Return of the God Hypothesis: Breakthroughs in Physics, Cosmology, and Biology Seeking Evidence for the Existence of God

by Stephen C. Meyer

Generally speaking,19 if the gravitational force strength were weaker, stars wouldn’t get hot enough for nuclei to combine to form carbon. In addition, a slightly lower value for the gravitational force constant (G) would prevent the development of thermal layering inside stars.20 Such layering is necessary for producing the many different types of elements (including carbon and oxygen) needed for life. A weaker overall gravitational force, in most cases, will also prevent stars from eventually becoming supernovae and ejecting the elements necessary for life into the universe. Unless stars explode and turn into supernovae, the elements necessary for life would be locked away inside their cores.21 On the other hand, if the gravitational force were too strong, the temperature inside stars would get too hot and nucleosynthesis would produce only elements heavier than carbon and oxygen. Nucleosynthesis would also proceed too quickly to allow for the formation of long-lived stars.22 In that case, the stars would burn up too fast, thus depriving life of a fit place of habitation.23