Over the past several years, several companies have released smartwatch models. Some of the most popular models include the Apple Watch, Samsung Gear watches, and Fitbit watches. All of these models include some form of software or app that runs on a phone connection.
With the latest Apple Watch Series 4, the watch includes a new feature: an electrocardiogram (ECG) app. The app allows users to directly connect to an electrocardiograph (ECG) machine to test for heart abnormalities.
How it works is that you first need to download the app and then purchase plastic covers that connect to the watch. Then, you place your wrist on the cover and press a button on the watch. After a short time, your heart scan is completed and read by an app on your watch.
However, many people have questioned if this new feature violates the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This article will discuss this concept further.
Closed time-like curve (CTCC) violation
A closed time-like curve is a path in spacetime which returns to its own past. A causal loop is formed when the path returns to its own past, so that an event causes itself to occur.
The idea of a causal loop is theorized in general relativity, where spacetime is defined. Causality requires the past and future to be distinct, but general relativity says that the future is the same as the past: if you travel into the future, you will arrive at the same place and encounter the same events.
Therefore, it is possible to encounter yourself in the future, causing yourself to act a certain way that leads to an event. This event then causes you to go back in time and encounter yourself, causing you to act differently. This loops causality and creates a causal loop.
Quantum immortality violation
A design that seemingly violates the second law of thermodynamics is the quantum immortality theory. This theory states that quantum processes prevent the thermodynamic decline of a system.
Quantum immortality theories state that a system can maintain its internal order, or equilibrium, due to external stimuli. These stimuli can be in the form of other systems or repeated interactions.
The repeated interactions stimulate the system and reduce its overall energy. This reduction in energy is what preserves the internal order of the system.
The problem with this theory is that it does not specify what kind of stimulus will preserve internal order. It could be an external force, like gravity, or it could be other systems interacting with it.
Quantum resurrection violation
Quantum resurrection is the idea that quantum information can be stored in two states, e.g. on two separate quantum bits or qubits.
A qubit can be in a 1 or 0 state, analogous to a 0 or 1 state for a classical bit. A qubit can also be in an excited state, much like a superposition of the 1 and 0 states.
By mixing these two states together in an appropriate way, it is possible to “resurrect” a quantum system that has been reduced to just one of these states. For example, if there are only two possible states (1 or 0) and you only have one bit in the system then you can bring the system back to its original state by simply flipping this single bit.
This test was done on whether or not the second law of thermodynamics was violated and it was determined that it was not.
Bohmian interpretation violation
A less talked about violation of the second law of thermodynamics is the Bohmian interpretation of quantum theory. In this theory, particles have precise positions and speeds, but there is no determinate order in which they acquire these properties.
This seems to contradict the fact that experiments show that particles have precisely defined positions and speeds, but no determinate order in which they acquire these properties.
What happens is that when we make measurements of these particles, we are forcing them to assume a specific position and speed.
This is similar to measuring a temperature at a specific time: only then do we know the particle’s position. In order to do this, we have to use some kind of device that restricts the possible positions the particle can be in.
This violates the possibility of having particles with vague positions at every moment.
TPRF theory violation
Another theory violation is referred to as topological phase transition and periodic-domain reconstruction (TPRF) theory violation. This theory states that topological phases of matter can be created in systems that satisfy the standard constraints of the LLM.
Topological phases of matter are defined by their intrinsic properties, rather than their response to external forces. These phases are described by a special mathematical structure called a geometry.
In general, geometries can be described by points, lines, planes, and other structures made up of these elements. In topology, however, these structures are defined in a more abstract way.
For example, a plane is defined as having two sides and no holes. A topological plane does not have any boundaries within it; only outside of it.
Cosmological natural selection violation
Recent proposals have suggested that we live in a universe where there is a relative global increase in organization, or entropy decrease, due to the existence of multiple worlds.
These proposals suggest that our universe is one of many universes, sometimes called “universe clusters,” all with varying levels of organization. As these universes cluster together, the internal cohesion of each universe contributes to the overall organizational force of our universe, raising its entropy level.
Because our universe as a whole has an overall high level of organization, it has an entropic bias toward being even more organized. This cosmological natural selection favors universes with lower entropy and thus opposes the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Whether or not this idea is valid has yet to be determined, but it is an example of how some scientists are trying to address the violation of the Second Law in our own local environment.
Bolzmann brain violation
The most common violation of the second law of thermodynamics is the Bolzmann brain theory. This theory states that, as brains accumulate information through sensory input and process that information to form thoughts and decisions, they require a minimum amount of energy to function.
This requirement is said to be equivalent to a certain amount of brain cells functioning and accumulating energy.
According to the theory, this requires a minimum amount of entropy (disorder) to exist in the brain. The more organized your thoughts and decision-making process is, the more ordered this processing requires.
The issue with this theory is that it assumes that consciousness exists: that there is some kind of organizing force inside your brain that processes information and makes decisions. This denies the possibility that consciousness is simply an emergent property of the processing in your brain.
Bootstrap theory violation
Another hypothesis is that the universe could have been created in a more orderly state, but that the universe naturally evolves to greater entropy over time.
This idea is similar to how our days unfold: things naturally get more messy as we go about our business. At the end of the day, we sit down to watch a show, but instead find ourselves sorting through paperwork and putting things away.
That sort of mess takes effort to prevent or reverse, just like preventing entropy increase takes effort. The only way to do it is by using energy, which goes against the laws of physics.
If this theory is true, then we would expect to see structures emerging from chaos over time. Indeed, scientists have observed this happening in various domains: from molecules forming into structures like cells, to ecosystems evolving into more complex organisms over time.
