How could we know if universal constants without dimensions are changing over time?
John D. Barrow, a Research Professor of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge published a ‘layman’s’ book on the theme of ‘From Alpha to Omega The Constants of Nature’. In this book, Barrow explores how the fine structure constant, among others, and the speed of light may have varied with time. The fine structure constant is expressed as: – α = 2πe²/hc ≈ 1/137 and the speed of light may be found from Maxwell’s electromagnetic equations as: – c = 1 …. ____ …. √μ₀ε₀ Barrow observers that there may be some sort of universal ‘Anthropic Principle’, whereby nature’s constants are just ‘such’ that intelligent life may evolve to measure them and speculate about their variation. Perhaps we live during an epoch of the universe during which the possibly, varying, constants of nature allow us to exist! After all, if the strength of the electromagnetic force was different and light travelled more slowly or rapidly, along with a different gravitational constant and nuclear force,
