The way we are, function and change: The information, mass and energy theory

Abstract

<p>The search for a universal law governing the functioning of life, human society, and Earth is paramount in science. Universal laws, however, are difficult to find in the multifactorial fields of life and human sciences. Gaining insight into the complexities of information driving the form and function, and the energy processes of organisms, ecosystems, and human entities is key to understanding biological and human systems. Here, I propose the IME (information, mass, energy) theory to establish that generally the rate at which information increases with the mass (storage of information) of an organism, ecosystem, or human entity largely surpasses the corresponding increase in mass and required energy. Consequently, larger repositories of information consequently become progressively more powerful and efficient. This exponential increase, however, is not infinite; it reaches a limit marked by the carrying capacity and/or the death of the organism or entity, which finally serves as a mechanism to eliminate negative accumulations of failures or by disturbances that are inversely related to their intensity. This information, mass, and energy (IME) theory that I propose here is key for understanding global change in organisms, ecosystems and human entities as well as biodiversity and habitat carrying capacity, evolution of socio-economic systems and even cosmos development. This IME theory should allow us to model disturbances like drought-related mortality, wildfires, coral bleaching or human socio-economic collapses and predict ecosystem or entity recovery or collapse.</p>