The Fine Tuning of the Universe in Just Six Numbers

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I read your book, just six numbers when I was writing about the intelligent design creationist or theorists as they call themselves. They say there's no way that could just happen by chance. And a design element looks like there's a designer. What is your explanation for the fine tuning in your just six numbers? Yes, well, one shouldn't exaggerate the degree of fine tuning. You certainly need some big numbers so that the time the universe lasts is very long compared to the time scale for Microsoft reactions. But there are only one or two tunings where it's actually really fine tuning.

Shermer and Rees discuss: existential threats • overpopulation • biodiversity loss • climate change • AI and self-driving cars, robots, and unemployment • his bet with Steven Pinker • his disagreement with Richard Dawkins • how science works as a communal activity • scientific creativity • science communication • science education • why there aren’t more women and people of color in STEM fields • verification vs. falsification • Bayesian reasoning and scientific progress • Model Dependent Realism and the nature of reality Fermi’s Paradox • why he’s an atheist but wants to be buried in the Presbyterian church in which he was raised • mysterian mysteries.

Martin Rees is Astronomer Royal, former President of the Royal Society, Fellow (and former Master) of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge. He sits as a member of the UK House of Lords. He is the author of many bestselling popular science books, including: On the Future; Just Six Numbers; Before the Beginning; and Our Final Hour. His newest book is If Science is to Save Us.