Life, the Universe, & the 2nd Law of

ThermodynamicsThe Infinite Probability Drive

John Ashmead

The law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of nature. If someone points out to you

that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell's equations - then so much the worse for Maxwell's

equations.…but if your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics, I can give you no hope; there is nothing for it

but to collapse in deepest humiliation.-- A. S. Eddington

In an isolated system, a process can occur only if it increases the total entropy of the system.

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

What is entropy?

Second law

Higher Energy

Lowerenergy

Usefulwork

Counter-intuitive

character of

disorder

Maxwell’s Daemon

“A very observant and neat-fingered being”

Arrow of time

Nothing in the statistics of an assemblage can distinguish a direction of time when entropy fails to distinguish one.-- Eddington

2 way timeLet us assume that the three dimensions of space are visualized in the customary faction, and let us substitute a colour for the fourth dimension. Every physical object is liable to changes in colour as well as position. An object might, for example, be capable of going through all shades from red through violet to blue. A physical interaction between any two bodies is possible only if they are close to each other in space as well as in colour. Bodies of different colours would penetrate each other without interference

Infinite improbability driveIf such a machine is a virtual impossibility, then

it must logically be a finite improbability. So all I have to do in order to make one is to work

out exactly how improbable it is, feed

that figure into the finite improbability generator, ...

7 ways to climb Mt. Improbable

• Quantum fluctuations

• Many worlds

• Many laws

• Many fluctuations

• Positive feedback loops

• Self-organizing criticality

• Imagination

The Universe, Life, & Us

• Universe

• Life

• Us

Roadmap of universe

How many dimensions was that, again?

Inflation

Density fluctuations in the cosmic background

black holes

• why not everything in one?

• are we in one?

• escape from a black hole?

Anthropic Principle

The inner (closest to the center of the galaxy) limit is set by threats to complex life: nearby transient sources of ionizing radiation, including supernovae and gamma ray bursters, and comet impacts. Such threats tend to increase close to the galactic center. The outer limit is imposed by galactic chemical evolution, specifically the abundance of heavier elements, such as carbon.

Galactic Habitable Zone

Stellar habitable zone

By Jupiter

Extremo-philes

tree of life

mostly bacteria

eukaryotes

tiktaalik

pangea ultima

Out of Africa

Positive feedback loopNarrow pelvis

Infants born less mature Need more help from midwifes

Need more intelligence & socialization

Need larger brain

More playful, exploratory

left brain

By effectively removing all barriers to communication between different

races & cultures, [the babelfish] has caused more & bloodier wars than

anything else in the history of creation.

Beer & Civilization

Nin-kasi, you are the one who bakes the bappirin the big oven,

Puts in order the piles of hulled grains, ...You are the one who waters the malt

set on the ground, ...You are the one who soaks the malt in a jar

The waves rise, the waves fall. ...You are the one who spreads the cooked

mash on large reed mats,Coolness overcomes. ... 

You are the one who holds with both handsthe great sweet wort,

Brewing [it] with honey and wine

• Agriculture

• Parties

• Drinkable water

Sumeria: 2313BC

• For taxes

• Started as clay “counters”

• Added envelopes

• Got rid of contents

Gutenberg

Second Life

OCEAN

• Openness

• Compulsiveness

• Extroversion

• Agreeableness

• Neuroticism

Come the Singularity

Post humanism

I’m afraid that the Question and the Answer are mutually exclusive. Knowledge of one logically precludes knowledge of the other. It is impossible that both can ever be known

about the same Universe.

Time to throw in the towel?

You are the one

Thanks!

Don’t Panic!• John D. Barrow

• Paul Davies

• Richard Dawkins

• Michio Kaku

• Victor Stenger