This is a continuation of my discussion of the book Why the Universe is the Way It Is by Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe. The questions dealt with in the book are:

• Why such a vast universe? – This was the topic of the first post.
• Why such an old universe? – the topic of the second post.
• Why such a lonely universe? – the topic of the third post.
• Why such a dark universe? – the topic of the fourth post.
• Why a decaying universe? – the topic of the fifth post.
• Why a realm beyond this one? – the topic of the sixth post.
• Why this particular planet, star, galaxy and universe? – the topic of this post.
• Why believe the Bible?
• Why not a perfect universe?
• Why these physical laws and dimensions?
• Why two creations?
• Why is the new creation better?

This was a short chapter in Hugh Ross’ book and it continued the examination of the Anthropic Principle, which I discussed in the previous Universe post. In a nutshell, the chapter talks about the number of observed finely-tuned characteristics that exist in the various levels of structure of our universe (e.g. universe, galaxy, star, planet).

Each level of these entities, as time and observational acuity increase, reveals more and more that they exist in a form that is “just right” for human existence. The chapter focuses on numbers and probabilities. For example, it lists the number of finely tuned attributes identified on a universal scale for each year from 1988 to 2006 (just before the book was published).

Year	Total Number of Features Identified
1988	15
1991	17
1995	26
1998	34
2001	41
2002	47
2004	77
2005	93
2006	140

A document listing the 140 finely tuned characteristics, along with an extensive research bibliography from which the characteristics were drawn can be viewed at Fine-Tuning for Life in the Universe.

Another table illustrates the number of fine-tuning parameters identified in various years at the galaxy / solar system / planetary level.

Year	Number of fine-tuned parameters	Total probability that a planet in the universe could have all of these existing at the same time
1995	41	10-31
2000	128	10-144
2002	202	10-217
2004	322	10-282
2006	676	10-556

Another document looks at the factors which are finely-tuned to support human life on a galaxy / solar system / planetary level. 402 characteristics are described, along with bibliographic references at Fine-Tuning for Intelligent Physical Life.

The next document, Probability Estimates for the Features Required by Various Life Forms, lists 802 parameters required for life and identifies the probability for each parameter that it will exist in the universe at the level required to support each of the three following complexities of life:

• to sustain single-celled life for a few months
• to sustain single-celled life for 3 billion years
• to sustain intelligent physical life in a globally distributed high-tech civilization

This was a chapter filled with lots of numbers. The concluding paragraph sums it up

“According to the research data, an astronomical body capable of supporting human beings and equipping them to launch and sustain a global high-technology civilization demands at least 10⁷⁰⁰ times more fine-tuning precision than is necessary for support of ephemeral simple life. To put this number (10⁷⁰⁰) into perspective, the total number of protons and neutrons in the entire observable universe amounts to 10⁷⁹.”

Chew on that for awhile!