How a cup of water can unlock the secrets of our Universe

by Staff Writers
London, UK (SPX) Aug 24, 2023
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have made a discovery that could change our understanding of the universe. In their study published in Science Advances, they reveal, for the first time, that there is a range in which fundamental constants can vary, allowing for the viscosity needed for life processes to occur within and between living cells. This is an important piece of the puzzle in determining where these constants come from and how they impact life as we know it.

In 2020, the same team found that the viscosity of liquids is determined by fundamental physical constants, setting a limit on how runny a liquid can be. Now this result is taken into the realm of life sciences.

Fundamental physical constants shape the fabric of the universe we live in. Physical constants are quantities with a value that is generally believed to be both universal in nature and to remain unchanged over time - for example the mass of the electron. They govern nuclear reactions and can lead to the formation of molecular structures essential to life, but their origin is unknown. This research might bring scientists one step closer to determining where these constants come from.

"Understanding how water flows in a cup turns out to be closely related to the grand challenge to figure out fundamental constants. Life processes in and between living cells require motion and it is viscosity that sets the properties of this motion. If fundamental constants change, viscosity would change too impacting life as we know it. For example, if water was as viscous as tar life would not exist in its current form or not exist at all. This applies beyond water, so all life forms using the liquid state to function would be affected."

"Any change in fundamental constants including an increase or decrease would be equally bad news for flow and for liquid-based life. We expect the window to be quite narrow: for example, viscosity of our blood would become too thick or too thin for body functioning with only a few per cent change of some fundamental constants such as the Planck constant or electron charge." Professor of Physics Kostya Trachenko said.

Surprisingly, the fundamental constants were thought to be tuned billions of years ago to produce heavy nuclei in stars and back then life as we know it today didn't exist. There was no need for these constants to be fine-tuned at that point to also enable cellular life billions of years later, and yet these constants turn out to be bio-friendly to flow in and between living cells.

An accompanying conjecture is that multiple tunings may have been involved and this then suggests a similarity to biological evolution where traits were acquired independently. Through evolutionary mechanisms, fundamental constants may be the result of nature arriving at sustainable physical structures. It remains to be seen how the principles of evolution can be helpful to understand the origin of fundamental constants.

Research Report:Constraints on fundamental physical constants from bio-friendly viscosity and diffusion

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Summary

:Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have made a discovery with far-reaching implications. In their study published in Science Advances they reveal for the first time that there is a range in which fundamental constants can vary allowing for the viscosity needed for life processes to occur within and between living cells. This finding could provide new insight into the origin and impact of fundamental physical constants, which shape the fabric of the universe we live in and govern nuclear reactions essential to the formation of molecular structures necessary for life. In 2020, the same team found that the viscosity of liquids is determined by fundamental physical constants, setting a limit on how runny a liquid can be. Any change in fundamental constants, including an increase or decrease, would be equally bad news for flow and for liquid-based life, making the window for viscosity quite narrow.The implications of this research are significant for the space and defense industries, which have seen a great deal of advancement over the past 25 years. It is important to note that the discovery does not necessarily change the existing trends or events in the space and defense industry, but rather provides a new perspective that could help to further shed light on the origins of the universe and its impact on life.

Investigative Questions

to Further Understand Implications of the Article:

• 1. What other physical constants could be affected by this discovery?

• 2. How could this discovery be used to improve existing space and defense technology?

• 3.

How can we use this knowledge to better understand the origins of the universe?

4. What are the implications for the development of new space and defense technology?

5. How can this discovery be used to inform our understanding of fundamental physical constants?

This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.

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