Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have identified a previously unknown constraint linking fundamental physical constants to the ability of life to function. The findings, published in Science Advances, demonstrate that the basic laws governing the universe must allow liquids to move in ways that support cellular processes.
Fundamental physical constants are numerical values that determine how the universe operates, including properties such as electron mass, electron charge, and the Planck constant. These quantities influence everything from atomic behavior to nuclear reactions in stars. Scientists have long been puzzled by why these constants have their particular values, which appear remarkably suited to enabling life. A 2020 study showed that these constants impose a lower limit on liquid viscosity—the resistance of fluids to flowing. The recent research extends this finding by examining what it means for biology and the existence of life.
Every living cell depends on molecular movement for survival. Nutrients must be transported to where they are needed, waste products removed, and chemical reactions must occur in liquid environments. Diffusion, the natural spreading of particles through fluids, enables molecules to move within cells and facilitates essential chemical interactions. If liquid viscosity changed significantly, these vital processes could be severely disrupted. Liquids too thick would prevent efficient material movement, while those too thin could interfere with the controlled flow necessary for proper biological function. The research suggests that if water had the viscosity of tar, life could not exist in its current form.
The implications extend beyond Earth. The same physical constraints governing liquid behavior would affect any hypothetical life forms elsewhere in the universe that depend on liquids to function. The range of fundamental constants compatible with supporting cellular life appears to be quite narrow, with even small percentage changes to constants like the Planck constant or electron charge potentially making liquids unsuitable for life. Follow-up research published in January 2025 examined how these constants influence more complex biological fluids such as blood, which contains multiple components that interact in intricate ways.
The discovery raises fundamental questions about the universe’s design. While physicists have long studied whether physical constants must fall within certain ranges to create heavy elements in stars, this research shows that life requires an additional layer of constraints on liquid properties. The universe must not only produce the chemical ingredients necessary for life but also maintain physical conditions that allow those ingredients to function within living cells.
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