Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Space
Space
Science
Paul Sutter

Why do the numbers that shape our universe exist at all?

A swirling spiral of blue light on a black background.

There is a set of very special numbers, known as the fundamental constants of nature, that cannot be explained. Where do they come from? Finding out if they are, in fact, constant is the key to unlocking this enduring mystery.

Physics is a mathematical description of nature. We use models, equations and formulas to describe how systems work and predict how they'll behave in the future. This approach has proved enormously successful, explaining everything from the behavior of subatomic particles to the evolution of the entire universe.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.