It's been a couple of months since I last posted an evolution misconception, so now is the time to discuss the sixth evolution misconception in this series. The misconception states the second law of thermodynamics proves evolution is not possible. Let's look at what the second law of thermodynamics has to say.
"The state of entropy of an isolated (closed) system always increase over time."
Okay, but what is entropy?
Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system. For example, if an air freshener is sprayed in a room, the entropy of the system will increase over time and the air freshener molecules will disperse throughout the air in the room until you can no longer smell the air freshener. The room is an isolated, or closed, system.
Anti-science evolution deniers claim this law of physics states entropy must increase and therefore evolution, which claims complexity increases over time (decreasing entropy), must in fact, be a lie. Did the evolution deniers just debunk an entire field of science through this simple argument? Um...no. Not even close.
The second law of thermodynamics is true...IN AN ISOLATED SYSTEM. The Earth is not an isolated system. It is constantly being changed within an influx of energy from the outside, in the form of the Sun. The Earth, therefore, is an open system, and not subject to the second law of thermodynamics. Consider your desk at work. Over time entropy changes and your desk gets messier and messier. But if you add input into the system and change it from an isolated, closed system, to an open system by continuing to clean items up, the second law of thermodynamics doesn't apply. Your desk gets cleaner and less disorganized. The entropy of this system decreases over time in this example.
Don't worry, evolution is safe and it will always be safe because science is on its side.
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