Why Are We Here? Theoreticians Debate the Fundamentals

By Charles Q. Choi

Special to SPACE.com

posted: 04 December 2006, 06:50 am ET

The emergence of humans in the universe might not tell us anything concerning the fundamental constants of nature as scientists have speculated, new theoretical findings argue.

The idea known as the anthropic principle states that human existence is possible only if fundamental constants such as the speed of light or the strength of gravity are not higher or lower than what is observed.

Scientists who support anthropic reasoning suggest they can understand fundamental properties of the universe by determining what conditions intelligent beings such as humans need to exist. For instance, if gravity was too strong, black holes would form too often and suck up all matter before humans could evolve on Earth, but if gravity was too weak, it could not attract matter to form stars or planets.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/061204_mm_anthropic_debate.html