The cosmic numbers

DEC 01, 1972

The large dimensionless numbers in cosmology have led to fascinating questions about the possible significance of their puzzling coincidences

DOI: 10.1063/1.3071139

Edward R. Harrison

Cosmic numbers have intrigued modern cosmologists ever since puzzling coincidences were first noticed between some of the large dimensionless constants. Here I will try to show not only that these numbers are interesting, but also that they are possibly important to our understanding of the physical world. Have the coincidences always existed or is it merely fortuitous that they occur at the present stage of evolution of the universe?

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More about the authors

Edward R. Harrison, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.