A Universe That Seems a Little Too Calibrated to Be an Accident…

strong nuclear force constant

if larger: no hydrogen would form; atomic nuclei for most life-essential elements

would be unstable; thus, no life chemistry

if smaller: no elements heavier than hydrogen would form: again, no life

chemistry

weak nuclear force constant

if larger: too much hydrogen would convert to helium in big bang; hence, stars

would convert too much matter into heavy elements making life chemistry

impossible

if smaller: too little helium would be produced from big bang; hence, stars would

convert too little matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible

gravitational force constant

if larger: stars would be too hot and would burn too rapidly and too unevenly for

life chemistry

if smaller: stars would be too cool to ignite nuclear fusion; thus, many of the

elements needed for life chemistry would never form

electromagnetic force constant

if greater: chemical bonding would be disrupted; elements more massive than

boron would be unstable to fission

if lesser: chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry

ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constant

if larger: all stars would be at least 40% more massive than the sun; hence, stellar

burning would be too brief and too uneven for life support

if smaller: all stars would be at least 20% less massive than the sun, thus

incapable of producing heavy elements

ratio of electron to proton mass

if larger: chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry

if smaller: same as above

ratio of number of protons to number of electrons

if larger: electromagnetism would dominate gravity, preventing galaxy, star, and

planet formation

if smaller: same as above

expansion rate of the universe

if larger: no galaxies would form

if smaller: universe would collapse, even before stars formed

entropy level of the universe

if larger: stars would not form within proto-galaxies

if smaller: no proto-galaxies would form

mass density of the universe

if larger: overabundance of deuterium from big bang would cause stars to burn

rapidly, too rapidly for life to form

if smaller: insufficient helium from big bang would result in a shortage of heavy

elements

velocity of light

if faster: stars would be too luminous for life support if slower: stars would be

insufficiently luminous for life support

age of the universe

if older: no solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would exist in the right (for

life) part of the galaxy

if younger: solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would not yet have formed

initial uniformity of radiation

if more uniform: stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed

if less uniform: universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space

average distance between galaxies

if larger: star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be

hampered by lack of material

if smaller: gravitational tug-of-wars would destabilize the sun's orbit

density of galaxy cluster

if denser: galaxy collisions and mergers would disrupt the sun's orbit

if less dense: star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be

hampered by lack of material

average distance between stars

if larger: heavy element density would be too sparse for rocky planets to form

if smaller: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life

fine structure constant (describing the fine-structure splitting of spectral lines) 

if larger: all stars would be at least 30% less massive than the sun

if larger than 0.06: matter would be unstable in large magnetic fields

if smaller: all stars would be at least 80% more massive than the sun

decay rate of protons

if greater: life would be exterminated by the release of radiation

if smaller: universe would contain insufficient matter for life

12C to 16O nuclear energy level ratio

if larger: universe would contain insufficient oxygen for life

if smaller: universe would contain insufficient carbon for life

ground state energy level for 4 He

if larger: universe would contain insufficient carbon and oxygen for life

if smaller: same as above

decay rate of 8 Be

if slower: heavy element fusion would generate catastrophic explosions in all the

stars

if faster: no element heavier than beryllium would form; thus, no life chemistry

ratio of neutron mass to proton mass

if higher: neutron decay would yield too few neutrons for the formation of many

life-essential elements

if lower: neutron decay would produce so many neutrons as to collapse all stars

into neutron stars or black holes

initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons

if greater: radiation would prohibit planet formation

if lesser: matter would be insufficient for galaxy or star formation

polarity of the water molecule

if greater: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too high for life

if smaller: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too low for life; liquid water

would not work as a solvent for life chemistry; ice would not float, and a runaway

freeze-up would result

supernovae eruptions

if too close, too frequent, or too late: radiation would exterminate life on the

planet

if too distant, too infrequent, or too soon: heavy elements would be too sparse for

rocky planets to form

white dwarf binaries

if too few: insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry

if too many: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life

if formed too soon: insufficient fluorine production

if formed too late: fluorine would arrive too late for life chemistry

ratio of exotic matter mass to ordinary matter mass

if larger: universe would collapse before solar-type stars could form

if smaller: no galaxies would form

number of effective dimensions in the early universe

if larger: quantum mechanics, gravity, and relativity could not coexist; thus, life

would be impossible

if smaller: same result

number of effective dimensions in the present universe

if smaller: electron, planet, and star orbits would become unstable

if larger: same result

mass of the neutrino

if smaller: galaxy clusters, galaxies, and stars would not form

if larger: galaxy clusters and galaxies would be too dense

big bang ripples

if smaller: galaxies would not form; universe would expand too rapidly

if larger: galaxies/galaxy clusters would be too dense for life; black holes would

dominate; universe would collapse before life-site could form

size of the relativistic dilation factor

if smaller: certain life-essential chemical reactions will not function properly

if larger: same result

uncertainty magnitude in the Heisenberg uncertainty principle

if smaller: oxygen transport to body cells would be too small and certain life essential elements would be unstable

if larger: oxygen transport to body cells would be too great and certain life essential elements would be unstable

cosmological constant

if larger: universe would expand too quickly to form solar-type stars

galaxy cluster type

if too rich: galaxy collisions and mergers would disrupt solar orbit

if too sparse: insufficient infusion of gas to sustain star formation for a long enough time

galaxy size

if too large: infusion of gas and stars would disturb sun’s orbit and ignite too many galactic eruptions

if too small: insufficient infusion of gas to sustain star formation for long enough time

galaxy type

if too elliptical: star formation would cease before sufficient heavy element build-up for life chemistry

if too irregular: radiation exposure on occasion would be too severe and heavy elements for life chemistry would not be available

galaxy mass distribution

if too much in the central bulge: life-supportable planet will be exposed to too much radiation

if too much in the spiral arms: life-supportable planet will be destabliized by the gravity and radiation from adjacent spiral arms

galaxy location

if too close to a rich galaxy cluster: galaxy would be gravitationally disrupted

if too close to very large galaxy(ies): galaxy would be gravitationally disrupted

if too far away from dwarf galaxies: insufficient infall of gas and dust to sustain ongoing star formation

decay rate of cold dark matter particles

if too small: too few dwarf spheroidal galaxies will form which prevents star formation from lasting long enough in large galaxies so that life-supportable planets become possible

if too great: too many dwarf spheroidal galaxies will form which will make the orbits of solar-type stars unstable over long time periods and lead to the generation of deadly radiation episodes

hypernovae eruptions

if too few: not enough heavy element ashes present for the formation of rocky planets

if too many: relative abundances of heavy elements on rocky planets would be inappropriate for life; too many collision events in planetary system

if too soon: leads to a galaxy evolution history that would disturb the possibility of advanced life; not enough heavy element ashes present for the formation of rocky planets

if too late: leads to a galaxy evolution history that would disturb the possibility of advanced life; relative abundances of heavy elements on rocky planets would be inappropriate for life; too many collision events in planetary system

supernovae eruptions

if too close: life on the planet would be exterminated by radiation

if too far: not enough heavy element ashes would exist for the formation of rocky planets

if too infrequent: not enough heavy element ashes present for the formation of rocky planets

if too frequent: life on the planet would be exterminated

if too soon: heavy element ashes would be too dispersed for the formation of rocky planets at an early enough time in cosmic history

if too late: life on the planet would be exterminated by radiation

white dwarf binaries

if too few: insufficient flourine would be produced for life chemistry to proceed

if too many: planetary orbits disrupted by stellar density; life on planet would be exterminated

if too soon: not enough heavy elements would be made for efficient flourine production

if too late: flourine would be made too late for incorporation in protoplanet

proximity of solar nebula to a supernova eruption

if farther: insufficient heavy elements for life would be absorbed

if closer: nebula would be blown apart

timing of solar nebula formation relative to supernova eruption

if earlier: nebula would be blown apart

if later: nebula would not absorb enough heavy elements

number of stars in parent star birth aggregate

if too few: insufficient input of certain heavy elements into the solar nebula

if too many: planetary orbits will be too radically disturbed

star formation history in parent star vicinity

if too much too soon: planetary orbits will be too radically disturbed

birth date of the star-planetary system

if too early: quantity of heavy elements will be too low for large rocky planets to form

if too late: star would not yet have reached stable burning phase; ratio of potassium-40, uranium-235 & 238, and thorium-232 to iron will be too low for long-lived plate tectonics to be sustained on a rocky planet

parent star distance from center of galaxy

if farther: quantity of heavy elements would be insufficient to make rocky planets; wrong abundances of silicon, sulfur, and magnesium relative to iron for appropriate planet core characteristics

if closer: galactic radiation would be too great; stellar density would disturb planetary orbits; wrong abundances of silicon, sulfur, and magnesium relative to iron for appropriate planet core characteristics

parent star distance from closest spiral arm

if too large: exposure to harmful radiation from galactic core would be too great

z-axis heights of star’s orbit

if more than one: tidal interactions would disrupt planetary orbit of life support planet

if less than one: heat produced would be insufficient for life

quantity of galactic dust

if too small: star and planet formation rate is inadequate; star and planet formation occurs too late; too much exposure to stellar ultraviolet radiation

if too large: blocked view of the Galaxy and of objects beyond the Galaxy; star and planet formation occurs too soon and at too high of a rate; too many collisions and orbit perturbations in the Galaxy and in the planetary system

number of stars in the planetary system

if more than one: tidal interactions would disrupt planetary orbit of life support planet

if less than one: heat produced would be insufficient for life

parent star age

if older: luminosity of star would change too quickly

if younger: luminosity of star would change too quickly

parent star mass

if greater: luminosity of star would change too quickly; star would burn too rapidly

if less: range of planet distances for life would be too narrow; tidal forces would disrupt the life planet’s rotational period; uv radiation would be inadequate for plants to make sugars and oxygen

parent star metallicity

if too small: insufficient heavy elements for life chemistry would exist

if too large: radioactivity would be too intense for life; life would be poisoned by heavy element concentrations

parent star color

if redder: photosynthetic response would be insufficient

if bluer: photosynthetic response would be insufficient

galactic tides

if too weak: too low of a comet ejection rate from giant planet region

if too strong: too high of a comet ejection rate from giant planet region

H3+production

if too small: simple molecules essential to planet formation and life chemistry will not form

if too large: planets will form at wrong time and place for life

flux of cosmic ray protons

if too small: inadequate cloud formation in planet’s troposphere

if too large: too much cloud formation in planet’s troposphere

solar wind

if too weak: too many cosmic ray protons reach planet’s troposphere causing too much cloud formation

if too strong: too few cosmic ray protons reach planet’s troposphere causing too little cloud formation

parent star luminosity relative to speciation

if increases too soon: runaway green house effect would develop

if increases too late: runaway glaciation would develop

surface gravity (escape velocity)

if stronger: planet’s atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane

if weaker: planet’s atmosphere would lose too much water

distance from parent star

if farther: planet would be too cool for a stable water cycle

if closer: planet would be too warm for a stable water cycle

inclination of orbit

if too great: temperature differences on the planet would be too extreme

orbital eccentricity

if too great: seasonal temperature differences would be too extreme

axial tilt

if greater: surface temperature differences would be too great

if less: surface temperature differences would be too great

rate of change of axial tilt

if greater: climatic changes would be too extreme; surface temperature differences would become too extreme

rotation period

if longer: diurnal temperature differences would be too great

if shorter: atmospheric wind velocities would be too great

rate of change in rotation period

if longer:surface temperature range necessary for life would not be sustained

if shorter:surface temperature range necessary for life would not be sustained

planet age

if too young: planet would rotate too rapidly

if too old: planet would rotate too slowly

magnetic field

if stronger: electromagnetic storms would be too severe; too few cosmic ray protons would reach planet’s troposphere which would inhibit adequate cloud formation

if weaker: ozone shield would be inadequately protected from hard stellar and solar radiation

thickness of crust

if thicker: too much oxygen would be transferred from the atmosphere to the crust

if thinner: volcanic and tectonic activity would be too great

albedo (ratio of reflected light to total amount falling on surface)

if greater: runaway glaciation would develop

if less: runaway greenhouse effect would develop

asteroidal and cometary collision rate

if greater: too many species would become extinct

if less: crust would be too depleted of materials essential for life

mass of body colliding with primordial Earth

if smaller: Earth’s atmosphere would be too thick; moon would be too small

if greater: Earth’s orbit and form would be too greatly disturbed

timing of body colliding with primordial Earth

if earlier: Earth’s atmosphere would be too thick; moon would be too small

if later: sun would be too luminous at epoch for advanced life

collision location of body colliding with primordial Earth

if too close to grazing: insufficient debris to form large moon; inadequate annihilation of Earth’s primordial atmosphere; inadequate transfer of heavy elements to Earth

If too close to dead center: damage from collision would be too destructive for future life to survive

oxygen to nitrogen ratio in atmosphere

if larger: advanced life functions would proceed too quickly

if smaller: advanced life functions would proceed too slowly

carbon dioxide level in atmosphere

if greater: runaway greenhouse effect would develop

if less: plants would be unable to maintain efficient photosynthesis

water vapor level in atmosphere

if greater: runaway greenhouse effect would develop

if less: rainfall would be too meager for advanced life on the land

atmospheric electric discharge rate

if greater: too much fire destruction would occur

if less: too little nitrogen would be fixed in the atmosphere

ozone level in atmosphere

if greater: surface temperatures would be too low

if less: surface temperatures would be too high; there would be too much uv radiation at the surface

oxygen quantity in atmosphere

if greater: plants and hydrocarbons would burn up too easily

if less: advanced animals would have too little to breathe

nitrogen quantity in atmosphere

if greater: too much buffering of oxygen for advanced animal respiration; too much nitrogen fixation for support of diverse plant species

if less: too little buffering of oxygen for advanced animal respiration; too little nitrogen fixation for support of diverse plant species

ratio of 40K, 235,238U, 232Th to iron for the planet

if too low: inadequate levels of plate tectonic and volcanic activity

if too high: radiation, earthquakes, and volcanoes at levels too high for advanced life

rate of interior heat loss

if too low: inadequate energy to drive the required levels of plate tectonic and volcanic activity

if too high: plate tectonic and volcanic activity shuts down too quickly

seismic activity

if greater: too many life-forms would be destroyed

if less: nutrients on ocean floors from river runoff would not be recycled to continents through tectonics; not enough carbon dioxide would be released from carbonates

volcanic activity

if lower: insufficient amounts of carbon dioxide and water vapor would be returned to the atmosphere; soil mineralization would become too degraded for life

if higher: advanced life, at least, would be destroyed

rate of decline in tectonic activity

if slower: advanced life can never survive on the planet

if faster: advanced life can never survive on the planet

rate of decline in volcanic activity

if slower: advanced life can never survive on the planet

if faster: advanced life can never survive on the planet

timing of birth of continent formation

if too early: silicate-carbonate cycle would be destabilized

if too late: silicate-carbonate cycle would be destabilized

oceans-to-continents ratio

if greater: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited

if smaller: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited

rate of change in oceans-to-continents ratio

if smaller: advanced life will lack the needed land mass area

if greater: advanced life would be destroyed by the radical changes

global distribution of continents (for Earth)

if too much in the southern hemisphere: seasonal differences would be too severe for advanced life

frequency and extent of ice ages

if smaller: insufficient fertile, wide, and well-watered valleys produced for diverse and advanced life forms; insufficient mineral concentrations occur for diverse and advanced life

if greater: planet inevitably experiences runaway freezing

soil mineralization

if too nutrient poor: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited

if too nutrient rich: diversity and complexity of life-forms would be limited

gravitational interaction with a moon

if greater: tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe

if less: orbital obliquity changes would cause climatic instabilities; movement of nutrients and life from the oceans to the continents and vice versa would be insufficent; magnetic field would be too weak

Jupiter distance

if greater: too many asteroid and comet collisions would occur on Earth

if less: Earth’s orbit would become unstable

Jupiter mass

if greater: Earth’s orbit would become unstable

if less: too many asteroid and comet collisions would occur on Earth

drift in major planet distances

if greater: Earth’s orbit would become unstable

if less: too many asteroid and comet collisions would occur on Earth

major planet eccentricities

if greater: orbit of life supportable planet would be pulled out of life support zone

major planet orbital instabilities

if greater: orbit of life supportable planet would be pulled out of life support zone

mass of Neptune

if too small: not enough Kuiper Belt Objects (asteroids beyond Neptune) would be scattered out of the solar system

if too large: chaotic resonances among the gas giant planets would occur

Kuiper Belt of asteroids (beyond Neptune)

if not massive enough: Neptune’s orbit remains too eccentric which destabilizes the orbits of other solar system planets

if too massive: too many chaotic resonances and collisions would occur in the solar system

separation distances among inner terrestrial planets

if too small: orbits of all inner planets will become unstable in less than 100,000,000 million years

if too large: orbits of the most distant from star inner planets will become chaotic

atmospheric pressure

if too small: liquid water will evaporate too easily and condense too infrequently; weather and climate variation would be too extreme; lungs will not function

if too large: liquid water will not evaporate easily enough for land life; insufficient sunlight reaches planetary surface; insufficient uv radiation reaches planetary surface; insufficient climate and weather variation; lungs will not function

atmospheric transparency

if smaller: insufficient range of wavelengths of solar radiation reaches planetary surface

if greater: too broad a range of wavelengths of solar radiation reaches planetary surface

magnitude and duration of sunspot cycle

if smaller or shorter: insufficient variation in climate and weather

if greater or longer: variation in climate and weather would be too much

continental relief

if smaller: insufficient variation in climate and weather

if greater: variation in climate and weather would be too much

chlorine quantity in atmosphere

if smaller: erosion rates, acidity of rivers, lakes, and soils, and certain metabolic rates would be insufficient for most life forms

if greater: erosion rates, acidity of rivers, lakes, and soils, and certain metabolic rates would be too high for most life forms

iron quantity in oceans and soils

if smaller: quantity and diversity of life would be too limited for support of advanced life; if very small, no life would be possible

if larger: iron poisoning of at least advanced life would result

tropospheric ozone quantity

if smaller: insufficient cleansing of biochemical smogs would result

if larger: respiratory failure of advanced animals, reduced crop yields, and destruction of ozone-sensitive species would result

stratospheric ozone quantity

if smaller: too much uv radiation reaches planet’s surface causing skin cancers and reduced plant growth

if larger: too little uv radiation reaches planet’s surface causing reduced plant growth and insufficient vitamin production for animals

mesospheric ozone quantity

if smaller: circulation and chemistry of mesospheric gases so disturbed as to upset relative abundances of life essential gases in lowe atmosphere

if greater: circulation and chemistry of mesospheric gases so disturbed as to upset relative 

abundances of life essential gases in lower atmosphere

quantity and extent of forest and grass fires

if smaller: growth inhibitors in the soils would accumulate; soil nitrification would be insufficient; insufficient charcoal production for adequate soil water retention and absorption of certain 

growth inhibitors

if greater: too many plant and animal life forms would be destroyed

quantity of soil sulfer

if smaller: plants will become deficient in certain proteins and die

if larger: plants will die from sulfur toxins; acidity of water and soil will become too great for life; 

nitrogen cycles will be disturbed

biomass to comet infall ratio

if smaller: greenhouse gases accumulate, triggering runaway surface temperature increase

if larger: greenhouse gases decline, triggering a runaway freezing

density of quasars

if smaller: insufficient production and ejection of cosmic dust into the intergalactic medium; ongoing star formation impeded; deadly radiation unblocked

if larger: too much cosmic dust forms; too many stars form too late disrupting the formation of a solar-type star at the right time and under the right conditions for life

density of giant galaxies in the early universe

if smaller: insufficient metals ejected into the intergalactic medium depriving future generations of stars of the metal abundances necessary for a life-support planet at the right time in cosmic history

if larger: too large a quantity of metals ejected into the intergalactic medium providing future stars with too high of a metallicity for a life-support planet at the right time in cosmic history

giant star density in galaxy

if smaller: insufficient production of galactic dust; ongoing star formation impeded; deadly radiation unblocked

if larger: too much galactic dust forms; too many stars form too early disrupting the formation of a solar-type star at the right time and under the right conditions for life

rate of sedimentary loading at crustal subduction zones

if smaller: too few instabilities to trigger the movement of crustal plates into the mantle thereby disrupting carbonate-silicate cycle

if larger: too many instabilities triggering too many crustal plates to move down into the mantle thereby disrupting carbonate-silicate cycle

poleward heat transport in planet’s atmosphere

if smaller: disruption of climates and ecosystems; lowered biomass and species diversity; decreased storm activity and precipitation

if larger: disruption of climates and ecosystems; lowered biomass and species diversity; increased storm activity

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon abundance in solar nebula

if smaller: insufficient early production of asteroids which would prevent a planet like Earth from receiving adequate delivery of heavy elements and carbonaceous material for life, advanced life in particular

if larger: early production of asteroids would be too great resulting in too many collision events striking a planet arising out of the nebula that could support life

phosphorus and iron absorption by banded iron formations

if smaller: overproduction of cyanobacteria would have consumed too much carbon dioxide and released too much oxygen into Earth’s atmosphere thereby overcompensating for the increase in the Sun’s luminosity (too much reduction in atmospheric greenhouse efficiency)

if larger: underproduction of cyanobacteria would have consumed too little carbon dioxide and released too little oxygen into Earth’s atmosphere thereby undercomsating for the increase in the Sun’s luminosity (too little reduction in atmospheric greenhouse efficiency)

silicate dust annealing by nebular shocks

if too little: rocky planets with efficient plate tectonics cannot form

if too much: too many collisions in planetary system.; too severe orbital instabilities in planetary system

size of galactic central bulge

if smaller: inadequate infusion of gas and dust into the spiral arms preventing solar type stars from forming at the right locations late enough in the galaxy’s history

if larger: radiation from the bulge region would kill life on the life-support planet

total mass of Kuiper Belt asteroids

if smaller: Neptune’s orbit would not be adequately circularized

if larger: too severe gravitational instabilities generated in outer solar system

solar magnetic activity level

if greater: solar luminosity fluctuations will be too large

number of hypernovae

if smaller: too little nitrogen is produced in the early universe, thus, cannot get the kinds of stars and planets later in the universe that are necessary for life

if larger: too much nitrogen is produced in the early universe, thus, cannot get the kinds of stars and planets later in the universe that are necessary for life

timing of hypernovae production

if too early: galaxies become too metal rich too quickly to make stars and planets suitable for life support at the right time

if too late: insufficient metals available to make quickly enough stars and planets suitable for life support

masses of stars that become hypernovae

if not massive enough: insufficient metals are ejected into the interstellar medium; that is, not enough metals are available for future star generations to make stars and planets suitable for the support of life

if too massive: all the metals produced by the hypernova eruptions collapse into the black holes resulting from the eruptions; that is, none of the metals are available for future generations of stars

quantity of geobacteraceae

if smaller or non-existent: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons accumulate in the surface environment thereby contaminating the environment for other life forms

density of brown dwarfs

if too low: too many low mass stars are produced which will disrupt planetary orbits

if too high: disruption of planetary orbits

quantity of aerobic photoheterotrophic bacteria

if smaller: inadequate recycling of both organic and inorganic carbon in the oceans

average rainfall precipitation

if too small: inadequate water supplies for land-based life; inadequate erosion of land masses to sustain the carbonate-silicate cycle.; inadequate erosion to sustain certain species of ocean life that are vital for the existence of all life

if too large: too much erosion of land masses which upsets the carbonate-silicate cycle and hastens the extinction of many species of life that are vital for the existence of all life variation and timing of average rainfall precipitation

if too small or at the wrong time: erosion rates that upset the carbonate-silicate cycle and fail to adjust adequately the planet’s atmosphere for the increase in the sun’s luminosity

if too large or at the wrong time: erosion rates that upset the carbonate-silicate cycle and fail to adjust the planet’s atmosphere for the increase in the sun’s luminosity

average slope or relief of the continental land masses

if too small: inadequate erosion

if too large: too much erosion

distance from nearest black hole

if too close: radiation will prove deadly for life

absorption rate of planets and planetismals by parent star

if too low: disturbs sun’s luminosity and stability of sun’s long term luminosity

if too high: disturbs orbits of inner solar system planets; disturbs sun’s luminosity and stability of sun’s long term luminosity

water absorption capacity of planet’s lower mantle

if too low: too much water on planet’s surface; no continental land masses; too little plate tectonic activity; carbonate-silicate cycle disrupted

if too high: too little water on planet’s surface; too little plate tectonic activity; carbonate-silicate cycle disrupted

gas dispersal rate by companion stars, shock waves, and molecular cloud expansion in the Sun’s birthing star cluster

if too low: too many stars form in Sun’s vicinity which will disturb planetary orbits and pose a radiation problem; too much gas and dust in solar system’s vicinity

if too high: not enough gas and dust condensation for the Sun and its planets to form; insufficient gas and dust in solar system’s vicinity

decay rate of cold dark matter particles

if too low: insufficient production of dwarf spheroidal galaxies which will limit the maintenance of long-lived large spiral galaxies

if too high: too many dwarf spheroidal galaxies produced which will cause spiral galaxies to be too unstable

ratio of inner dark halo mass to stellar mass for galaxy

if too low: corotation distance is too close to the center of the galaxy which exposes the life-support planet to too much radiation and too many gravitational disturbances

if too high: corotation distance is too far from the center of the galaxy where the abundance of heavy elements is too sparse to make rocky planets

star rotation rate

if too slow: too weak of a magnetic field resulting in not enough protection from cosmic rays for the life-support planet

if too fast: too much chromospheric emission causing radiation problems for the life-support planet

rate of nearby gamma ray bursts

if too low: insufficient mass extinctions of life to create new habitats for more advanced species

if too high: too many mass extinctions of life for the maintenance of long-lived species

aerosol particle density emitted from forests

if too low: too little cloud condensation which reduces rainfall, lowers the albedo (planetary reflectivity), and disturbs climates on a global scale

if too high: too much cloud condensation which increases rainfall, raises the albedo (planetary reflectivity), and disturbs climate on a global scale; too much smog

density of interstellar and interplanetary dust particles in vicinity of life-support planet

if too low: inadequate delivery of life-essential materials

if too high: disturbs climate too radically on life-support planet

thickness of mid-mantle boundary

if too thin: mantle convection eddies become too strong; tectonic activity and silicate production become too great

if too thick: mantle convection eddies become too weak; tectonic activity and silicate production become too small

galaxy cluster density

if too low: insufficient infall of gas, dust, and dwarf galaxies into a large galaxy that eventually could form a life-supportable planet

if too high: gravitational influences from nearby galaxies will disturb orbit of the star that has a life-supprtable planet thereby exposing that planet either to deadly radiation or to gravitational disturbances from other stars in that galaxy

star formation rate in solar neighborhood during past 4 billion years

if too high: life on Earth will be exposed to deadly radiation or orbit of Earth will be disturbed

variation in star formation rate in solar neighborhood during past 4 billion years

if too high: life on Earth will be exposed to deadly radiation or orbit of Earth will be disturbed

gamma-ray burst events

if too few: not enough production of copper, scandium, titanium, and zinc

if too many: too many mass extinction events

cosmic ray luminosity of Milky Way Galaxy:

if too low: not enough production of boron

if too high: life spans for advanced life too short; too much destruction of planet’s ozone layer

air turbulence in troposphere

if too low: inadequate formation of water droplets

if too great: rainfall distribution will be too uneven

primordial cosmic superwinds

if too low of an intensity: inadequate star formation late in cosmic history

if too great of an intensity: inadequate star formation early in cosmic history

smoking quasars

if too few: inadequate primordial dust production for stimulating future star formation

if too many: early star formation will be too vigorous resulting in too few stars and planets being able to form late in cosmic history

quantity of phytoplankton

if too low: inadequate production of molecular oxygen and inadequate production of maritime sulfate aerosols (cloud condensation nuclei); inadequate consumption of carbon dioxide

if too great: too much cooling of sea surface waters and possibly too much reduction of ozone quantity in lower stratosphere; too much consumption of carbon dioxide

quantity of iodocarbon-emitting marine organisms

if too low: inadequate marine cloud cover; inadequate water cycling

if too great: too much marine cloud cover; too much cooling of Earth’s surface

mantle plume production

if too low: inadequate volcanic and island production rate

if too great: too much destruction and atmospheric disturbance from volcanic eruptions

quantity of magnetars (proto-neutron stars with very strong magnetic fields)

if too few during galaxy’s history: inadequate quantities of r-process elements are synthesized

if too many during galaxy’s history: too great a quantity of r-process elements are synthesized; too great of a high-energy cosmic ray production

frequency of gamma ray bursts in galaxy

if too low: inadequate production of copper, titanium, and zinc; insufficient hemisphere-wide mass extinction events

if too great: too much production of copper and zinc; too many hemisphere-wide mass extinction events

parent star magnetic field

if too low: solar wind and solar magnetosphere will not be adequate to thwart a significant amount of cosmic rays

if too great: too high of an x-ray flux will be generated

amount of outward migration of Neptune

if too low: total mass of Kuiper Belt objects will be too great; Kuiper Belt will be too close to the sun; Neptune’s orbit will not be circular enough and distant enough to guarantee long-term stability of inner solar system planets’ orbits

if too great: Kuiper Belt will be too distant and contain too little mass to play any significant role in contributing volatiles to life-support planet or to contributing to mass extinction events; Neptune will be too distant to play a role in contributing to the long-term  stability of inner solar system planets’ orbits

Q-value (rigidity) of Earth during its early history

if too low: final obliquity of Earth becomes too high; rotational braking of Earth too low

if too great: final obliquity of Earth becomes too low; rotational braking of Earth is too great

parent star distance from galaxy’s corotation circle

if too close: a strong mean motion resonance will destabilize the parent star’s galactic orbit

if too far: planetary system will experience too many crossings of the spiral arms

average quantity of gas infused into the universe’s first star clusters

if too small: wind form supergiant stars in the clusters will blow the clusters apart which in turn will prevent or seriously delay the formation of galaxies

if too large: early star formation, black hole production, and galaxy formation will be too vigorous for spiral galaxies to persist long enough for the right kinds of stars and planets to form so that life will be possible

frequency of late impacts by large asteroids and comets

if too low: too few mass extinction events; inadequate rich ore deposits of ferrous and heavy metals

if too many: too many mass extinction events; too radical of disturbances of planet’s crust

level of supersonic turbulence in the infant universe

if too low: first stars will be of the wrong type and quantity to produce the necessary mix of elements, gas, and dust so that a future star and planetary system capable of supporting life will appear at the right time in cosmic history

if too high: first stars will be of the wrong type and quantity to produce the necessary mix of elements, gas, and dust so that a future star and planetary system capable of supporting life will appear at the right time in cosmic history

number density of the first metal-free stars to form in the universe

if too low: inadequate initial production of heavy elements and dust by these stars to foster the necessary future star formations that will lead to a possible life-support body

if too many: super winds blown out by these stars will prevent or seriously delay the formation of the kinds of galaxies that could possibly produce a future life-support body

size of the carbon sink in the deep mantle of the planet

if too small: carbon dioxide level in planet’s atmosphere will be too high

if too large: carbon dioxide level in planet’s atmosphere will be too low; biomass will be too small

rate of growth of central spheroid for the galaxy

if too small: inadequate flow of heavy elements into the spiral disk; inadequate outward drift of stars from the inner to the central portions of the spiral disk

if too large: inadequate spiral disk of late-born stars

amount of gas infalling into the central core of the galaxy

if too little: galaxy’s nuclear bulge becomes too large

if too much: galaxy’s nuclear bulge fails to become large enough

level of cooling of gas infalling into the central core of the galaxy

if too low: galaxy’s nuclear bulge becomes too large

if too high: galaxy’s nuclear bulge fails to become large enough

ratio of dual water molecules, (H2O)2, to single water molecules, H2O, in the troposphere

if too low: inadequate raindrop formation; inadequate rainfall

if too high: too uneven of a distribution of rainfall over planet’s surface

heavy element abundance in the intracluster medium for the early universe

if too low: too much star formation too early in cosmic history; no life-support body will ever form or it will form at the wrong time and/or place

if too high: inadequate star formation early in cosmic history; no life-support body will ever form or it will form at the wrong time and/or place

quantity of volatiles on and in Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone

if too low: inadequate ingredients for the support of life

if too high: no possibility for a means to compensate for luminosity changes in star

pressure of the intra-galaxy-cluster medium

if too low: inadequate star formation bursts in large galaxies

if too high: star formation burst activity in large galaxies is too aggressive, too frequent, and too early in cosmic history

level of spiral substructure in spiral galaxy

if too low: galaxy will not be old enough to sustain advanced life

if too high: gravitational chaos will disturb planetary system’s orbit about center of galaxy and thereby expose the planetary system to deadly radiation and/or disturbances by gas or dust clouds

mass of outer gas giant planet relative to inner gas giant planet

if greater than 50 percent: resonances will generate non-coplanar planetary orbits which will destabilize orbit of life-support planet

if less than 25 percent: mass of the inner gas giant planet necessary to adequately protect life-support planet from asteroidal and cometary collisions would be large enough to gravitationally disturb the orbit of the life-support planet

triggering of El Nino events by explosive volcanic eruptions

if too seldom: uneven rainfall distribution over continental land masses

if too frequent: uneven rainfall distribution over continental land masses; too much destruction by the volcanic events; drop in mean global surface temperature

time window between the peak of kerogen production and the appearance of intelligent life

if too short: inadequate time for geological and chemical processes to transform the kerogen into enough petroleum reserves to launch and sustain advanced civilization

if too long: too much of the petroleum reserves will be broken down by bacterial activity into methane

time window between the production of cisterns in the planet’s crust that can effectively collect and store petroleum and natural gas and the appearance of intelligent life

if too short: inadequate time for collecting and storing significant amounts of petroleum and natural gas

if too long: too many leaks form in the cisterns which lead to the dissipation of petroleum and gas

efficiency of flows of silicate melt, hypersaline hydrothermal fluids, and hydrothermal vapors in the upper crust

if too low: inadequate crystallization and precipitation of concentrated metal ores that can be exploited by intelligent life to launch civilization and technology

if too high: crustal environment becomes too unstable for the maintenance of civilization

quantity of dust formed in the ejecta of Population III supernovae

if too low: number and mass range of Population II stars will not be great enough for a life-support planet to form at the right time and place in the cosmos; Population II stars will not form soon enough after the appearance of Population III stars

if too high: Population II star formation will occur too soon and be too aggressive for a life-support planet to form at the right time and place in the cosmos

quantity and proximity of gamma-ray burst events relative to emerging solar nebula

if too few and too far: inadequate enrichment of solar nebula with copper, titanium, and zinc

if too many and too close: too much enrichment of solar nebula with copper and zinc; too much destruction of solar nebula

heat flow through the planet’s mantle from radiometric decay in planet’s core

if too low: mantle will be too viscous and, thus, mantle convection will not be vigorous enough to drive plate tectonics at the precise level to compensate for changes in star’s luminosity

if too high: mantle will not be viscous enough and, thus, mantle convection will be too vigorous resulting in too high of a level of plate tectonic activity to perfectly compensate for changes in star’s luminosity

water absorption by planet’s mantle

if too low: mantle will be too viscous and, thus, mantle convection will not be vigorous enough to drive plate tectonics at the precise level to compensate for changes in star’s luminosity

if too high: mantle will not be viscous enough and, thus, mantle convection will be too vigorous resulting in too high of a level of plate tectonic activity to perfectly compensate for changes in star’s luminosity.