A unified science of matter, life and evolution

Abstract

We are accustomed to looking at matter, life and evolution from different viewpoints. In this article, we present a simple but unified theoretical framework inspired by classical mechanics and thermodynamics. Our framework generalizes Newton's third law of matter to encompass life and evolution. The generalized action–reaction relationship includes scale and temporal parameters. This generalization helps explain why life is a system out of equilibrium. Life can go beyond the action–reaction symmetry law of matter. We define life as an open system that is self-aware of the time trajectory of energy state and environment. The theoretical framework we propose for studying life in terms of power reduces to the science of matter as a limiting case. This article is part of the theme issue 'Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)'.