Entropy
A measure of disorder, of energy unavailable for work, and of uncertainty in a message.
Why it matters now
The second law is the only budget that cannot be negotiated. Every economy is a flow of low-entropy energy and materials turning into high-entropy waste, and recognising that sets the real boundary of the circular economy: materials can cycle, energy cannot. The good news is that the sun delivers low-entropy energy in absurd surplus, roughly ten thousand times current human demand.
Where this is happening on Earth
- EuropeRudolf Clausius, Germany, and Ludwig Boltzmann, AustriaGave entropy its thermodynamic and statistical definitions.
- Europe and North AmericaNicholas Georgescu-Roegen, Romania and Vanderbilt UniversityFounded the thermodynamic critique of economics that became ecological economics.
- AfricaNoor Ouarzazate solar complex, MoroccoOne of the largest concentrated solar installations, converting abundant low-entropy sunlight at scale.
- AsiaWaste heat recovery in Chinese steel and cement plantsCapturing energy otherwise dispersed, one of the largest efficiency opportunities in industry.
- South AmericaSugarcane bagasse cogeneration, BrazilMill residue burned for electricity, cascading energy through several uses before dispersal.
The idea itself
The encyclopedia entry first, then live searches at journals and magazines that keep returning current work on this specific idea.
Current reporting from around the world
Standing feeds at reputable periodicals. These stay fresh on their own, which is why they are here instead of a list of articles that would be out of date within a season.