Probing complexity: thermodynamics and computational mechanics approaches to origins studies

Abstract

This paper proposes new avenues for origins research that apply modern concepts from stochastic thermodynamics, information thermodynamics and complexity science. Most approaches to the emergence of life prioritize certain compounds, reaction pathways, environments or phenomena. What they all have in common is the objective of reaching a state that is recognizably alive, usually positing the need for an evolutionary process. As with life itself, this correlates with a growth in the complexity of the system over time. Complexity often takes the form of an intuition or a proxy for a phenomenon that defies complete understanding. However, recent progress in several theoretical fields allows the rigorous computation of complexity. We thus propose that measurement and control of the complexity and information content of origins-relevant systems can provide novel insights that are absent in other approaches. Since we have no guarantee that the earliest forms of life (or alien life) used the same materials and processes as extant life, an appeal to complexity and information processing provides a more objective and agnostic approach to the search for life's beginnings. This paper gives an accessible overview of the three relevant branches of modern thermodynamics. These frameworks are not commonly applied in origins studies, but are ideally suited to the analysis of such non-equilibrium systems. We present proposals for the application of these concepts in both theoretical and experimental origins settings.

Defining Lyfe in the Universe: From Three Privileged Functions to Four Pillars

“…In this subsection, we have presented a list of increasingly lyfe-like phenomena, which may give the illusion that the origins of lyfe always proceed in a simple, stepwise manner-i.e., that a prebiotic dissipative structure must first exhibit exponential growth (perhaps replication), acquire homeostatic regulatory abilities, then finally learning. In our view, it is also plausible that relatively simple systems capable of rudimentary information processing can arise de novo and that the ability of these systems to optimize over time their dissipative, autocatalytic, and homeostatic traits will determine their ultimate fate (see also [66]). For instance, the first life on Earth almost certainly did not use DNA for information storage or any recognizable enzymes in its metabolic network.…”

The “Water Problem”(sic), the Illusory Pond and Life’s Submarine Emergence—A Review

“…10. In AVT, information transfer would have emerged coupled to protometabolism “in materio” in the green rust/fougerite interlayers: a fertile research area that begins to converge with research in emergence of intrinsic computing, nanoscience and nanotechnology [ 1 , 34 , 215 , 216 , 311 , 334 , 342 , 343 , 344 , 345 , 346 , 347 , 348 , 349 , 350 , 351 , 352 , 353 , 354 , 355 , 356 , 357 , 358 , 359 , 360 ].…”

Order from Order: How Life Emerged from a Convection-driven Submarine Spring

“…But couldn't such an abundant and yet complex mineral -or a 'compendium' of such a mineral -suggest potential for emergent autonomous computing and thereby providing a code to offspring? (Harding et al, 2006;Bartlett and Beckett, 2019) Can we envision a convergence of endeavours cleaving the emergence of life research with aspects of Alife? (Cardoso et al, 2020)…”