8.3 Red Queen Effect and Thermodynamics: Why Does the Universe Not Have Heat Death?

Classical thermodynamics, based on Boltzmann’s H-theorem, predicts a despairing cosmic end: Heat Death. In an isolated system, entropy always tends to maximize. Over time, all temperature differences are smoothed, all structures disintegrate; universe ultimately falls silent as a uniform, disordered thermal radiation soup.

However, when we look around, we see a completely opposite scene. In 13.8 billion years since Big Bang, universe not only didn’t become more uniform, but evolved stars, galaxies, life, brains, and even the internet. Complexity seems to have an intrinsic trend against entropy increase.

Traditional physics explanations usually appeal to extremely low-entropy initial conditions (Big Bang), but this doesn’t explain dynamical mechanisms of structure maintenance. Why does universe bloom such brilliant flowers on the path to death?

This section will propose a completely new answer based on QCA’s game-theoretic perspective: Heat death is impossible. As long as observers (agents) capable of self-referential computation exist in the universe, “Red Queen Effect” will drive system forever in algorithmic turmoil far from equilibrium state.

8.3.1 Relative Fitness and Arms Race

In biological evolution, Leigh Van Valen proposed famous “Red Queen Hypothesis”: “In this country, you must run as fast as you can just to stay in place.” This means a species’ survival environment mainly consists of other species; to cope with evolution of predators, parasites, or competitors, the species must continuously evolve. This leads to an endless arms race.

In QCA universe, this effect has strict physical correspondence.

According to Section 8.2, observers’ (agents’) goal is to minimize free energy $F$ (prediction error).

$$F_i=D_{KL}[q_i||p_{true}]$$

But what determines environment’s true probability distribution $p_{true}$?

In a multi-agent universe, environment mainly consists of other agents.

$$p_{true}\approx \sum _{j\ne i}{\rho }_j$$

If agent $A$ successfully reduces its free energy by increasing information mass $M_I$ (optimizing algorithms), this means its behavior becomes more complex, harder to predict.

For agent $B$, environment changed. $B$’s prediction model fails, its free energy $F_B$ suddenly increases (surprise increases).

To survive (pressing $F_B$ back below threshold), $B$ is forced to counterattack—upgrade its model, increase its $M_I$.

Conclusion: In computational universe, entropy decrease is not static enjoyment, but dynamic war. Any system trying to stay in low-entropy equilibrium state will be rapidly assimilated or disintegrated by higher-order algorithms in environment.

8.3.2 Algorithmic Turmoil and Self-Organized Criticality

This mutual feedback dynamics prevents system from relaxing to thermal equilibrium state (maximum entropy state).

Consider evolution trajectory in phase space.

• Heat Death Theory believes: System has a global attractor, maximum entropy state $S_{max}$. All trajectories eventually converge here, $\frac{dS}{dt}=0$.

• Red Queen Theory believes: Due to games between agents, there are no stable fixed points in phase space.

  • When system approaches equilibrium, tiny fluctuations produce a “Maxwell’s demon” (primary observer) capable of utilizing remaining free energy.

  • This observer rapidly consumes resources, breaks equilibrium, triggering new round of complexity growth.

This state is called Self-Organized Criticality (SOC).

Universe is like a sandpile constantly collapsing and rebuilding. Although local structures (such as stars, civilizations) are born and die, overall complexity level and computational activity always maintain above a critical threshold.

We call this never-ending, far-from-equilibrium dynamic picture “Algorithmic Turmoil.” Like turbulence in fluids, although viscosity (dissipation) tries to smooth everything, energy injection (competition) continuously produces new vortices.

8.3.3 Deep Connection Between Waste Heat and Cosmic Expansion

Since observers continuously increase $M_I$ (negentropy), according to second law of thermodynamics, total entropy must increase. Where does this extra entropy go?

According to Landauer’s principle, logically irreversible computation (erasing information to update models) must emit heat to environment.

$$dQ\ge k_{B}T\ln 2\cdot dI$$

Every evolving agent is a huge entropy pump. It constructs highly ordered crystal structures internally, while emitting massive “information waste heat” (disordered radiation) to external vacuum.

In Chapter 9 (Section 9.3) and related papers, we have argued: This accumulated information waste heat manifests macroscopically as dark energy.

Cosmic accelerated expansion is actually universe’s forced “expansion” to accommodate massive waste heat produced by agents.

This is a startling closed loop:

1. Agents perform computational games (Red Queen effect) to resist heat death.

2. Computation produces waste heat.

3. Waste heat drives cosmic expansion (dark energy).

4. Expansion dilutes waste heat, preventing system overheating, thus allowing computation to continue.

Conclusion: Universe will not heat death, because life (generalized computational structures) doesn’t allow it. Life is not accidental sparks in universe’s path to death, but driving engine of cosmic evolution.

8.3.4 Summary

At this point, we have completed Part IV “The Emergence of Observation.” We constructed a physical picture containing observers, possessing agency, and forever evolving.

• Observers are self-referential subsystems in QCA networks.

• Consciousness is computational process minimizing free energy.

• Evolution is arms race of algorithmic complexity.

Now, all theoretical pieces are assembled. We have axioms, derived spacetime and matter, understood observation and evolution. In the final part of the book—Part V: Verification and Inference—we will no longer indulge in theory’s elegance, but transform these radical views into cold numbers and curves, accepting final judgment of experimental physics.