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Entropy and Life
- illuminant 2y agoIf we correct our thinking of these topics by seeing entropy as the distribution of potential over negative potential, "negative entropy" is potential (duh) and life organizes around the capacity for potential (the potential of existential being, which includes heat or fuel or anything else for that matter) these matters work themselves out. Life does not "defy" entropy, we eat and shit more potential to arrange order such that our capacity for potential (which ever kind) increases or sustains.
- vinnyvichy 2y agoFind the Maxwell's demon?! >In fact it is possible for this "negentropy" contribution to be large enough that growth is fully endothermic, or actually removes heat from the environment. This type of metabolism, in which acetate, methanol, or a number of other hydrocarbon compounds are converted to methane (a high entropy gas),[25] is known as acetoclastic methanogenesis; one example is the metabolism of the anaerobic archaebacteria Methanosarcina barkeri.[26][27] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_and_life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_and_life