Books The Equations of Life: How Physics Shapes Evolution  by Charles S. Cockell (Author)

"The Equations of Life: How Physics Shapes Evolution" by Charles S. Cockell explores how the laws of physics fundamentally constrain and shape the emergence and evolution of life. Cockell argues that life is not a random accident but a predictable outcome governed by physical and chemical principles.

The book examines the interplay between physics and biology at multiple levels—from the molecular building blocks essential to life, such as carbon and nitrogen, to the ways genetic and cellular processes are regulated mathematically. Cockell shows how energy metabolism, molecular complexity, and ecological interactions all obey fundamental equations.

Bridging physics, chemistry, and biology, the book refines Darwin’s theory of natural selection, explaining why evolutionary paths take specific forms and why the "endless forms" of life are ultimately limited by universal physical laws. It also considers life's potential variations beyond Earth under different physical conditions.