Time's Second Arrow: Evolution, Order, and a New Law of Nature

by Robert M. Hazen, Michael L. Wong

A distinguished geoscientist and rising-star astrobiologist offer a stunning new theory upending 150 years of established science—and an inspiring new vision of our universe.

Of the codified laws of nature, famously, only one inscribes a direction to time: the dreaded second law of thermodynamics, which declares that the disorder of a closed system tends to increase as time passes. New shoes eventually scuff, our bodies weaken and die. Yet our senses tell us that miraculous order constantly emerges, too: children grow and learn; spontaneous patterns manifest in murmurations of starlings. Can it be true that the laws of our universe mandate only dissolution—rendering the intricate order of a butterfly’s wing, the much-vaunted complexity of the human brain, merely incidental?

In Time’s Second Arrow, star scientists Robert M. Hazen and Michael L. Wong overturn more than a century of scientific canon, arguing that, in fact, there must be a second “arrow of time”—a heretofore missing law of nature that explains how the marvelously complex constituents of our universe came to be. Evolution, they boldly propose, is a universal phenomenon—not only in biology, but in the entire atomic, chemical, mineral, and physical universe. Showing how a natural process of selection for increasing function has shaped the universe since its inception, they explore how this new law could possibly help us identify life on other planets and—perhaps—even understand the purpose and meaning of life on Earth in a new way.

Elegantly written and deeply moving, Time’s Second Arrow reveals how our cosmic inheritance includes, even alongside loss and decay, a drive toward wondrous invention and progress—ultimately revising our understanding of the universe and our place within it.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2026

About the author

Robert M. Hazen, Senior Research Scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Geophysical Laboratory and the Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Science at George Mason University, received the B.S. and S.M. in geology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971), and the Ph.D. at Harvard University in earth science (1975). The Past President of the Mineralogical Society of America, Hazen’s recent research focuses on the possible roles of minerals in the origin of life. He is also Principal Investigator of the Deep Carbon Observatory.

Reviews

[Trent Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t believe my friend wrote this!!!

[Jeremy Bivaud · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a massive letdown. It spends 60% of its length rehashing well-known theories, leaving very little room for the authors' actual argument. When they finally do introduce their "new" theory, they barely apply it to any practical examples. It feels like an unfinished draft that focuses more on filling pages with context than doing the hard work of explaining its own subject.

[Drin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very ambitious idea! There are times where I was convinced of the ideas of the book but I came away from it not really feeling satisfied with the conclusions drawn.

The reason for my rating has more to do with the writing. It seems like it couldn't decide whether it was trying to be dry or witty, and it didn't get either done particularly well.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. Definitely a nerd book, where Hazan and Wong, postulate a theory that would add a new fundamental law of the universe. They are shooting their shot at a Nobel and adding their name to the pantheon of brilliant scientists over the ages. The problem? I am not sure their theory works.

Far be it from me to challenge these brilliant minds, they certainly understand physics dramatically better than I do. Still. They published this book before having their theory rigorously tested and challenged by their peers. That’s either wildly confident or absurdly arrogant. The book also lacks a great deal of the actual science they need to prove their theory.

That isn’t to say the book lacks all of the science but it is a bit of an overview of their idea. It never gets deep into the brass tax of their idea. I am a little worried that is because they don’t have more scientific evidence or research for their theory.

To explain their theory they spend a large portion of the book explaining the laws of thermodynamics. Particularly the second law of thermodynamics where it states that in any closed system entropy will never decrease. This is widely viewed as the only Law of physics that shows, or establishes a clear direction of time. An “arrow” of time. This is because with every action performed that uses energy entropy is increased ever so slightly and so with the increase of time there is an increase of entropy. The two are tied together.

Interestingly enough entropy is the increase of disorder in the universe. Meaning that with less entropy there is more order. This is interesting because that would mean that there was more order in the universe at the moment of creation than any other moment. Since creation the universe has increasingly become more disordered than before. So there really is something to all the older people claiming things are getting more out of hand than when they were younger! 😉😂

I digress. The author’s theory increases the importance of evolution inside of the universe but their problem is trying to show how entropy doesn’t fully explain evolution. The authors believe that in an evolving system, functional information is the determining factor of change.

Think of it this way. DNA has a sequence or code and when that sequence or code is out of order life either breaks down and ceases to exist or it never gets started to begin with. So imagine there is a bit of DNA code and in that code there is a “T” where there should be a “G”. Upon creating this useless code energy was used and so entropy increased. In an attempt to fix this code you changed the “T” to a “C” and used energy doing so. Therefore entropy increased again but the code still doesn’t work. Finally you go in and change the “C” to a “G” and voila! The code works, life begins and entropy is again increased. Entropy increased regardless of whether the code worked or not, but the information in the code was the thing that actually made the thing work. The functional information made the code viable and therefore can be another link to time, thusly creating another “arrow” of time because there was a time when the code didn’t work and then there is a time where the code did work but entropy increased regardless.

Confused yet?

The problem I have with their theory is that I can’t see what this adds to our understanding of the universe and how it works. I don’t see the potential in this information having in solving bigger questions we have about the cosmos and physics. How does this information reconcile relativity with quantum mechanics? How does this information reveal a deeper understanding of gravity and how gravity affects time? How does this get us closer to a theory of everything?

Is it cool? Yeah. Kind of. In some ways it’s kind of “duh”. We have always known information plays a vital role in life and evolution. Is this link Hazen and Wong made revelatory enough to postulate the need for a new law of physics? They think so. They believe evolution should advance beyond biology and into chemistry and physics. They discuss this in the book and it kind of makes sense, but again, it feels a little flimsy in the book. I would be interested in hearing deeper explanations and hearing legitimate dissenting opinions on it. I personally lean towards the idea that entropy still sufficiently explains most of the aspects revolving around evolution and their addition of the importance of information doesn’t necessarily constitute a new law of nature. I am open to being convinced but this book didn’t get me there.

Overall, it’s a nerd book. Nerds will find it interesting. Everyone else will at best fumble through my explanation and say, “Yeah. Ok. If you say so, but also, who cares?” The theory has potential but the book doesn’t sell it very well in my opinion. So we wait for other scientists to test the theory vigorously and either prove it out or debunk it.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

**.5

IMO the most important law in the universe is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (the one about entropy increasing). Yes, more than gravity or relativity or quantum mechanics or even Maxwell's equations. It ties together time and evolution and information theory, and hence existence itself in deep and perplexing (dare I say "magical") ways. I was therefore super excited about this book, which promised to explore these wondrous topics from a new perspective, going as far as proposing a whole New Law of Nature!

But they don't really do that to any degree of satisfaction. They attempt to create a framework that describes "functional information" as increasing through a process of evolution that extends to apply to non-biological molecules and systems, and not only living things. What really rubbed me the wrong way was their infusion of "purpose" into the evolutionary process, as if it has intent. But that's not at all how it works, nature didn't start with fish and decide that some would turn into monkeys and others into dinosaurs. Evolution just happens on its own, through random accident and adaptation, it neither has nor needs a guiding hand or a desired outcome. As a result, shoehorning the concepts of biological evolution to explain inorganic phenomena like stellar evolution and geological processes doesn't really work.

Ultimately, their thesis reminds me of panpsychism, a neat idea that doesn't actually help to understand or explain the complexity of life or the universe. The Second Law of Thermodynamics and the inexorable increase in entropy that it dictates does not require a balancing opposing force to make it work. Localized emergent complexity is perfectly acceptable and consistent, as entropy will catch up in due time, there is no cheating the inevitable endgame. A chapter on emergent complexity (ie the sum is more than the parts) and how it fits in with their model would have been helpful.

[Carlos Augusto Méndez Alvarado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven. The premise is intriguing and I liked the conclusion, but the book itself is, for the most part, not an enjoyable read.

Chapter 1 presents a playful, concise summary of the laws of nature that I found engaging.

Chapter 2, though, was dull and almost made me abandon the mission. Evolution Everywhere spends several pages describing—well, evolution, but from a cosmic perspective. That sounds promising, but when it’s delivered as a textbook-like listing of events, the reader (at least me) gets bored and starts questioning the time investment. It’s not that the explanations are technical—they’re just boring. The narrative moves from the Big Bang through the formation of atoms, stars, planets, and eventually the ~6,000 mineral species, step by step, but without any insight or reflection.

As you continue through the following chapters, you get more of the same, with the occasional pun that feels out of place in an otherwise flat and overly descriptive tone.

Entropy vs. Information is the heart of the book. It presents the central hypothesis in a logical and, finally, engaging way.

Also, the three statements at the end of the book, along with the arguments leading up to them, feel thoughtful and genuinely reflective of the authors’ thinking. I applaud the attempt to propose a new law, and the logical arguments that point to a potential gap in what the second law of thermodynamics explicitly explains: how functional complexity and order emerge when the amount of potential entropic combinations is so immense.

Overall, it feels like this was stretched into a full-length book when there’s really only enough strong material for an essay. Alternatively, it could have worked as a book with a more even tone—one that gradually builds interest through key insights rather than relying on long stretches of descriptive scientific narrative.

[James Easterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We cannot avoid an increase in entropy in our lives, but we can choose to act in ways that minimize some of its worst consequences. Drive safely. Look both ways before crossing the street. Floss.” Cute!
So their proposal of a new natural law of increasing functional information describes an increase in order through the evolutionary process, and is somewhat of a counter balance to entropy (the universal decrease in natural order).
This of course is true unless you view everything as falling apart and see no increase in complexities in nature.
I have always seen the fault in the entropy only view. One of the most exciting things I see in science and nature is emerging phenomenon. Where the whole of is more than the sum of its parts. This is how nature functions. Put two or more completely different components together and get something totally new. Two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen, get water. Very simple example but awesome to consider.
I like to say that the only constant is change. But it comes in many forms. Entropy is one. Evolution is another.
I agree with the conclusion but 4 stars because I didn’t fine the read that enjoyable.

[Paul Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel hypothesis, adding to the second law of thermodynamics, is presented, and explained. The simple question to be answered is how to explain theories of evolutions in light of increasing entropy. Well presented and explained. But I'm unclear how this produces a second arrow of time, and not just coexistence.

[Ruben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the points are very convincing. Similarly, the authors are ambitious with their proposal of a new law. Great examples to make their case.

My main issue is that the writing kinda sucks. No offense to the authors, I’m sure they’re great scientists - but the flow of the book is patchy at best.

I did enjoy it, and would give it 2.5 stars if I could

[Ryan Kralik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking. A Nobel Price is very much in order. This book is very easy to read for a science title but I've also read the papers that support it's conclusions. Perhaps the most important idea to come out of academia in a generation.

[Chinmayee Bhattacharjee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prose was fanciful and vague, unlike what is expected of a serious academic work that aims to introduce a law of nature. A major part of the writing seems too similar to Assembly theory to dismiss.

[Christian Euler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Says a lot without saying much at all! I neither think the authors provide sufficient justification for the necessity of a new law of nature, nor that they provide sufficient empirical evidence in support of their argument.

[Julie Daymond-King · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have to await the mathematical formulation, but this book points toward the law of nature that evolution is a universal phenomenon whereby selection for increasing function offsets the second law of thermodynamics.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors keep trying to present their ideas as a law of the universe or a theory. It's just an observation and a way of framing it. It doesn't explain or predict anything and can be stretched to mean anything you want because functional information is not defined in a strict way. Anything strict would defy the law of entropy.

[Jeffrey Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into how the scientific process works, and how new scientific laws are discovered. Let's see if this one sticks.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was with the writers until the last 10 minutes of the audiobook when a 'creator' was mentioned, is this who they really mean by the 'second arrow'?

[Morts. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*