Time's arrow and life's origin

Lucas Johns

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arXiv · 1801.01783

Time's arrow and life's origin

Lucas Johns

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Abstract

The thermodynamic arrow-of-time problem is thought to be resolved by the observation that our universe initially was---and still is---far from equilibrium. The psychological arrow-of-time problem is often attributed the same resolution, but the connection has not been thoroughly established. I argue that a compelling explanation of the psychological arrow requires an understanding of the physical conditions necessary for life to emerge from a prebiotic environment. A simple calculation illustrates how life-sustaining energy fluxes from the Sun and the Earth's interior bias the development of life in the direction of the arrow inherited from cosmic initial conditions.

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Lucas Johns. 2018-01-03. Time's arrow and life's origin. https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.01783

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