The universe's recipe for life just got a bit more complex. A recent study reveals that the flow of liquids, specifically their viscosity, is a crucial ingredient in the cosmic recipe for life as we know it. This finding adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of the universe's suitability for life, extending beyond the previously known requirements of nuclear reactions and the production of carbon and oxygen by stars.
The study, led by Professor Kostya Trachenko of Queen Mary University of London, delves into the physics of liquid flow and its implications for cellular chemistry. Trachenko's research reveals that the viscosity of liquids, which determines how thick or thin a liquid flows, is governed by fundamental constants of physics, such as the Planck constant, electron mass, and electron charge. These constants, it turns out, play a critical role in maintaining the proper flow of liquids within living organisms.
Trachenko's earlier work established that viscosity in any liquid has a minimum value, a 'floor' that it cannot drop below, regardless of temperature or pressure. This floor is determined by the deepest constants in physics, and it applies to various liquids, from water to helium to molten metals. The new study extends this concept to biology, specifically to human blood, which operates within a narrow viscosity range. Any significant deviation from this range, whether too thick or too thin, would disrupt the cardiovascular system and render life as we know it impossible.
The implications are profound. A mere few percent change in the Planck constant or electron charge would alter blood viscosity outside the healthy range. This, in turn, would affect the flow of liquids within cells, disrupting cellular chemistry and preventing the emergence of life. The study highlights a 'bio-friendly window' for liquid viscosity, within which life can thrive, and outside which it cannot.
This discovery challenges the traditional view that the universe's suitability for life is solely dependent on the production of carbon and oxygen by stars. It suggests that the universe's fundamental constants are finely tuned not only for the formation of stars and heavy atoms but also for the intricate flow of liquids within living cells.
Trachenko proposes a multi-layered fine-tuning of the universe's constants, with each layer producing a new sustainable structure. The first layer involves the formation of atoms, the second layer involves the production of stars, and the third layer involves the precise viscosity of liquids, which is crucial for cellular life. This idea parallels the evolution of life, where unrelated organisms can independently develop similar traits, such as eyes.
While the study is purely mathematical and has not yet been experimentally tested, it opens up new avenues for research. It prompts biologists to consider the impact of liquid viscosity on various life processes and encourages physicists to re-evaluate their understanding of the fundamental constants and their role in the universe's suitability for life.
In conclusion, the study of liquid viscosity and its connection to the fundamental constants of physics offers a fascinating insight into the complexity of the universe's recipe for life. It reminds us that even the seemingly mundane aspects of the universe, like the flow of water in a cup, can hold profound implications for the existence of life as we know it.
