Scientists Propose Test for Universe's Fine-Tuning for Life

A new study outlines ways to empirically test the Anthropic Principle, potentially transforming it from philosophical speculation to scientific hypothesis.

The Anthropic Principle suggests the universe's physical constants are finely tuned to support life, but its scientific validity has been debated for decades.
Researchers Nemanja Kaloper and Alexander Westphal have proposed a method to test the principle using observations of dark matter and cosmic inflation.
Their framework focuses on ultralight axions, a candidate for dark matter, and their predicted properties if the universe is fine-tuned for life.
Upcoming missions, such as Japan's LiteBIRD satellite launching in 2032, and studies of black holes could provide evidence supporting or refuting the principle.
If axions are not found or their properties deviate from predictions, it could challenge the Anthropic Principle's explanatory power and prompt alternative cosmological models.