The physicist spoke about the connection between the laws of the universe and the conditions for life
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- The physicist spoke about the connection between the laws of the universe and the conditions for life
Stars can create the chemical elements necessary for life, but this is still not enough for the appearance of working cells. According to a theoretical study by Kostya Trachenko, a professor of physics at Queen Mary University of London, fundamental physical constants should also ensure the appropriate viscosity of liquids. Otherwise, the movement of molecules, on which the work of living organisms depends, may be disrupted. How the flow of water is related to the structure of the universe and why scientists cannot yet name the exact boundaries of the conditions for life — in the material of Izvestia.
A universe in which water is too viscous
Imagine a world where there are stars, planets, and the chemical elements that make up living organisms. At first glance, everything necessary for life already exists. However, liquids in such a world can be so viscous that the molecules will move too slowly for the usual cellular processes.
This is exactly the possibility that Trump is considering. At the center of his work is a property that is easy to notice in the kitchen: water quickly pours out of a glass, and honey flows off a spoon much more slowly. The difference is related to the viscosity, that is, the resistance of the liquid to flow.
For a cell, this property is of fundamental importance. Nutrients must move, participants in chemical reactions must meet, and metabolic products must be eliminated. The presence of the right molecules by itself does not guarantee that all these processes will occur at the required speed.
"If water were as viscous as resin, life would not exist in its current form or would not exist at all," explained Trachenko.
What physical constants determine in a glass of water
Fundamental constants are quantities that are included in basic physical theories. Among them are the mass and electric charge of an electron, the mass of a proton, and Planck's constant, related to the quantum properties of matter.
These parameters are involved in determining the size of atoms and the energy of chemical bonds. The interactions between particles, in turn, determine the behavior of matter, including its ability to flow. Therefore, there is a connection between quantum physics and the motion of an ordinary liquid, although we observe these phenomena on completely different scales.
In a 2020 paper, Trachenko and physicist Vadim Brazhkin proposed an expression for the minimum kinematic viscosity of liquids in terms of Planck's constant, the mass of an electron, and the mass of a molecule. Kinematic viscosity takes into account both the flow resistance and the density of the substance.
This does not mean that every liquid has the same viscosity. Water and honey retain their differences, and their properties change with temperature and composition. We are talking about the physical limitation of the minimum value, which the researchers associated with the characteristics of the particles.
Thus, heating or choosing another substance changes the flow conditions within the already existing physical rules. Changing the constants themselves would mean changing the basis on which the properties of liquids are formed.
Why is it not enough for a cell to slow down
One of the ways to move molecules is through diffusion. The particles move randomly, and as a result, the substance spreads from an area with a higher concentration to an area with a lower one. A good example is a drop of dye that gradually spreads in water.
In a simple model, increasing viscosity slows down diffusion, all other things being equal. For a living cell, this means changing the conditions in which the molecules find each other and react. It can be assumed that in a more viscous environment, the body would simply live more slowly. However, different biochemical reactions react differently to changes in viscosity. If some processes slow down more than others, the relationship between them is disrupted.
Therefore, the issue is not only about the overall metabolic rate. It is important whether the consistency of the reactions required by the cell is maintained. The author himself emphasizes that it has yet to be established which processes are most sensitive to viscosity and where the boundary between their deceleration and cessation lies.
In this case, the cell is much more complex than a drop of dye in a glass. There are numerous molecules, structures, and mechanisms of active transport inside it. A simple model helps to understand the physical connection, but does not describe the entire intracellular environment.
Stars can exist, but cellular life cannot.
Trachenko considered the possibility of changing physical constants so that certain combinations of them are preserved, which are important for discussing the formation of heavy elements in stars. At the same time, the restrictions on viscosity and diffusion could change.
The point of such a thought experiment is that the conditions for the formation of chemical elements and the conditions for the operation of living cells do not necessarily coincide. Within the framework of the considered model, it is possible to preserve the prerequisites for the appearance of the necessary elements, but to obtain liquids unsuitable for habitual biological processes.
The study examines the physical prerequisites of cellular life. It does not show how the first cell originated, nor does it prove that the availability of suitable fluids will inevitably lead to the emergence of an organism.
What the work on blood showed
In January 2025, Trachenko and his colleagues continued their research in The European Physical Journal E. They examined complex biological fluids using the example of blood. Its behavior is determined not only by the molecular properties of plasma, but also by the interactions of cells. At a low shear rate, red blood cells can form groups, increasing flow resistance. As the shear increases, such groups break up, and the effective viscosity decreases. Therefore, one viscosity value cannot be specified for blood, regardless of the conditions of its movement.
The authors noted that the characteristic kinematic viscosity of blood is relatively close to the fundamental scale calculated using physical constants. This is a scale comparison, not an exact match of values.
They attributed a possible explanation to interactions at the points of cell convergence, where molecular distances become significant. This is a proposed mechanism that requires further study.
The work also clarifies the question of the sensitivity of life to constants. In the example given by the authors, a 1% change in the electron charge corresponds to a change in the calculated viscosity scale by about 6%. A comparable change in effective viscosity may also occur due to changes in flow conditions. Therefore, a small shift in the constant does not in itself prove the inevitable death of the organism.
Why do scientists talk about "tuning" the Universe
The expression "fine tuning" is used when discussing the sensitivity of physical processes to the values of constants. In this case, the researcher raises the question of the range of parameters compatible with the movement of fluids in living systems.
The exact width of this range is still unknown. To determine it, data is needed on the viscosity and rate of transfer of substances capable of withstanding different biological processes. A separate difficulty is the possible forms of life, which differ significantly from those on Earth.
Trachenko also suggests a broader hypothesis: the conditions for the formation of elements and the conditions for the operation of cells could correspond to different constraints on constants. He sees this as a reason for an analogy with evolution, in which different beneficial properties arise independently.
However, this analogy remains an assumption. The study does not establish that physical constants have actually evolved, nor does it reveal the mechanism of their origin. It also does not follow from the compatibility of the laws of nature with life that the universe was intentionally created for it.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
