Wang, Zhi-Wei and Braunstein, Samuel Leon orcid.org/0000-0003-4790-136X (2024) Life in a Random Universe: Sciamaʼs Argument Reconsidered. The Astrophysical Journal. 55. ISSN 1538-4357
Abstract
Random sampling in high dimensions has successfully been applied to phenomena as diverse as nuclear resonances, neural networks, and black hole evaporation. Here we revisit an elegant argument by the British physicist Dennis Sciama, who demonstrated that were our Universe random, it would almost certainly have a negligible chance for life. Under plausible assumptions, we show that a random universe can masquerade as “intelligently designed,” with the fundamental constants instead appearing to be fined tuned to achieve the highest probability for life to occur. For our Universe, this mechanism may only require there to be around a dozen currently unknown fundamental constants. We speculate on broader applications for the mechanism we uncover.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024. The Author(s). |
Keywords: | Anthropic principle,Cosmology,Astrobiology,Search for extraterrestrial intelligence |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Computer Science (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 14 Feb 2024 09:30 |
Last Modified: | 01 Mar 2025 00:09 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad1994 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.3847/1538-4357/ad1994 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:209141 |
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Filename: Life_in_a_Random_Universe_-_Sciama_s_Argument_Reconsidered_ApJ_2024.pdf
Description: Life in a Random Universe - Sciamaʼs Argument Reconsidered ApJ 2024
Licence: CC-BY 2.5