The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis
- Autores
- Azúa Bustos, Armando; Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio
- Año de publicación
- 2013
- Idioma
- inglés
- Tipo de recurso
- artículo
- Estado
- versión publicada
- Descripción
- Finding life in the Universe entirely different to the one evolved on Earth is probable. This is a significant constraint for life-detecting instruments that were sent and may be sent elsewhere in the solar system, as how could we detect life as ‘we don't know it’? How could we detect something when we have no prior knowledge of its composition or how it looks like? Here we argue that disregarding the type of lifeform that could be envisioned, all must share in common the attribute of being entities that decrease their internal entropy at the expense of free energy obtained from its surroundings. As entropy quantifies the degree of disorder in a system, any envisioned lifeform must have a higher degree of order than its supporting environment. Here, we show that by using fractal mathematics analysis alone, one can readily quantify the degree of entropy difference (and thus, their structural complexity) of living processes (lichen growths and plant growing patterns in this case) as distinct entities separate from its similar abiotic surroundings. This approach may allow possible detection of unknown forms of life based on nothing more than entropy differentials of complementary datasets. Future explorations in the solar system, like Mars or Titan, may incorporate this concept in their mission planning in order to detect potential endemic lifeforms.
Fil: Azúa Bustos, Armando. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile
Fil: Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica la Plata; Argentina - Materia
-
Complexity
Fractal
Life - Nivel de accesibilidad
- acceso abierto
- Condiciones de uso
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
- Repositorio
- Institución
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
- OAI Identificador
- oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/26238
Ver los metadatos del registro completo
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The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysisAzúa Bustos, ArmandoVega Martínez, Cristian AntonioComplexityFractalLifehttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.3https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Finding life in the Universe entirely different to the one evolved on Earth is probable. This is a significant constraint for life-detecting instruments that were sent and may be sent elsewhere in the solar system, as how could we detect life as ‘we don't know it’? How could we detect something when we have no prior knowledge of its composition or how it looks like? Here we argue that disregarding the type of lifeform that could be envisioned, all must share in common the attribute of being entities that decrease their internal entropy at the expense of free energy obtained from its surroundings. As entropy quantifies the degree of disorder in a system, any envisioned lifeform must have a higher degree of order than its supporting environment. Here, we show that by using fractal mathematics analysis alone, one can readily quantify the degree of entropy difference (and thus, their structural complexity) of living processes (lichen growths and plant growing patterns in this case) as distinct entities separate from its similar abiotic surroundings. This approach may allow possible detection of unknown forms of life based on nothing more than entropy differentials of complementary datasets. Future explorations in the solar system, like Mars or Titan, may incorporate this concept in their mission planning in order to detect potential endemic lifeforms.Fil: Azúa Bustos, Armando. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica la Plata; ArgentinaCambridge University Press2013-10info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/26238Azúa Bustos, Armando; Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio; The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis; Cambridge University Press; International Journal Of Astrobiology; 12; 4; 10-2013; 314-3201473-5504CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/potential-for-detecting-life-as-we-dont-know-it-by-fractal-complexity-analysis/81169D2F63946BCA4BB0DE6548597663info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013IJAsB..12..314Ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1017/S1473550413000177info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:56:03Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/26238instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:56:03.926CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse |
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
title |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
spellingShingle |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis Azúa Bustos, Armando Complexity Fractal Life |
title_short |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
title_full |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
title_fullStr |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
title_sort |
The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis |
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
Azúa Bustos, Armando Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio |
author |
Azúa Bustos, Armando |
author_facet |
Azúa Bustos, Armando Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio |
author_role |
author |
author2 |
Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio |
author2_role |
author |
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
Complexity Fractal Life |
topic |
Complexity Fractal Life |
purl_subject.fl_str_mv |
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.3 https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1 |
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv |
Finding life in the Universe entirely different to the one evolved on Earth is probable. This is a significant constraint for life-detecting instruments that were sent and may be sent elsewhere in the solar system, as how could we detect life as ‘we don't know it’? How could we detect something when we have no prior knowledge of its composition or how it looks like? Here we argue that disregarding the type of lifeform that could be envisioned, all must share in common the attribute of being entities that decrease their internal entropy at the expense of free energy obtained from its surroundings. As entropy quantifies the degree of disorder in a system, any envisioned lifeform must have a higher degree of order than its supporting environment. Here, we show that by using fractal mathematics analysis alone, one can readily quantify the degree of entropy difference (and thus, their structural complexity) of living processes (lichen growths and plant growing patterns in this case) as distinct entities separate from its similar abiotic surroundings. This approach may allow possible detection of unknown forms of life based on nothing more than entropy differentials of complementary datasets. Future explorations in the solar system, like Mars or Titan, may incorporate this concept in their mission planning in order to detect potential endemic lifeforms. Fil: Azúa Bustos, Armando. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile Fil: Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Astrofísica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas. Instituto de Astrofísica la Plata; Argentina |
description |
Finding life in the Universe entirely different to the one evolved on Earth is probable. This is a significant constraint for life-detecting instruments that were sent and may be sent elsewhere in the solar system, as how could we detect life as ‘we don't know it’? How could we detect something when we have no prior knowledge of its composition or how it looks like? Here we argue that disregarding the type of lifeform that could be envisioned, all must share in common the attribute of being entities that decrease their internal entropy at the expense of free energy obtained from its surroundings. As entropy quantifies the degree of disorder in a system, any envisioned lifeform must have a higher degree of order than its supporting environment. Here, we show that by using fractal mathematics analysis alone, one can readily quantify the degree of entropy difference (and thus, their structural complexity) of living processes (lichen growths and plant growing patterns in this case) as distinct entities separate from its similar abiotic surroundings. This approach may allow possible detection of unknown forms of life based on nothing more than entropy differentials of complementary datasets. Future explorations in the solar system, like Mars or Titan, may incorporate this concept in their mission planning in order to detect potential endemic lifeforms. |
publishDate |
2013 |
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2013-10 |
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo |
format |
article |
status_str |
publishedVersion |
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv |
http://hdl.handle.net/11336/26238 Azúa Bustos, Armando; Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio; The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis; Cambridge University Press; International Journal Of Astrobiology; 12; 4; 10-2013; 314-320 1473-5504 CONICET Digital CONICET |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11336/26238 |
identifier_str_mv |
Azúa Bustos, Armando; Vega Martínez, Cristian Antonio; The potential for detecting "life as we don't know it" by fractal complexity analysis; Cambridge University Press; International Journal Of Astrobiology; 12; 4; 10-2013; 314-320 1473-5504 CONICET Digital CONICET |
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv |
eng |
language |
eng |
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/potential-for-detecting-life-as-we-dont-know-it-by-fractal-complexity-analysis/81169D2F63946BCA4BB0DE6548597663 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013IJAsB..12..314A info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1017/S1473550413000177 |
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/ |
eu_rights_str_mv |
openAccess |
rights_invalid_str_mv |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/ |
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv |
application/pdf application/pdf |
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Cambridge University Press |
publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Cambridge University Press |
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv |
reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET) instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas |
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CONICET Digital (CONICET) |
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CONICET Digital (CONICET) |
instname_str |
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas |
repository.name.fl_str_mv |
CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas |
repository.mail.fl_str_mv |
dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar |
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13.070432 |