Don Page, a Canadian theoretical physicist from the University of Alberta, in the course of studying the structure of the Universe and its dependence on the cosmological constant, concluded that this constant is not the best suited for the emergence of life.
Thus, this theory has become a rather significant contribution to one of the most mystical disputes over the laws of physics that govern our world.
This dispute revolves around an unusual phenomenon in which constants from physical laws seem to be artificially selected so that the origin of life becomes possible. One has only to deviate slightly from such values of only one of the constants, as the emergence of life immediately becomes impossible.
Until now, nobody has been able to explain this fact. According to one version, this is just a coincidence and an accident. According to another version, it is argued that among the almost infinite number of parallel universes, there are necessarily those where the set of physical constants is different. In those Universes where there is life, such coincidences of constants can be as much a mystery for scientists as in our world. And if there is no life in some Universe, then there is no one to detect these phenomena.
Another version is the assumption that a certain Omnipotent being, forming the Universe, adjusted the laws of physics in such a way that the emergence of life became possible. According to Don Page, this is a dubious explanation. In his theory, although he does not deny the existence of an Almighty being, he explains that this creature is not very prudent.
The vacuum density is set by the cosmological constant. According to this number, the vacuum or together with gravity compresses the Universe until the very moment of the Big Compression, or opposes gravity, expanding the Universe. For a long time it was considered that this constant is equal to zero. However, it later turned out that it is slightly more than zero. This is a very small value, 122 orders of magnitude less than Planck's constant, which has 34 zeros after the decimal point.
According to Page's calculations, even with a slight increase in this value, it would become impossible for the formation of planets and stars, and, consequently, the emergence of life. At the same time, this value can be slightly reduced.
Page suggested that the cosmological quantity most suitable for the emergence of life is in the negative range. Indeed, in a shrinking universe, the possibility of the formation of stars and planets is much higher, and at the same time, there are more chances of the appearance of life.
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