However, most experimental data so far is in agreement on it actually being a constant.
Wikipedia has a section on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-structure_constant#Is_the...?
One of the things the cosmologists are always doing is looking for anomalies that might indicate that some "constant" really has changed over time or distance.
Apparently there can be differences based on if you measure in Paris or Berkeley? Though it’s more likely there is some other source of error. I think having the technical ability for a precise measurement may one day help us look for fluctuations.
The flip side of that question is the larger and generally accepted as obvious statement: a constant with value "x" determines or reflects how the universe is as of now. The duration of that "now" is likely much longer than the earths entire existence.
"stable matter, and therefore life and intelligent beings, could not exist if its value were much different. For instance, were α to change by 4%, stellar fusion would not produce carbon, so that carbon-based life would be impossible. If α were greater than 0.1, stellar fusion would be impossible, and no place in the universe would be warm enough for life as we know it."
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-structure_constant#Anthro...
If it were to change by 4% in which direction?
> If α were greater than 0.1
Considering it's .007 that's a ridiculously huge change.
And I can't access the source article.
So thanks for trying but that's not very helpful.
I know. But which direction? Higher, lower, or both? If it's 4% in both directions that's quite a coincidence.
And since we're talking about percentages of α, I will emphasize that going from .007 to .1 is a change of well over a thousand percent. That example is the exact opposite of the anthropic principle showing that we "could not exist if its value were much different"!
What did I say to deserve the downvotes?
Upvoted your downvoted comment.
> The constant is everywhere because it characterizes the strength of the electromagnetic force affecting charged particles such as electrons and protons
I might like to read more conjecture as to what would exist if it were 1/138
and so forth.
It must certainly be 42
> Ask HN: Why does HN hate humor?
> α = 1/137.03599920611. (The last two digits are uncertain.)
Implications: this constant underpins much of why the universe is the way it is. A tiny bit higher or lower would result in drastically different universes. Measuring it more precisely allows scientists to make more accurate predictions and hence rule out / refine potential models of our universe.