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Age-dependent Dynamics of Locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans: A Lyapunov Exponent Analysis
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Life and evolution as physics.

Adrian Bejan1

  • 1Duke University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science , Durham, NC, USA.

Communicative & Integrative Biology
|August 5, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Evolutionary processes, driven by power, shape biological, geophysical, and technological systems. The constructal law explains this universal tendency towards flow organization, unifying life and inanimate change across all domains.

Area of Science:

  • Physics of evolutionary systems
  • Universal laws of organization
  • Thermodynamics and flow phenomena

Background:

  • Evolutionary changes occur across biological, geophysical, and technological realms.
  • The existence of a time arrow and directional change is a fundamental observation.
  • Understanding the driving forces behind these universal changes is key.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the universal existence and direction of evolution.
  • To identify the fundamental physical principles governing change.
  • To propose a unifying law for evolutionary flow organization.

Main Methods:

  • Applying principles of physics to understand natural "engines" and power destruction.
  • Analyzing the tendency for systems to morph into flow configurations.
Keywords:
constructal lawevolutiongrowthlifephysicsthermodynamics

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  • Illustrating the universality of the proposed law across diverse domains.

    • Main Results:

    • Nothing flows or changes without being driven by power.
    • Natural systems evolve towards configurations that enhance movement and flow.
    • The constructal law of evolutionary flow organization provides a unifying framework.

    Conclusions:

    • The constructal law offers a physics-based explanation for evolution everywhere.
    • This law unifies animate and inanimate phenomena under a single principle.
    • Understanding power dynamics is crucial to understanding universal evolutionary tendencies.