Negentropy (nonfiction): Difference between revisions

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'''Negentropy''' has different meanings in theoretical biology and [[Information theory (nonfiction)|information theory]].
'''Negentropy''' has different meanings in theoretical biology and [[Information theory (nonfiction)|information theory]].


In a biological context, the negentropy (also negative entropy, syntropy, extropy, ectropy or entaxy) of a living system is the entropy that it exports to keep its own entropy low; it lies at the intersection of entropy and life. The concept and phrase "negative entropy" was introduced by Erwin Schrödinger in his 1944 popular-science book ''What is Life?''
In a biological context, the negentropy (also negative entropy, syntropy, extropy, ectropy or entaxy) of a living system is the entropy that it exports to keep its own entropy low; it lies at the intersection of entropy and life. The concept and phrase "negative entropy" was introduced by [[Erwin Schrödinger (nonfiction)|Erwin Schrödinger]] in his 1944 popular-science book ''What is Life?''


Later, [[Léon Brillouin (nonfiction)|Léon Brillouin]] shortened the phrase to negentropy, to express it in a more "positive" way: a living system imports negentropy and stores it.
Later, [[Léon Brillouin (nonfiction)|Léon Brillouin]] shortened the phrase to negentropy, to express it in a more "positive" way: a living system imports negentropy and stores it.


In 1974, Albert Szent-Györgyi proposed replacing the term negentropy with syntropy. That term may have originated in the 1940s with the Italian mathematician Luigi Fantappiè, who tried to construct a unified theory of biology and physics. Buckminster Fuller tried to popularize this usage, but negentropy remains common.
In 1974, [[Albert Szent-Györgyi (nonfiction)|Albert Szent-Györgyi]] proposed replacing the term negentropy with syntropy. That term may have originated in the 1940s with the Italian mathematician [[Luigi Fantappiè (nonfiction)|Luigi Fantappiè]], who tried to construct a unified theory of biology and physics. [[Buckminster Fuller (nonfiction)|Buckminster Fuller]] tried to popularize this usage, but negentropy remains common.


== In the News ==
== In the News ==


<gallery mode="traditional">
<gallery>
File:Léon Brillouin 1927.jpg|link=Léon Brillouin (nonfiction)|[[Léon Brillouin (nonfiction)|Léon Brillouin]] did not make blood pact with [[Maxwell's demon (nonfiction)|Maxwell's demon]].
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Fiction cross-reference ==
== Fiction cross-reference ==
* [[Crimes against physical constants]]
* [[Gnomon algorithm]]


== Nonfiction cross-reference ==
== Nonfiction cross-reference ==


* [[Léon Brillouin (nonfiction)]]
* [[Luigi Fantappiè (nonfiction)]]
* [[Buckminster Fuller (nonfiction)]]
* [[Information theory (nonfiction)]]
* [[Information theory (nonfiction)]]
* [[Erwin Schrödinger (nonfiction)]]
* [[Albert Szent-Györgyi (nonfiction)]]


External links:
External links:

Latest revision as of 17:55, 16 February 2018

Negentropy has different meanings in theoretical biology and information theory.

In a biological context, the negentropy (also negative entropy, syntropy, extropy, ectropy or entaxy) of a living system is the entropy that it exports to keep its own entropy low; it lies at the intersection of entropy and life. The concept and phrase "negative entropy" was introduced by Erwin Schrödinger in his 1944 popular-science book What is Life?

Later, Léon Brillouin shortened the phrase to negentropy, to express it in a more "positive" way: a living system imports negentropy and stores it.

In 1974, Albert Szent-Györgyi proposed replacing the term negentropy with syntropy. That term may have originated in the 1940s with the Italian mathematician Luigi Fantappiè, who tried to construct a unified theory of biology and physics. Buckminster Fuller tried to popularize this usage, but negentropy remains common.

In the News

Fiction cross-reference

Nonfiction cross-reference

External links: