Observations

Observations of Stephen Hawking

"If the rate of expansion one second after the Big Bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, it would have recollapsed before it reached its present size.

"On the other hand, if it had been greater by a part in a million, the universe would have expanded too rapidly for stars and planets to form.

"There are hundreds of parameters which all must be present or life on Earth would be impossible, such as:

"-If the Sun's gravitational pull was not balanced with the centrifugal force of the Earth spinning in orbit, the Earth would either be pulled into the Sun or fly off into space;

"-If the Earth were 2 percent closer to the Sun it would be scorched and if it were 2 percent further away from the Sun it would be frozen.

"-If the Earth did not have a molten core, there would be no magnetic field to protect the surface from deadly cosmic radiation;

"-If Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system--with a mass 2.5 times all the other planets combined--was not exerting its immense gravitational pull, comets and asteroids from space would strike the Earth;

"-If the Earth took longer to rotate, increased exposure to the Sun would make it inhospitable;

"-If the Earth did not have a tilt there would be no seasons;

"-If the Moon did not exist, the oceans would continually wash over the face of the Earth;

"-If the Moon were not in its exact position, there would not be the precise gravitational pull necessary for ocean tides."