Publisher's Synopsis
The Second Law of Thermodynamics (the law of "increasing disorder") is fundamental to all the sciences and is considered inviolable by the general scientific community. This volume represents the first book in an emerging renaissance of second law studies. It covers the first international conference in more than 100 years - and perhaps, ever - to explore challenges to the second law's absolute status and to many unresolved foundational issues surrounding it. These collected papers represent work by more than 100 researchers from over 25 countries, many of whom are prominent in the fields of classical and quantum statistical thermodynamics. Much of the research is original and, if verified by the scientific community, could lead to paradigm shifts in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
