A new study highlighted by Phys.org examines a longstanding puzzle in physics: how the universe can grow more structured and complex while still following the second law of thermodynamics. The work, led by Queen Mary University of London mathematician Professor Ginestra Bianconi, offers a fresh way to think about the relationship between entropy, gravity and cosmic evolution.
The central question comes from an apparent contradiction. The second law says entropy, often described as disorder, tends to increase over time. Yet the universe has also produced stars, galaxies and other large-scale structures that seem more organized than the uniform conditions thought to exist earlier on.
According to the report, the proposed "Gravity from Entropy" perspective aims to connect these ideas rather than treat them as opposites. In this view, the growth of structure may be understood within the broader rules of thermodynamics, suggesting that increasing complexity and rising entropy do not necessarily conflict.
The study adds a new angle to one of modern physics' deepest debates by linking the emergence of cosmic structure to fundamental physical laws. While the full implications will depend on further research, the framework points to a possible bridge between thermodynamics and the large-scale architecture of the universe.
