MOLECULAR STORMS

Graham, who has a degree in theoretical physics from Cambridge University, plumbs theories from thermodynamics for the keys to unlock the mysteries of life.

The author observes that some consider thermodynamics—the study of heat in motion—to be the “poor cousin of modern physics.” But he contends that an understanding of thermodynamics is essential to understanding the origin and nature of life itself, and that the field provides intriguing portals into such topics as the character of human consciousness. One must grasp the “wild complexity” of cells and their inner machinations—a “complex dance of minutely choreographed activity.” A cell is basically a collection of molecules, he explains, that are always moving and colliding with one another in random ways; this chaos of motion is sometimes referred to as “thermal noise,” but Graham prefers a less “tame” descriptor: It’s a “molecular storm.” In order to understand life, he asserts, one must understand this storm, which accounts not only for life’s initial appearance but also its subsequent development: “The molecular storm blows like a hurricane in air thick as treacle, driving everything that happens.” Graham displays a magisterial command of the material, offering a concise overview of the basic ideas of thermodynamics—his account of entropy is particularly edifying to the uninitiated—and also explains how these categories help to illuminate, and even demystify, the elemental processes of life. Graham also extends the scope of his study to grander questions, including humanity’s place in the cosmos, all seen from a materialistic perspective. The author overstates the case when he writes that this book is suitable for “all those who are curious about how the world works”; readers will need more than mere curiosity to understand this often-challenging work. But it’s as lucid an exposition as one could reasonably expect, given the technical nature of the subject, and it’s a thought-provoking reflection on the deepest of questions.

A stimulating exploration of thermodynamic science.