In the present volume, The Total Order of the Universe, Mr. Col. Eng. Dănuț Măciucă approaches a subject that interests a wide audience. Currently, the concept of "order" is defined by its opposite, "disorder".
In thermodynamics, the energy state and sense of evolution of a system are quantities defined as "state functions". The state functions with which thermodynamics operates are: internal energy, enthalpy, entropy and Helmholtz free energy. The disorder of a thermodynamic system, at the molecular or atomic level, is characterized by the state function "entropy". The existence of entropy is one of the consequences of the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy is a "measure of disorder" and its value depends on the physical state of the system. In nature, entropy cannot decrease. Arthur Eddington (1928) states that the second law of thermodynamics is the only law of physics that has an "arrow of time". In this context, disorder as a state of a system is much more likely than order.
The appearance and evolution of the living world are closely related to the evolution of the Universe. Currently, the knowledge regarding the evolution of the universe is not comprehensive enough to be able to give an adequate answer to the questions regarding the appearance and evolution of the first forms of life on earth. Thus, the author believes that explanations are long overdue [...] at least until physics and biology solve the critical issues they face.
In the second half of the 20th century, research in the field of biology benefited from the contribution of physicists and chemists, which led to the emergence of molecular biology. However, these investigations did not address the wave aspect of matter at all. In this context, in 1982, Alfred Kastler hoped that: "biological research would confirm the existence of a link between coherence in physics and biological order, provided that the biologist also introduces the concept of complementarity of a wave nature into biology". Thus, Mr. Col. Eng. Măciucă, in accordance with the principle that the physico-chemical unit of the universe must correspond to a biological unit, aims to take a first step in deciphering the mysteries of life by introducing the undulatory aspect of matter into biological research. Of course, physics will have to solve the problem of reality specific to the microphysical domain. In this field where new things are discovered, for example, the bizarre oscillation of the muon (an elementary particle with a negative electric charge, the same as the electron, but 200 times more massive), observed in a laboratory experiment carried out in the U.S. (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory), leads researchers to believe that perhaps it is another unknown particle or force that is missing from the way we understand the Universe.
The author consulted a rich and significant specialized literature, based on which he elaborated and argued the original ideas presented in this volume. A special influence, also mentioned by the author, was a book by the academician Solomon Marcus, The Challenge of Science (1988), which is still very relevant today. Going through this volume elaborated meticulously by Mr. col. Eng. Măciucă is an instructive experience for any reader.
This original work, remarkable for its conception and approach, is of great interest both to specialists in several fields: molecular biology, physics, biophysics, chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics and biotechnology, as well as to pupils, students and the general public.
Acad. Octavian Popescu