Evolution as Described by the Second Law of Thermodynamics

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By viewing evolution as the motion of energy flows toward a stationary state (entropy) evolution can be explained by the second law of thermodynamics a law which conventionally describes physical systems. In this view a cheetah serves as an energy tr ...
By viewing evolution as the motion of energy flows toward a stationary state (entropy), evolution can be explained by the second law of thermodynamics, a law which conventionally describes physical systems. In this view, a cheetah serves as an energy transfer mechanism, and beneficial mutations allow the animal to transfer more energy within its environment, helping even out the energy. Image credit: Rob Qld.

(PhysOrg.com) -- Often, physics and biology appear as different worlds, from a scientist’s point of view. Each discipline has its own language and concepts, and physicists and biologists tend to look at the world in different ways – not least being from inanimate and animate perspectives.


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All News summaries for August 11, 2008

'Enlightened' Atoms Stage Nano-Riot Against Uniformity

9 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- When atoms in a crystal are struck by laser light, their electrons, excited by the light, typically begin moving back and forth together in a regular pattern, resembling nanoscale soldiers marching in a lockstep ...

Dancing droplets

Nov 18, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Our blood, sweat and tears are three precious fluids that can answer lots of questions about the state of our health but testing small amounts of bodily fluids, without contaminating them through contact with ...

Billions of particles of anti-matter created in laboratory

Nov 17, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- Take a gold sample the size of the head of a push pin, shoot a laser through it, and suddenly more than 100 billion particles of anti-matter appear.

'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' game provides clue to efficiency of complex networks

Nov 17, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
As the global population continues to grow exponentially, our social connections to one another remain relatively small, as if we're all protagonists in the Kevin Bacon game inspired by "Six Degrees of Separation," ...

Quantum calibration paves way for super-secure communication

Nov 17, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new approach to calibrating quantum mechanical measurement has been developed with particular applications in optics and super-secure quantum communication.