A new thermodynamic theory of life

[Pythagorean]

A "new" thermodynamic theory of life

Interesting idea...

The formula, based on established physics, indicates that when a group of atoms is driven by an external source of energy (like the sun or chemical fuel) and surrounded by a heat bath (like the ocean or atmosphere), it will often gradually restructure itself in order to dissipate increasingly more energy. This could mean that under certain conditions, matter inexorably acquires the key physical attribute associated with life.

https://www.simonsfoundation.org/quanta/20140122-a-new-physics-theory-of-life/

The peer-reviewed paper, published in AIP: Journal of Chemical Physics:

Statistical physics of self-replication
http://www.englandlab.com/uploads/7/8/0/3/7803054/2013jcpsrep.pdf

 

[MathJakob]

Interesting idea...
https://www.simonsfoundation.org/quanta/20140122-a-new-physics-theory-of-life/

The peer-reviewed paper, published in AIP: Journal of Chemical Physics:

Statistical physics of self-replication
http://www.englandlab.com/uploads/7/8/0/3/7803054/2013jcpsrep.pdf

I have not read it yet but is it basically explaining how chemistry becomes biology (how non life can become life)?

 

[Pythagorean]

Yes, but (I think) more generally, about how organized structure can emerge from ensembles of matter.

 

[zoobyshoe]

If this were true, it would be massively important. I am very curious to see how the experiments the one guy is thinking of turn out.

 

[OmCheeto]

... living things ... tend to be much better at capturing energy from their environment and dissipating that energy as heat.

Does this mean that we are the peak of evolutionary radiators?

Anyways, I agree. This is interesting.

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ps. I would like to thank the PF gods for getting rid of the philosophy forum before this revelation was presented.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I just ran across this article on SciAm. Any more developments or thoughts?

 

[Pythagorean]

Your bump reminded me of this paper, so I employed an ancient technique:

1) go to Google Scholar and search for the paper by title
2) click "cited by" link under the paper's entry
3) (optional) check the box to "limit search results"
4) (optional) search for Author's name to see cases of him citing himself

This should give you an indication in any progress he's made or collaborations he's done since. Here's the two hits that stood out to me just by title:

Dissipative adaptation in driven self-assembly
https://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v10/n11/abs/nnano.2015.250.html
Statistical Physics of Adaptation
https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevX.6.021036

 

[BillTre]

Here is a list of England's publications from his academic website.
Included there are links to drafts of papers in press.
Other parts of the website include the research interests of the lab.

 

[Dr Aaron]

The internal organelles play a greater role within a cell. The endosymbiotic theory is of interest to me:

 

[BillTre]

The internal organelles play a greater role within a cell. The endosymbiotic theory is of interest to me:
View attachment 206892

Here is a recent PF thread on the endosymbiotic theory: https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...he-evolution-of-complex-cellular-life.899972/