Re: The tar paradox

On Tue, 17 Dec 2024 22:01:36 -0800, erik simpson
<eastside.erik@gmail.com> wrote:

On 12/17/24 8:21 PM, Mark Isaak wrote:

On 12/13/24 7:18 PM, MarkE wrote:

'“If you put energy into organic material it turns to asphalt, not to
life,” Benner explains. Without access to Darwinian evolution–that is,
without organic molecules having the opportunity to reproduce and
create offspring who themselves, mutations and all, are
reproducible–organic matter that is bathed in energy (from sunlight or
from geothermal heat) will turn into tar.'
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/did-life-come-to-earth-
from-mars-2378085/
>
Benner's proposed solution is borate minerals...on Mars. Which is a
euphemism for no solution.
>
The so-called "tar paradox" I think is simply entropy at work. Namely,
configurational entropy. with "tar" being defined as a homogeneous
mixture of chemicals tending to a high entropy, low energy equilibrium
state.

[...]
 
That shows a simplistic understanding of thermodynamics. Yes, the second
law notes that energies tend towards an equilibrium state. But another
aspect of thermodynamics (not a law, but probably only because it's hard
to quantify) notes that, where there is a sustained energy gradient,
complexity increases. It's as if the universe wants to make the overall
entropy increase as fast as possible by making some local gizmos, such
as convection cells or life, that have lower entropy themselves but
speed the process.
 

Life can't go to a lower entropy state.  It's uphill all the way, and
thermodynamic equilibrium is death.

Don't conflate complexity and entropy.  That's MarkE's job.

--
To know less than we don't know is the nature of most knowledge