Published 2019 | Version v1
Journal article

Multiverse Predictions for Habitability: The Number of Stars and Their Properties

  • 1. Institute of Cosmology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 (United States)

Description

In a multiverse setting, we expect to be situated in a universe that is exceptionally good at producing life. Though the conditions for what life needs to arise and thrive are currently unknown, many will be tested in the coming decades. Here we investigate several different habitability criteria, and their influence on multiverse expectations: Does complex life need photosynthesis? Is there a minimum timescale necessary for development? Can life arise on tidally locked planets? Are convective stars habitable? Variously adopting different stances on each of these criteria can alter whether our observed values of the fine structure constant, the electron to proton mass ratio, and the strength of gravity are typical to high significance. This serves as a way of generating predictions for the requirements of life that can be tested with future observations, any of which could falsify the multiverse scenario.

Availability note (English)

Available from https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/5/6/149/pdf; https://doaj.org/article/fb63934bba0141d58ef183c9cc8af0b7; https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/5/6/149

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Universe
Journal Volume
5
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
vp.
ISSN
2218-1997

INIS

Country of Publication
Switzerland
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
51035419
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ELECTRONS; FINE STRUCTURE; FORECASTING; GRAVITATION; MASS; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; PLANETS; PROTONS; STARS; UNIVERSE
Descriptors DEC
BARYONS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; HADRONS; LEPTONS; NUCLEONS; PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS; SYNTHESIS