A new proof suggests the entire universe only requires one single fundamental constant to be completely described.
April 1, 2026
Original Paper
A Lower Bound on the Number of Fundamental Constants
arXiv · 2603.29300
The Takeaway
Standard physics currently relies on dozens of specific numbers like the speed of light or the strength of gravity. This bold paper argues that a complete mathematical description of reality actually boils down to a single number, potentially simplifying our entire understanding of how the universe works.
From the abstract
We describe here, for the first time, a lower bound on the total number of fundamental constants required for a mathematical description of our physical universe to be complete. The answer is shown to be one. The formal arithmetized meta-mathematical proof of this is left to the reader.