That entropy is occurring exponentially can be witnessed in a variety of ways. Isotopes decay exponentially at very predictable rates, each with its own individual half-life. The following is a typical example of an exponential decay curve.³⁹...All exponential curves would have similar slopes.

Any body losing heat does so exponentially. A cup of hot water will have the following temperature drop per unit of time as energy is dissipated. Notice that the slope of the curve is very similar to the previous one, since both are exponential.

Gas molecules will escape from a closed container at an exponential rate if an opening is suddenly created.

If the discussion of entropy and how it relates to open and closed systems and the accumulation of information has seemed more confusing than illuminating, it is our analytical, reductionist thinking that is partially to blame. Our present terminology is imprecisely defined, leading to confusion and misunderstanding. The entire concept put forth can be simply stated as follows: There are opposing processes occurring within our universe that are interdependent. There is the tendency to break down and burn out, and the opposing tendency to build up and become more complex. These processes have a mathematical relationship that in all probability is based upon an exponential function.

It would seem that the entire entropic process occurs at an exponential rate. Perhaps energy is being dissipated exponentially because available space is increasing non-linearly, if not exponentially, based on the universe's volume-doubling time. This will be further discussed in greater detail in the next section. Intelligence might then be evolving exponentially based on its interrelationship and interdependence with the other two. It would seem as if there is good justification from a scientific viewpoint to conclude that an interrelationship exists between the entropic process, as it is occurring throughout the universe, and the evolution of intelligence to states of increasing complexity.

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