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A new theoretical model based on universal expansion and star formation suggests that our universe may not have optimal conditions for life. Despite the observed less favorable density
A new theoretical model based on universal expansion and star formation suggests that our universe may not have optimal conditions for life. Despite the observed less favorable density of dark energy, life is still possible, challenging previous cosmological models and changing our view of our existential weight.
A new theoretical model predicts the likelihood of intelligent life evolving in our universe and hypothetical universes beyond by replicating aspects of the well-known Drake equation. In the 1960s, American astronomer Dr. The Drake equation, developed by Frank Drake, was intended to calculate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations discovered in our Milky Way galaxy.
Now, more than 60 years later, a team of astrophysicists led by Durham University has presented a different model. Rather than focusing on extraterrestrial civilizations, this model explores the conditions created by the accelerating expansion of the universe and the rate of star formation. This expansion is believed to be driven by dark energy, a mysterious force that spans more than two-thirds of the universe.
Since stars are a prerequisite for the emergence of life as we know it, the model can be used to estimate the likelihood of the origin of intelligent life in our universe and in a hypothetical multiverse scenario consisting of different universes.
The new study does not attempt to calculate the absolute number of observers (i.e. intelligent life) in the universe; instead it looks at the relative probability that a randomly selected observer will populate the universe with certain properties.
He concludes that a typical observer would expect to experience a density of dark energy significantly higher than that of our own universe, suggesting that the components dark energy has make it a rare and unusual occurrence in the multiverse. The approach presented in the paper involves calculating the rate of ordinary matter evolving into stars over the entire history of the universe for different dark energy densities.
The model predicts that this rate, which is the most effective in star formation in the universe, will be around 27 percent, while in our universe this rate is 23 percent. This means that we do not live in a hypothetical universe where intelligent life forms are most likely to emerge. Or in other words, according to the model, the value of the dark energy density we observe in our universe is not the value that maximizes the chances of life.
Lead researcher Dr. from the Institute for Computational Cosmology at Durham University. Daniele Sorini said: “Understanding dark energy and its effects on our universe is one of the biggest challenges in cosmology and fundamental physics.
“The parameters that govern our universe, including the density of dark energy, can explain our own existence. “But surprisingly, we found that even much higher concentrations of dark energy can still be compatible with life; “This suggests that we may not be living in the most likely universes.”
The new model could allow scientists to understand the impact of different dark energy densities on the formation of structures in the universe and the conditions for the development of life in space. Dark energy balances gravity by causing the universe to expand faster, creating a universe where both expansion and structure formation are possible.
However, for life to develop, there must be regions where matter can come together to form stars and planets, and for life to develop, it must remain stable for billions of years. More importantly, the research shows that the astrophysics of star formation and the evolution of the large-scale structure of the universe combine in subtle ways to determine the optimal dark energy density required for the origin of intelligent life.
Professor Lucas Lombrizer, University of Geneva and co-author of the study, added: “It will be exciting to use this model to investigate the emergence of life in different universes and to find out whether there are some fundamental questions we need to ask ourselves about our own universe.”
Dr. Drake’s equation was more of a guide for scientists on how to search for life than an evaluation tool or a serious attempt to determine the definitive outcome. Its parameters included the annual rate of star formation in the Milky Way, the proportion of planets orbiting stars, and the number of worlds that could potentially support life.
By comparison, the new model relates the annual rate of star formation in the universe to its fundamental components, such as the dark energy density mentioned above. The research, funded by the European Research Council and involving scientists from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Geneva, was published today. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Source: Port Altele
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