The Probability of an Earth

The Probability of an Earth

Let’s take an imaginary trip to the moon and look back at earth. Consider all that we left behind in our journey. We could ask: What are the mathematical odds that the earth, with all its plants, animals, eco-systems and complex interdependence, could come into existence by itself? What are the actual odds that all this could happen—even once? What are the odds of a single earth occurring?

Numerous scientists have recognized the improbable position of our planet’s location, in the solar system, in relation to its moon. For instance, if the earth were 10% farther from the sun, it would freeze over, or if it were 10% closer to the sun, it would quickly bake. If it were 20% closer to the 26 Does God Exist? moon, twice daily 35-50 foot tidal waves would wash to and fro over most of the earth’s land surface at great speed. Dr. Hugh Ross, Ph.D., sat down and carefully performed an extraordinarily complex mathematical computation. He took 123 separate parameters (factors) and calculated the odds that all 123 factors, which had to be present for the earth to exist as we know it, could have come together—“just happened”—on their own.

Some of his parameters need to be listed here to begin to appreciate the complexity of his calculations. He computed an exact value for galaxy size, type, location, birthdate of the sun, proximity of solar nebula to a supernova eruption, number of moons, mass and distance from moons, tidal force, axis tilt of planet, planetary distance from star, global distribution of continents, thickness of planet crust, atmospheric transparency, pressure, viscosity, carbon dioxide level, amount of chlorine, cobalt, copper, fluorine, nickel, potassium (and many other elements in the earth’s crust), oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio, volcanic activity and scores more. Then Dr. Ross performed one final mathematical computation before arriving at a final conclusion on the chances of the entire universe producing even one earth.

The results of his calculation—of finding all 123 of his parameters on a single earth are: “less than one chance in 10 to the 139th power (ten thousand trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion) exists that even one such planet would occur anywhere in the universe.” This represents a lot of zeros! Only a few decades ago, the largest number known to mathematicians was a vigintillion—or one with 63 zeros. A quadrillion has fifteen zeros and a quintillion has eighteen. As gigantic as are these numbers, the odds of an earth appearing anywhere in the universe represents a number so immensely large as to dwarf a quadrillion.

Understand! The universe is inseparable from the laws of mathematics. In other words, the appearance of a single earth, anywhere in the universe, is an utterly impossible probability. Any mathematician “worth his salt” would admit that the earth was created exactly as we see it!