IT'S NOT THAT THE OBSERVATION IS SPECIAL BUT THAT THE OBSERVERS ARE!:

Theorists Tackle Universe's 'Coincidence Problem' (ABC Science Online, Oct. 22, 2008)

"We're right on the cusp between the matter-dominated and dark energy-dominated epochs," said [Ph.D. student Chas] Egan.

Astronomers have been puzzled why this shift is happening right now, just when humans are here to observe it.

"When theorists see something like that, that indicates something suspicious. It looks like a coincidence," said Egan.

Various efforts have been made to explain this coincidence problem over the years, but none of the ideas raised have gained widespread acceptance.

Now Egan and Lineweaver have taken a pragmatic approach, reasoning that the only time in the history of the universe that it would be possible for us to exist is around now -- when stars have been formed, galaxies coalesced and planets have evolved for us to live on.

"It struck us that it's kind of silly to think that observers could have occurred anywhere during the whole history of the universe," said Egan. "If we are tied to terrestrial planets then we could not possibly have observed the radiation era, and when the universe gets large and diffuse and so on then we could not possible observe that late future either."