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The hidden physics of life | Nikta Fakhri | TEDxNewEngland
TEDx Talksยท 2025-10-14 17:00
Core Concepts - The industry highlights the distinction between equilibrium, a state of balance and stability, and non-equilibrium, where life thrives due to constant motion and energy consumption [3][6][9] - The industry emphasizes that life exists far from equilibrium, where systems are dynamic and perpetually consume energy [6][9] - The industry notes that symmetry breaking, an ongoing process driven by energy flow, leads to diversity and adaptability in living systems [10][12] Emergence and Complexity - The industry points out that emergence in non-equilibrium systems is dynamic and ongoing, creating feedback loops that maintain the system far from equilibrium [14] - The industry observes that non-equilibrium principles manifest across all scales of life, from murmuration to single living cells [16][17] - The industry indicates that protein patterns in cells behave like charged particles, orchestrating developmental processes [18] Time and Entropy - The industry states that living systems break the symmetry of time itself, creating an irreversible direction linked to energy flow and entropy [19][21] - The industry quantifies the arrow of time using entropy, a measure of disorder, which increases with higher energy flows in living systems [21][22] Applications and Implications - The industry suggests exploring the use of non-equilibrium physics principles to design smarter, more adaptable materials and discover sustainable energy solutions [24] - The industry proposes looking for the origins of life in environments with high energy fluxes, potentially discovering new forms of life [24][25]