What silently governs the entire universe?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Fundamental constants are not just dry numbers; they are the foundation that shapes the entire existence of the universe.

The mysterious value of a constant

Illustration showing how the gravitational pull of a galaxy bends spacetime according to Einstein's theory of general relativity (Image: Science Library).

Looking at the night sky, we often wonder why the universe exists the way it does: from life, stars, planets to even humankind. But few realize that everything in the universe is governed by a special group of numbers, known as the fundamental constants of nature.

These numbers are not human inventions, but rather fixed values ​​that describe how forces and matter in the universe interact with each other.

For example, the speed of light in a vacuum is always approximately 299,792,458 m/s, the gravitational constant G is 6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg/s², or the mass of an electron is 9.1 x 10⁻³¹ kg…

These are numbers that, if changed even slightly, could completely alter the universe, and life might even cease to exist. The big question is: Why do these numbers hold the same value? Where did they come from? Is it just a coincidence?

Thanks to physics, we can construct very precise equations and models to describe the world —from the falling of a stone to the expansion of the entire universe. However, each equation requires some input values, i.e., constants.

They are like the "girders" that support the edifice of modern physics. But strangely, no current theory can explain where they come from. Scientists can only measure their experimental values ​​and incorporate them into models.

Imagine you're simulating the motion of a ball. You could use Newton's laws to describe the forces at play, but you need to know "how strong is gravity." That doesn't come from the model; it has to be measured in reality.

Similarly, constants such as the strength of the electromagnetic force, Planck's constant, or the ratio between elementary particles are all "given" parameters that cannot be calculated from current theoretical foundations.

Are constants truly "immutable"?

Einstein was the author of the general theory of relativity, which includes the concept of the gravitational constant G - an indispensable quantity for describing the degree of "curvature" of spacetime (Photo: Getty).

The problem becomes more intriguing when physicists ask: are these numbers truly "constants," meaning they never change?

If any of them change, however slightly, over time, space, or physical circumstances, it means they are not truly fundamental, but merely manifestations of a deeper theory yet to be explored .

To verify this, scientists designed numerous highly precise experiments, both on Earth and in space. In the laboratory, they used atomic clocks. These are extremely sophisticated devices that can detect the smallest changes in atomic oscillations, and can track changes over time in constants such as the fine-structure constant (FSC).

To date, measurement accuracy has reached a level where changes of one billionth of a year can be detected, but no significant changes have been recorded yet.

From an astronomical perspective, researchers observe light from quasars—extremely bright celestial objects billions of light-years from Earth. They also analyze the cosmic microwave background (CMB), which is the remnant of light from the early stages of the universe's formation.

The idea here is that if the constants had changed in the distant past, then the light from distant celestial objects would be affected and show differences. However, observations still show the strange stability of these constants.

It's important to note that we cannot be 100% certain that they are constants. Even without detecting any change, there is always a degree of uncertainty in any measurement, and therefore, there is always the possibility that the constants are changing but at a rate too small to be detected.

The universe still holds many mysteries.

Fundamental constants are not just dry numbers; they are the foundation that shapes the entire existence of the universe. They determine how forces interact, atoms form, stars burn, and life develops.

If those numbers were even slightly off, the universe could be empty, chaotic, or completely devoid of life as we see it today.

However, science has yet to explain "why they are like that." Are these constants the result of chance? Or are they the manifestation of a deeper cosmological theory, beyond our current understanding?

We may not have the answers yet, but continuing to ask and learn about them could lead humanity to a major turning point in modern physics—much like how relativity and quantum mechanics once shook the science of the 20th century.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/thu-gi-am-tham-chi-phoi-ca-vu-tru-20250525082833517.htm