ost of us probably take our existence, and the existence of the universe, for granted. After all, it’s all we know. But some scientists have asked the question: “Why is there a universe at all, rather than nothing?” Is it a surprise that we exist? Attempts to answer this question have revealed some amazing things about the universe.

One striking fact about our universe is that it has mathematical qualities. Many natural laws can be written in the form of mathematical equations. Is this amazing? That depends on whether you believe the universe was an accident or created for a purpose. If the universe was an accident, why should it have mathematical qualities rather than being chaotic and unpredictable? Even the skeptical scientist recognizes that the mathematical universe strongly suggests an intelligence behind it.

Other striking facts have appeared as scientists have probed deeper into the mysteries of the universe. Evidence for the apparent randomness observed at subnuclear scales has stimulated questions about possible randomness of origins of the universe itself (see article). But the existence of the universe seems to be dependent on highly precise values for the characteristics of matter and energy.

If We Upset the Balance
For example, consider the familiar electrostatic force, which is responsible for the tiny electric spark we sometimes feel when touching a doorknob. This force repels particles with like electric charge and attracts those with opposite charge. It also helps attract the electrons to the nucleus and tends to cause the protons to repel each other.

The repulsion of protons because of the electrostatic force is balanced by an attractive force, known as the strong nuclear force. The electrostatic force and the strong nuclear force are precisely balanced so that protons are able to stay together to form different types of atoms. If the electrostatic force were too much weaker than the strong nuclear force, protons would bind together in large groups, and there would be no hydrogen, and therefore no water and no life. If the electrostatic force were too much stronger than the strong nuclear force, protons would fly apart; and there would be only hydrogen, and therefore no oxygen, no water, and no life. Upsetting the balance between these two forces would make our existence impossible.

To make matters more complex, there are additional forces and physical constants that also affect atoms, and their values must also be precisely adjusted so that the universe can be maintained in order. Some scientists have expressed amazement at how finely tuned the universe is.

We can see evidence of intelligent planning in the structure of the universe, and indeed its very existence. The fine-tuning evident in the universe—its size and order, as well as the details of atoms and quanta—reveals the activities of a supremely intelligent and infinitely powerful Mind. We should not be amazed to learn that the Mind has a keen interest in what He has created.

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L. James Gibson is director of the Geoscience Research Institute at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.