The Goldilocks Enigma: Why Is the Universe Just Right for Life?

by Paul C.W. Davies

such as biological organisms. The appearance of design in organisms has a testable scientific explanation based on Darwin’s theory of evolution. The appearance of design in the laws might be explained by hypothesizing a multiverse with “anthropic” selection. However, a multiverse is not a complete explanation of existence because it still requires some unexplained physical laws. Some scientists pin their hopes on a complete “theory of everything” that would explain the universe without invoking observer selection effects. If such a theory were correct, the bio-friendliness of the universe would be a lucky coincidence. However, the existence of a unique final theory is very doubtful. Unless everything that can exist does exist, something still unexplained must separate what exists from what doesn’t. To avoid an infinite regress (a tower of turtles), something must be accepted on faith, even in scientific accounts, but that something should be as simple as possible. We are not finished yet!