Time’s Second Arrow: Evolution, Order, and a New Law of Nature

In this appealing but underwhelming proposal, geoscientist Hazen (Symphony in C) and astrobiologist Wong present a new law for understanding the universe. While the second law of thermodynamics states that the disorder of a closed system always increases over time, the authors posit that order increases as well. A new law, they contend, should be established to account for how “remarkable states of intricate organization” emerge over time, like how humans have created art and science and birds sing in patterns. They christen their discovery “the law of increasing functional information” and assert that it “describes the generation of order in a world of decay.” Hazen and Wong apply this law to language and music; advances in technology and scientific knowledge; and nonliving systems, including atoms, stars, minerals, and molecules. For example, they note how atoms, the building blocks of matter, emerged in stages after the big bang and how artificial intelligence has evolved to solve crossword puzzles, answer math questions, and hold conversations. According to the authors, their theory could help offer new strategies for tackling “unruly evolving systems” like the climate and cancer cells. Unfortunately, while they assert that any natural law should be able to explain and predict natural phenomena, they struggle to demonstrate this with their own law. It’s a provocative idea, but readers are unlikely to be convinced. (Feb.)