Does life present any information paradox?

In summary, the conversation discusses the paradox of information being lost in black holes, which goes against the belief that information is conserved according to a conservation law. The conversation then explores whether the death of a living being, and the loss of all the information stored in their brain, presents a similar paradox. It is noted that the information in black holes and in living beings is of a different nature, but in both cases, information is lost. The concept of entropy is also brought up, as it is a form of information and is related to the increase of disorder in the universe. Landauer's principle and Charles Seife's book "Decoding the Universe" are mentioned as sources of further insights into the relationship between information and entropy.
  • #1
Gerinski
323
15
This question might rather be posted in Biology but since the information paradox is usually the subject of black hole physics I thought physicists may be better placed to answer it.

The fact that information may be lost in black holes is considered a paradox, information is believed to be conserved by a conservation law.

Now living beings (let's take a human brain as the extreme example) accumulate a great deal of information during their lifetime, that's what brains do, process and generate information. When the brain dies all that information is presumably lost.
Does this present a paradox in a similar sense as the black holes case? I know the information paradox in black holes refers to the information regarding quantum states while the information generated by a brain is probably of a different nature.
 
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  • #2
I think you're mixing up two different meanings of the word "lost." In some black hole models entropy has been predicted to decrease as matter is captured, which would constitute a paradox considering the reliability of the Second Law. When a human being dies, total entropy isn't predicted to decrease. In both cases information is lost, but the second definitely does not violate known physical laws.
 
  • #3
information is information...there are many storage mechanisms...entropy is a special case of information...measurement is the act of extracting information from a particle or other entity...nature attempts to increase entropy and disripate information...

you can get some related insights from Landauer's principle regarding computer information storage and entropy increase...
Another source of insights is Charles Seife in DECODING THE UNIVERSE where he takes a look at the universe and life from an information and entropy perspective...altogether fascinating an a bit baffling...
 

1. What is an information paradox in relation to life?

An information paradox in relation to life refers to the concept that living organisms are highly organized and complex systems that contain vast amounts of information, yet the laws of physics and chemistry suggest that the universe tends towards disorder and randomness. This paradox raises questions about the origin and purpose of life, as well as the role of information in the universe.

2. Can you give an example of an information paradox in biology?

One example of an information paradox in biology is the genetic code. The DNA of living organisms contains instructions that determine the physical characteristics and functions of an organism. This information is highly complex and specific, yet it is encoded by a relatively simple chemical structure. This raises questions about how such a system could have evolved through natural processes.

3. How do scientists attempt to solve the information paradox in life?

Scientists approach the information paradox in life from various angles, including studying the origins of life, the role of information in biological systems, and the potential for information to arise from physical processes. They also use computer simulations and mathematical models to better understand the relationship between information and life.

4. Is the information paradox a widely accepted concept in the scientific community?

The concept of an information paradox in life is still a topic of debate and ongoing research in the scientific community. While some scientists believe that it raises important questions about the nature of life and the universe, others argue that it may be a result of our limited understanding and perspective.

5. How does the information paradox in life relate to other fields of study?

The information paradox in life has implications for various fields of study, including biology, physics, and philosophy. It challenges our understanding of the relationship between matter, energy, and information and raises questions about the origin, purpose, and complexity of life in the universe.

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