# How do we know that constants like c or h were the same at Big bang ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2014, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567 "2014-02-05T12:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WheatCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@WheatCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WheatCat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567/41 "2014-02-11T16:02:31Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > The cite describes a Nature “Brief Communications” letter which speculates on how new theories about black holes might behave if you vary _e_ instead of _c_. More specifically, they suggest that it might be possible, depending on how these new theories look, to argue that there is a 2nd law violation with black holes if you vary _e_. Of course, if you vary _c_, there is a violation of Lorentz invariance. It just depends what you are willing to give up, and what the new theory looks like… What are you quoting? I cannot find your quote in my cite, and the term ’ “Brief Communications” letter ’ is not a reasonable paraphrase of the terms “article” and “paper” used by my cite. Otherwise I seem to have been correct in saying that a theoretical change in c had been suggested by competent authority, but incorrect in doubting prior authoritative consensus on the units issue. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567/42 "2014-02-11T17:10:09Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I somehow read the title as "How do we know that consonants like c or h were the same at Big bang ? " - and am thus disappointed with how rational this thread has proved to be. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567/43 "2014-02-11T19:49:47Z")
> [@WheatCat](#): > > What are you quoting? I cannot find your quote in my cite, and the term ’ “Brief Communications” letter ’ is not a reasonable paraphrase of the terms “article” and “paper” used by my cite. I mentioned “Brief Communications” to aid folks in finding the work that was referenced in your cite, but I can just supply a [link to it](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v418/n6898/full/418602a.html) instead. These short items (this one is about 600 words) provide a way to get interesting thoughts out quickly and without as much trouble as longer-form articles. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567/44 "2014-02-11T23:37:57Z")
> [@Pasta](#): > > These short items (this one is about 600 words) And Nature want £22 (36USD) to purchase an electronic copy. So over 50 cents per word. Can anyone wonder why there is such a movement supporting open access publication. Nature has become something of an embarrassment to science. [/rant] ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567/45 "2014-02-12T00:01:00Z")
Point taken, but… 6 cents per word. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567/46 "2014-02-12T02:06:11Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Point taken, but… 6 cents per word. Bah, that will teach me to post before my morning coffee. Can’t even do trivial mental arithmetic… :o [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-that-constants-like-c-or-h-were-the-same-at-big-bang/680567.md?page=2)