• Question: Does the 2nd law of thermodynamics oppose evolution?

    Asked by 492prtb33 to Jackie, Michele, Oliver, Vicky, Yelong on 19 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Michele Faucci Giannelli

      Michele Faucci Giannelli answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      I do not think so. Evolution is a theory on life progression and adaptation depending on the environment it developed while the 2nd law of thermodynamics describe physical systems and the fact that each thermodynamic process will cause an increase in entropy. The fact that entropy increases does not mean that life cannot be created and evolved. Think in this way, during the eras the entropy in the whole Earth is increased, which is equivalent to say that some of its mass is lost into space, but there is enough mass to get going for a long time and evolve life in it.

    • Photo: Oliver Brown

      Oliver Brown answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      Yeah, as Michele said, the two aren’t really related. Although the 2nd law is fundamental, it really only really applies to closed systems, which biological organisms aren’t!

    • Photo: Jaclyn Bell

      Jaclyn Bell answered on 19 Mar 2015:

      I have to agree with Michele and Ollie on this – the two are very different things.

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