A metric to characterize the complexity of physical, biological and cultural systems in the universe has been proposed by Eric Chaisson. It is called Free Energy Rate Density (FERD). The Evo Devo Universe Community is looking for researchers to collaborate on investigating FERD and its larger human implications.
Birds have higher energy rate densities, compared to humans, probably because they operate in 3 dimensions.
An idea that the most complex of the universe’s extant systems at any time use progressively less space, time, energy and matter to create the next level of complexity in their evolutionary development has been advocated by John Smart. The concept is called STEM compression (formerly MEST compression).
A list of links to websites dealing with FERD and STEM is shown hereafter :
- The Information Philosopher : Eric Chaisson
- Understanding STEM, STEM+IC, and STEM Compression in Universal Change, by John Smart
- Is history one damn thing after another?, by Chet Raymo
- Integrated Theory of Intelligence
- Progress and Evolution, by Austin Cline
- How Big History Works : Energy Flows and the Rise and Demise of Complexity, by Fred Spier
- Bird Energy Balance and Thermoregulation