Were fundamental constants different in the past?

The idea whether fundamental constants vary with time was discussed. Today, atomic physics, nuclear physics, and cosmology enable physicists to probe changes in the fine-structure constant over time scales ranging from a few years to nearly the age of the universe. Most physicists take for granted the constancy of fundamental physical constants. However, whether those constants change with time is not just a philosophical question - it can be discussed in plausible theoretical frameworks.