Re: Life as a manifestation of the second law of thermodynamics

From: Chris Cogan (ccogan@telepath.com)
Date: Tue Sep 12 2000 - 02:01:06 EDT

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    At 11:57 PM 09/11/2000, you wrote:
    >http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/u/jjkay/pubs/Life_as/text.html
    >
    >Very interesting article on dissipative systems, the SLOT and how it applies
    >to living things.
    >
    >"In this paper we have recast the second law of thermodynamics from the old
    >statement of "entropy increase" into a statement that describes systems
    >undergoing processes so that they will reach a unique state of equilibrium.

    Chris
    This looks good. I've been thinking along these lines for some time now,
    because it seems that, in many cases, a static system, even a *nominally*
    open system, can reach a state of equilibrium *before* it reaches anything
    that we would call "heat death." Sheesh. Now *another* paper to read?



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