(Feb.10, '15) The second law of thermodynamics tells us that all systems
evolve toward a state of maximum entropy, wherein all energy is dissipated as
heat, and no available energy remains to do work. Since the mid-20th century,
research has pointed to an extension of the second law for nonequilibrium
systems: the Maximum Entropy Production Principle (MEPP) states that a system
away from equilibrium evolves in such a way as to maximize entropy production,
given present constraints.