Order Amidst Chaos: Life and Entropy

"The universe is grand, but life is grander."

”But low-entropy entities were different. The low-entropy entities decreased their entropy and increased their order, like columns of phosphorescence rising over the inky-dark seas. This was meaning, the highest meaning, higher than enjoyment."

Three Body Problem, Cixin Liu

Many of us have encountered the term 'Entropy' during our academic years, whether in school or college. To me, it has always evoked notions of disorder or chaos. We were instructed that entropy increases in the universe, a concept intimately linked with time in the second law of thermodynamics, widely regarded as one of physics' fundamental laws. However, it wasn't until I stumbled upon the following lines in Cixin Liu's Three Body Problem trilogy, now also a popular Netflix series, that I truly grasped its connection to life.

Life, with its myriad definitions, found a particularly resonant one for me in Nick Lane's book, 'The Vital Question,' where he articulates it as: "In its simplest form, life is a process by which matter self-organizes into complex, self-replicating molecules—a process that can only sustain itself with a continual flow of energy." The pivotal terms here are 'self-organizes' and 'flow of energy.' The 'how' is the flow of energy. While the 'why' may remain elusive, the 'what' is undeniably about low entropy, or more simply put, the resistance or reversal of entropy.

Isn't it remarkable that we are living embodiments of a process that seemingly defies the second law of thermodynamics? Instead of succumbing to disintegration into our constituent elements (a fate met post-mortem), the life force within us orchestrates order from chaos.

Delving further into this concept led me to discover some compelling articles on the same theme:

1. Shane Parrish elucidates the manifold ways entropy manifests in our daily lives in this blog post.

2. James Clear, author of 'Atomic Habits,' explores similar themes with intriguing perspectives here.

3. Stephan Wolfram shares insights from his 50-year journey in understanding the second law of thermodynamics.

4. The movie Tenet is about time and reversing entropy. Not an easy movie to grasp. Check this article explaining the physics of the movie.

Yet, whenever we encounter negative entropy or the reversal thereof, it's essential to acknowledge that life is the driving force behind it, transcending even the vastness of the universe. Whether through art, relationships, literature or simply appreciating the beauty of life surrounding us, we witness the triumph of order over chaos. Treasure it!

On this occasion of Mother's Day, I extend warm wishes to all mothers out there. There is perhaps no one better than you to exemplify the reversal of entropy and bring order to life's chaos.