Six Special Numbers Govern Our Universe

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Six Special Numbers Govern Our Universe

Our universe is governed by just six numbers, arranged since the time of the Big Bang. If any one of these were different, there would be no planets, stars, or even the human race.

— Renowned astronomer Sir Martin Rees.

All the chemistry and existence of our daily world are fundamentally determined by the properties of atoms—their size and mass, their types, divisions, and the intrinsic forces that hold them together. The essence of an atom’s existence lies in its internal forces and various particles.

Likewise, planets, stars, galaxies—all of these are governed through gravitational forces, which are the main subjects of astronomical research: planets, stars, galaxies.

Theoretical physicists and researchers aim to express the core of physical laws through precise equations and a few specific numbers. They have a long way to go to achieve this, but their current successes are indeed remarkable. As part of their tireless research, at the dawn of the twentieth century, six such special numbers were identified that are especially noteworthy. Of these six numbers, two are related to fundamental forces. Two others are crucial in determining the universe’s structure, arrangement, and infinite stability. The remaining two specify unique properties of space itself.

We can consider these six numbers as the recipe for the formation of the universe. If any of them were even slightly off or did not have the precise value they do, the existence of stars or life would not be possible.

However, scientists believe that there could be other unknown universes beyond our own, where these numbers might be absent or hold different values.

It is amazing that from a minuscule black hole, our universe was born, and after its expansion, just a handful of numbers have sustained this habitable, stable universe where we reside.

Perhaps there is some interrelation among these numbers. At this moment, due to significant gaps in detailed knowledge, scientists cannot elaborate. The main reason for highlighting these six numbers here is that each plays an exceptionally difficult and distinctive role in the cosmos. Not only that, but together they determine the universe’s expansion, ongoing growth, and its fundamental operational nature.

First Number:

This number is represented by N. It is the ratio of two forces. N is calculated by dividing the strength of the electrical forces that hold atoms together by the force of gravity between them. N is an extraordinarily large number—with 36 zeros after the one. That is, 1000000000000000000000000000000000000. The vast size of this number is what accounts for the immensity of the universe. If even one zero were missing, there would only be a tiny number of living organisms in the universe, and evolution would not have been possible at all.

Second Number:

This number is denoted by ε (epsilon). This is a measurement expressing the binding strength of atomic nuclei and the emergence of all elements on Earth. Its value is 0.007. Had it been 0.006 or 0.008, our existence would not be possible.

Let’s try to understand this constant more simply—

A hydrogen nucleus contains one proton, and a helium nucleus contains two protons and two neutrons.

We know that four hydrogens combine to form one helium. In essence, this is fusion, which continuously occurs on the sun’s surface as hydrogen is converted to helium.

The mass of four protons, that is, four hydrogen nuclei, is 6.690 x 10^-24, and the mass of a helium nucleus is 6.643 x 10^-24, which is .007 less than the mass of four protons.

This proves that during the fusion from hydrogen to helium, 0.007% of the sun’s mass turns into energy.

Thus, theoretically, the sun could emit light in this way for 100 billion years. But in reality, since only 70% of the sun is hydrogen, this figure is adjusted to 9 billion years.

Third Number:

This number is denoted by Ω (omega). It is a cosmological number that indicates the quantity of matter in the universe (galaxies, diffuse gas, and dark matter). This number determines the expansion rate and the fate of the universe. In other words, omega expresses the relationship between gravitational strength and the expansion energy of the universe.

If the average mass-density in the universe increased by even five atoms per cubic meter, the density would become so high that the universe’s expansion would eventually halt, as gravity would overtake expansion energy.

(Gravity) would exceed expansion energy, causing the universe to face sudden destruction.

But since expansion energy currently exceeds gravity, the universe continues expanding forever.

Critical density is the threshold where the universe would be exactly balanced between collapse and infinite expansion, making its geometry flat, like Euclidean geometry.

Ω (omega) is the ratio of critical density to actual density. At full critical density, omega = 1. Currently, the average density is considered at least 0.3. If we take omega as at least 0.3 now, it must mean it wasn’t far from 1 shortly after the Big Bang. The main reason for drifting away from unity is expansion. So if it increases above 1, gravity exceeds expansion energy, and if it falls below, the opposite happens—omega moves toward zero. Suppose at one moment omega is 0.5. It will drop to 0.25 when the universe doubles in size. Since we now estimate omega as 0.3, it means it hasn’t strayed far from one after the Big Bang.

Fourth Number:

This number is represented by λ (lambda). It is a kind of cosmic anti-gravity force. Discovered recently (in 1998), this number governs the expansion of the universe. However, it should be noted that on scales below a billion light-years, this number has no significant effect.

Over time, the influence of this number will become more pronounced in the universe, surpassing gravity and other forces, as the universe becomes emptier and darker.

Lambda is an extremely small number. If it increased even slightly, it would affect the universe on scales below a billion light-years and halt the formation of galaxies and stars. As a result, cosmic evolution would never have been possible.

Fifth Number:

This number is represented by Q. Q, on which the arrangement and structure of our universe depend, is the ratio of two fundamental energies. Its value is 1/100,000.

If it were any smaller, the universe would be inert and without structure. If it were even slightly greater, the universe would be a violent place with no stars or solar systems.

Sixth Number:

This number is represented by D, with a value of 3. This number denotes the natural dimensions of the universe. If the universe had only one or two dimensions, life could never exist. Time is the fourth dimension, and it has a specific direction—forward. That’s why it is not counted here. But these three dimensions do not have such a direction.

There are other such constants that sustain our existence. These six numbers are specially mentioned by the distinguished astronomer Sir Martin Rees in his renowned book “Just Six Numbers.” He and many other physicists and astronomers are working tirelessly to establish relatedness among these constants. They refer to this ultimate relationship as the “theory of everything.”

Main source: Book – Just Six Numbers (The Deep Forces That Shape the Universe) by Martin Rees

Mamun M. Aziz

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