“Novel Universal Law Explains Complex Evolutionary Patterns in Nature.
In 1859, Charles Darwin’s revolutionary book, “On the Origin of Species,” introduced the groundbreaking theory of biological evolution, marking a significant turning point in scientific thought. Over 164 years later, a group of nine scientists and philosophers has proposed a new law of nature that transcends the boundaries of biological evolution, extending its principles to encompass various natural systems, from the subatomic scale to celestial bodies such as stars and planets.
This new law, known as the “law of increasing functional information,” recognizes evolution as a universal process that applies to a wide array of systems, both living and non-living. It suggests that evolving systems, whether biological or not, always form from numerous interacting building blocks, such as atoms or cells. These systems undergo processes, like cellular mutation, that generate diverse configurations. Evolution, as outlined in this law, occurs when these various configurations are subject to selection for useful functions. The result is an ever-increasing diversity and complexity in the natural world.
Robert Hazen, a mineralogist and astrobiologist affiliated with the Carnegie Institution for Science, underscores that this law offers a new perspective on why diverse systems throughout the cosmos evolve as they do. It is a view rooted in function, helping us understand the emergence of complex patterns and behaviors across the universe. This perspective allows for predictions about how unfamiliar systems, like the organic chemistry on Saturn’s moon Titan, may develop over time, thereby contributing to our understanding of potential extraterrestrial life.
The authors of this scientific paper propose three fundamental concepts of selection: the ability to endure, the enduring nature of active processes that drive evolution, and the emergence of novel characteristics as adaptations to the environment. This novelty generation can be observed in various biological examples, from organisms developing the ability to swim, walk, or fly to the emergence of distinct human traits, like upright walking and increased brain size, after the divergence of the human and chimpanzee lineages.
Carnegie Institution astrobiologist and planetary scientist Michael Wong, who led the paper, believes this work is crucial because it provides a novel perspective rooted in function and offers a better understanding of why diverse systems in the cosmos evolve as they do. Furthermore, Jonathan Lunine, chair of Cornell University’s astronomy department and a co-author, highlights the potential for this law to predict the development of unfamiliar systems, such as the organic chemistry on Saturn’s moon Titan, providing valuable insights into the search for extraterrestrial life.
