Is Entropy Natural?

[Lawrence Bryan]

I  recall taking a basic biology class with a professor who emphasized  
the dynamics of life and energy. I had about 3 minutes left on my mid- 
term when I noticed there was one more question on the back. "Discuss  
entropy and life." Jeez, an essay question to end the midterm. No time  
to work out any sort of well organized, thoughtful answer. I wrote,

"Life is but an eddy in the stream of entropy."

It was enough for full credit on that question.

Lawrence


On Oct 28, 2008, at 12:41 PM, David Morris wrote:

> Does this article give examples of instances **non-biological
> systems** "[not] displaying disorganization and decay but [instead]
> self-organization and growth?"
>
> I have never thought that biological systems were subject to the laws
> of thermodynamics.  Biological systems might be seen as in constant
> struggle to survive despite the ever-present and ever-changing threats
> presented it by thermodynamic systems.  They might be seen as
> anti-thermodynamic.
>
> Any scientists in the house?
>
> David Morris
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 12:31 PM, Henry <scuffling at gmail.com> wrote:
>> http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=how-nature-breaks-the-second-law
>> "despite its empirical success, the second law often seems  
>> paradoxical. The proposition that systems steadily run down seems  
>> at odds with the many instances in nature not only of  
>> disorganization and decay but also of self-organization and growth.  
>> In addition, the original derivation of the second law has serious  
>> theoretical shortcomings. By all rights, the law should not apply  
>> as widely as it does."
>