– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Imagine

[Music]

a crisp fall evening. The sky a canvas

of amber and violet. Suddenly thousands

of starings appear performing a

breathtaking aerial ballet. This ballet

is called emeration.

It's a stunning natural phenomena that

holds the secret to the very essence of

life.

I am a physicist and I see something

very profound in the flight of these

starings. I see fundamental principles

that govern not just these birds but all

of life from the tiniest of cells to the

vastest ecosystems.

So where do we go from here? Let me take

you on a journey to discover the physics

of non-equilibrium systems like these

starings that can account for the

phenomena of life.

To understand the world around us, we

need to grasp two fundamental concepts,

equilibrium and non-equilibrium.

Let's start with the concept of

equilibrium, a state of balance and

stability. To illustrate this, let's

consider a simple bar magnet. If we

could zoom in, we would see that this

bar magnet is made up of countless tiny

domains, each like a compass needle. In

an ordinary piece of iron, these tiny

compasses point in random directions.

But when we apply an external magnetic

field, something remarkable happens.

these domains begin to align.

This alignment process is an example of

what we call symmetry breaking in

physics.

Initially there is no preferred

direction for the domains. This is a

symmetry. But when we apply an external

magnetic field, this symmetry breaks.

The system chooses a specific direction

by aligning the domains. And once

aligned, these domains reach a state of

equilibrium, stable, predictable,

unchanging.

If we were to film these domains and

play the movie backward, it would almost

look identical to the forward version.

This is a hallmark of an equilibrium

state. Time loses its direction. But

this state, this state of equilibrium is

not actually where life thrives. In

fact, it is the antithesis of life. Life

in all its messy, complex, beautiful

glory exists, far from equilibrium.

Now with this understanding of

equilibrium, let's shift our focus to

where life truly thrives, far from

equilibrium. And let's return to our

starings, a much more complex and

dynamic example.

You can think of each bird in this

aerial ballet as a flying living compass

needle.

Just as the alignment of our magnetic

domains led to the emergence of a

macroscopic magnetic field, these birds

align their velocities with their

neighbors. But here's a crucial

difference. This alignment is ever

changing, responding moment by moment to

the movement of neighboring birds. The

result is a mesmerizing display of

collective behavior that seems to defy

explanation.

Some people will see a thrashing

serpent, some a billowing cloud, or even

a pulsing heart in their formation. The

flock moves as one, yet it is composed

of thousands of individual decision

makers. It's a dynamic living system

that never settles into the quiet

equilibrium of our bar magnet. Instead,

it remains in constant motion,

perpetually consuming energy to maintain

its intricate dance. This perpetual

motion, this seizeless consumption of

energy is what we mean by

non-equilibrio.

And here is where it truly gets

fascinating. It is in this state of

equilibrium that we find the seeds of

life's beauty and complexity.

Now with this understanding of

non-equilibrium, let's return to the

idea of symmetry breaking. In

non-equilibrium systems like our stling

flock, symmetry breaking is not a

one-time event leading into a stable

state. Instead, it's an ongoing process

driven by the constant flow of energy

and matter. We see a cascade of symmetry

breaking events. Each break in symmetry

creates new possibilities, new patterns,

new structures. It's like a neverending

game of dominoes where each fallen piece

triggers new and unexpected

arrangements.

This continuous symmetry breaking in

non-equilibrium systems is what allows

for the incredible diversity and

adaptability of life. It's why living

systems can respond to their

environment, evolve, and create

increasingly complex structures.

Let's combine these ideas,

non-equilibrium and symmetry breaking,

and revisit our stling murmmoration. The

starling murmmoration is a perfect

example of emergence in a

non-equilibrium system.

Just as the alignment of the microscopic

domains in our bar magnet led to the

emergence of a macroscopic magnetic

field, the coordination among individual

starings lead to the emergence of the

flock's complex and fluid-like behavior.

But here is the crucial difference. In

the magnet, emergence leads to a stable

equilibrium state. In the flock,

emergence is dynamic, ongoing.

The behavior of the flock continuously

emerges from the interactions of

individual birds. Yet it also guides

those same individuals creating a

feedback loop that maintains this system

far from equilibrium.

This dynamic emergence is a feature of

living systems. And it is the same

principle that applies to us all. It

would allows for a collection of cells

to become a thinking feeling human being

or a group of humans to form complex

societies. In each case, the behavior of

the whole emerges from yet it also

guides the behavior of its parts.

Okay, we have seen non-equilibrium on

the grand scale of murmmoration. But

this state isn't just confined to the

macroscopic.

In fact, the same principles that we

observe in our murmmoration are

universal manifesting across all scales

of life. So let's zoom in from our

murmmoration to something much smaller

yet no less wondrous, a single living

cell. Within this microscopic world, a

drama unfolds that mirrors the same

dance that we see in the sky above. In

my lab, using advanced microscopes, we

can watch proteins, the building blocks

of life, organized into waves and

spirals of activity that ripple across

the surface of a dividing cell.

Just as each stling responds to its

neighbors to create the sweeping

patterns of mermoration, these proteins

interact with their molecular neighbors

to create patterns that guide the

development of life itself.

What's truly remarkable is that we can

use the same principles of

non-equilibrium physics to describe

these intricate biological processes.

For example, we have discovered that

these protein spirals behave like

charged particles with the core of each

spiral corresponding to either a

positive or negative charge depending on

their rotation. And just like electric

charges organize electric fields, these

focal points of protein activity

orchestrate the developmental processes

across an entire O site. Oh, these

patterns, they never cease to amaze me.

As we watch these protein patterns dance

across the surface of a dividing cell,

we witness something even more

fundamental. Another symmetry that life

breaks and that is the symmetry of time

itself. Remember our bar magnet in its

equilibrium state time loses its

direction. We could play the movie of

the magnet forward and backward and it

would look almost identical.

But in the non-equilibrium world of

living systems, time is an arrow. It has

a clear irreversible direction. Think of

our murmmoration. You can easily imagine

the video of memoration played in

reverse. But it would immediately look

wrong, unnatural.

Every wing bit of a starling, every cell

division in a developing embryo and

every heartbeat in your chest is a step

forward in time that cannot be undone.

Let me tell you the most remarkable

thing. We can show that this arrow of

time is mathematically related to the

flow of energy in living systems. In

other words, direction of time arises

from energy dissipation or arises from

how far from equilibrium your system is.

We can quantify this using a

thermodynamic concept termed entropy.

Entropy simply put is a measure of

disorder. In living systems which

continuously exchange energy and matter

with the environment, higher energy

flows means higher entropy production

and more irreversible processes. And in

fact, my group's experiments with these

protein patterns have confirmed this.

Now, this irreversibility

is what shapes how we perceive time. And

what's truly remarkable is that living

systems can create order and complexity

while adding to the universe's overall

increase in entropy.

Okay, we have seen this fundamental

principles of non-equilibrium from cells

to starings. You might be wondering, so

what? How does this change our view of

the world around us? When we embrace

this dynamic view of life, we start

asking new questions and exploring new

possibilities.

For example, can we use this fundamental

principles of non-equilibrium physics to

design new materials that are smarter

and more adaptable?

Could studying energy flows in

ecosystems help us discover more

sustainable ways to produce and use

energy?

And if life is truly a phenomena of

non-equilibrium physics, should we look

for the origins of life in pro in places

where fluxes and energy flows create the

potential for complexity.

And by thinking this way, we open

ourselves to discovering new forms of

life or lifelike processes that we

haven't even imagined.

And you know what's the most amazing

part? We don't have to look far to see

these fundamental processes in action.

Our own planet is full of diversity that

arises from these fundamental processes.

Take a coral reef for example. It's a

delicate balance where countless species

find their way within the flow of energy

and matter. Or think about human brain

where billions of neurons fire in

coordinated patterns to create what we

call consciousness.

Even our societies with their complex

economic and social structures could be

understood through the lens of

non-equilibrium physics.

As our journey comes to an end, let's

return once more to our starings seen

through new eyes. As the last light

fades, they bring their ballet to the

final curtain, settling gracefully into

their roosts. Through them, we see how

energy drives matter to self-organize,

how breaking symmetries create

diversity, and how time's arrow arises

from the processes that drive life.

I will never forget that moment in my

lab, watching through the microscope as

the protein patterns ripple across the

surface of the dividing cell with energy

flowing and conducting this ballet

through time. That moment fundamentally

shifted my perspective. I realized that

life isn't about reaching equilibrium.

It's about maintaining this dance far

from it. And it is in this constant

flux, this journey of becoming that the

true wonder of existence lies. A dance

we're all part of every moment.

Thank you.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
evening /ˈiːvnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time from the end of the afternoon until night
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the area above the earth where you can see the sun, moon, stars, and clouds
ballet /ˈbæleɪ/ B1	noun - a dance form performed to music, often telling a story
natural /ˈnætʃərəl/ A2	adjective - existing in nature; not made or caused by people
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the state that all plants and animals, including humans, have when they are not dead
physicist /ˈfɪzɪsɪst/ B2	noun - a scientist who studies physics
flight /flaɪt/ A2	noun - the act of flying
bird /bɜːrd/ A1	noun - a creature with feathers and wings
concept /ˈkɒnsept/ B1	noun - an idea or abstract principle
equilibrium /ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbriəm/ B2	noun - a state of balance
system /ˈsɪstəm/ A2	noun - a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole
process /ˈprɒses/ B1	noun - a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end verb - perform a series of mechanical or chemical operations in order to change or preserve (something)
energy /ˈenərdʒi/ A2	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.
movement /ˈmuːvmənt/ A2	noun - an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed.
dynamic /daɪˈnæmɪk/ B2	adjective - characterized by constant change, activity, or progress
structure /ˈstrʌktʃər/ B1	noun - the way in which a building, vehicle, or other object is constructed
example /ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl/ A1	noun - a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule.
emergence /ɪˈmɜːrdʒəns/ C1	noun - the process of coming into existence or of becoming apparent
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
universe /ˈjuːnɪvɜːrs/ B2	noun - all existing matter and space considered as a whole
cell /sel/ B1	noun - the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane
matter /ˈmætər/ B1	noun - physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; that which occupies space and has mass.