Researchers have identified a previously unknown constraint linking the universe’s fundamental physical constants to the ability of life to exist, according to a study published in Science Advances. The work, conducted by physicist Kostya Trachenko at Queen Mary University of London, demonstrates that these constants must permit liquids to move in ways that support essential cellular functions.
Fundamental physical constants are numerical values governing how the universe operates, including properties such as electron mass and charge. These quantities influence atomic behavior, chemical bonding, and nuclear reactions that produce elements necessary for life. Scientists have long puzzled over why these constants possess their particular values, which appear remarkably suited to supporting life.
Trachenko’s theoretical analysis revealed that the viscosity of liquids—the resistance to flow—depends fundamentally on these universal constants. If these constants were to change significantly, liquid viscosity would shift as well, potentially disrupting critical biological processes. Living cells require molecular movement through fluids for nutrient transport, waste removal, and chemical reactions. Diffusion, the natural spreading of particles through fluids, similarly depends on appropriate viscosity levels. Excessively thick or thin liquids could prevent vital materials from moving as needed for cellular function.
The implications suggest an extremely narrow range of acceptable values for fundamental constants that could support life. The constraints apply not only to water-based organisms but potentially to any hypothetical life forms relying on liquids elsewhere in the universe. Notably, some physical properties governing liquid flow could potentially change without disrupting the nuclear processes in stars that create heavy elements like carbon and oxygen. This indicates that supporting life may require more than simply producing the chemical ingredients necessary for organisms; the physical properties of liquids themselves impose additional requirements.
Following the initial discovery, Trachenko’s team expanded their investigation to examine how these constants influence more complex biological fluids, particularly blood. The research was published in The European Physical Journal E in January 2025.
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