A new article describes 'a missing law of nature,' recognizing for the first time an important norm within the natural world's workings. In essence, the new law states that complex natural systems evolve to states of greater patterning, diversity, and complexity.
In other words, evolution is not limited to life on Earth, it also occurs in other massively complex systems, from planets and stars to atoms, minerals, and more.today describes"a missing law of nature," recognizing for the first time an important norm within the natural world's workings.
The new work presents a modern addition -- a macroscopic law recognizing evolution as a common feature of the natural world's complex systems, which are characterised as follows: "An important component of this proposed natural law is the idea of 'selection for function,'" says Carnegie astrobiologist Dr. Michael L. Wong, first author of the study.In the case of biology, Darwin equated function primarily with survival -- the ability to live long enough to produce fertile offspring.
Life's evolutionary history is rich with novelties -- photosynthesis evolved when single cells learned to harness light energy, multicellular life evolved when cells learned to cooperate, and species evolved thanks to advantageous new behaviors such as swimming, walking, flying, and thinking. "We contend that Darwinian theory is just a very special, very important case within a far larger natural phenomenon. The notion that selection for function drives evolution applies equally to stars, atoms, minerals, and many other conceptually equivalent situations where many configurations are subjected to selective pressure."
Insights into how the rate of evolution of some systems can be influenced artificially. The notion of functional information suggests that the rate of evolution in a system might be increased in at least three ways: by increasing the number and/or diversity of interacting agents, by increasing the number of different configurations of the system; and/or 3) by enhancing the selective pressure on the system .
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Scientists propose sweeping new law of nature, expanding on evolutionWhen British naturalist Charles Darwin sketched out his theory of evolution in the 1859 book 'On the Origin of Species' - proposing that biological species change over time through the acquisition of traits that favor survival and reproduction - it provoked a revolution in scientific thought.
Weiterlesen »
Scientists want to blast lunar soil with lasers to make moon roadsScientists have come up with an intriguing plan to create moon roads that requires blasting lunar soil with lasers.
Weiterlesen »
Scientists finally figure out why hundreds of gray whales keep washing up dead along U.S. coastsSascha is a U.K.-based trainee staff writer at Live Science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southampton in England and a master’s degree in science communication from Imperial College London. Her work has appeared in The Guardian and the health website Zoe.
Weiterlesen »
Scientists discover the possible triggers for bacterial pathogens, opening the door for new treatment strategiesThe legendary Alexander Fleming, who famously discovered penicillin, once said 'never to neglect an extraordinary appearance or happening.' And the path of science often leads to just that. New UNLV research is turning the page in our understanding of harmful bacteria and how they turn on certain genes, causing disease in our bodies.
Weiterlesen »
Scientists discover the possible triggers for bacterial pathogens, opening the door for new treatment strategiesThe legendary Alexander Fleming, who famously discovered penicillin, once said 'never to neglect an extraordinary appearance or happening.' And the path of science often leads to just that. New research is turning the page in our understanding of harmful bacteria and how they turn on certain genes, causing disease in our bodies.
Weiterlesen »
Scientists find ‘missing law’ of nature explaining how universe evolvedInteresting Engineering is a cutting edge, leading community designed for all lovers of engineering, technology and science.
Weiterlesen »