic response would be insufficient

10. Parent star luminosity relative to speciation

• if increases too soon: runaway green house effect would develop
• if increases too late: runaway glaciation would develop

11. Surface gravity (escape velocity)

• if stronger: planet's atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane
• if weaker: planet's atmosphere would lose too much water

12. Distance from parent star

• if farther: planet would be too cool for a stable water cycle
• if closer: planet would be too warm for a stable water cycle

13. Inclination of orbit

• if too great: temperature differences on the planet would be too extreme.

14. Orbital eccentricity

• if too great: seasonal temperature differences would be too extreme

15. Axial tilt

• if greater: surface temperature differences would be too great
• if less: surface temperature differences would be too great

16. Rotation period

• if longer: diurnal temperature differences would be too great
• if shorter: atmospheric wind velocities would be too great

17. Rate of change in rotation period

• if longer: surface temperature range necessary for life would not be sustained
• if shorter: surface temperature range necessary for life would not be sustained

18. Age

• if too young: planet would rotate too rapidly
• if too old: planet would rotate too slowly

19. Magnetic field

• if stronger: electromagnetic storms would be too severe
• if weaker: ozone shield would be inadequately protected from hard stellar and solar radiation

20. Thickness of crust

• if thicker: too much oxygen would be transferred from the atmosphere to the crust
• if thinner: volcanic and tectonic activity would be too great

21. Albedo (ratio of reflected light to total amount fallingon surface)

• if greater: runaway glaciation would develop
• if less: runaway greenhouse effect would develop

22. Asteroidal and cometary collision rate

• if greater: too many species would become extinct
• if less: crust would be too depleted of materials essential for life

23. Oxygen to nitrogen ratio in atmosphere

• if larger: advanced life functions would proceed too quickly
• if smaller: advanced life functions would proceed too slowly

24. Carbon dioxide level in atmosphere

• if greater: runaway greenhouse effect would develop
• if less: plants would be unable to maintain efficient photosynthesis

25. Water vapor level in atmosphere

• if greater: runaway greenhouse effect would develop
• if less: rainfall would be too meager for advanced life on the land

26. Atmospheric electric discharge rate

• if greater: too much fire destruction would occur
• if less: too little nitrogen would be fixed in the atmosphere

27. Ozone level in atmosphere

• if greater: surface temperatures would be too low
• if less: surface temperatures would be too high; too much uv radiation would be at the surface

28. Oxygen quantity in atmosphere

• if greater: plants and hydrocarbons would bum up too easily
• if less: advanced animals would have too little to breathe

29. Seismic activity

• if greater: too many life-forms would be destroyed
• if less: nutrients on ocean floors from river runoff would not be recycled to continents through tectonics.

30. Oceans-to-continents ratio

• if greater: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited
• if smaller: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited

31. Global distribution of continents (for Earth)

• if too much in the southern hemisphere: seasonal differences too severe for advanced life

32. Soil mineralization

• if too nutrient poor: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited
• if too nutrient rich: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited

33. Gravitational interaction with a moon

• if greater: tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe
• if less: orbital obliquity changes would cause climatic instabilities; movement of nutrients and life from the oceans to the continents and vice versa would be insufficient; magnetic field would be too weak

34. Jupiter distance

• if greater: too many asteroid and comet collisions would occur on Earth
• if less: Earth's orbit would become unstable

35. Jupiter mass

• if greater: Earth's orbit would become unstable
• if less: too many asteroid and comet collisions would occur on Earth

(Adapted from the author's books, The Fingerprint of God (secondedition, Promise Publishing, 1991) and The Creator and theCosmos (second edition, NavPress, 1995). References may befound in both books.)

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Copyright 1995, Reasons To Believe

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