Prof. Marc Henry – Thermodynamics of Life (Part 1 of 6): The True Meaning of Entropy

In this fascinating and deeply insightful interview, we sit down with Professor Emeritus Marc Henry, a world-renowned chemist from Strasbourg University, author of 10 books, over 160 scientific papers, and cited more than 12,000 times in the scientific literature. Professor Henry joins us to discuss his groundbreaking article “Thermodynamics of Life”—an exploration of entropy, energy, and the philosophical and scientific foundations of what it truly means to be alive.

With his trademark humor and humility, Professor Henry begins by apologizing for his “spicy French accent,” then dives into a sweeping intellectual journey that bridges physics, chemistry, biology, and the very nature of consciousness itself. Drawing from more than 40 years of scientific research, he challenges the way modern biology and medicine interpret fundamental concepts—arguing that they’ve been on the wrong track for more than a century due to a deep misunderstanding of entropy.

He explains that entropy has been simply equated with “disorder”—a subjective and misleading interpretation that has shaped generations of scientists, educators, and physicians. Instead, Professor Henry restores the original meaning introduced by Ludwig Boltzmann and refined through Max Planck’s revolutionary insights: entropy is a precise physical quantity that measures how matter and energy explore space and motion. It’s not about chaos, but about possibilities.

From ovens and blackbody radiation to quantum mechanics, relativity, and the crisis in modern medicine, Professor Henry connects the dots between the smallest particles and the largest galaxies. He reminds us that quantum physics governs the micro-world of atoms and molecules, while general relativity governs the cosmos—and that humanity exists somewhere in between. But the key question, he says, is: What scientific language should we use to describe life itself? His answer: quantum mechanics, because life is fundamentally a quantum phenomenon.

Professor Henry talks about his understanding life as a dynamic, self-organizing process that continually interacts with its environment while maintaining order through the increase of entropy in the universe. In his view, life doesn’t oppose entropy—it depends on it. The entire biological and medical paradigm must be rethought accordingly.

He argues that the medical crises we see today—chronic illness, degenerative disease, and the limits of pharmaceutical approaches—stem from this mistaken view of entropy and energy. By ignoring the true thermodynamic nature of living systems, medicine has lost its connection to the physical laws that govern all matter. “We cannot truly heal in the medical professions,” he says, “if our science is built on a misunderstanding of what life is.”

This conversation is far more than an academic discussion. It’s a philosophical meditation on science, time, and human responsibility. Professor Henry reminds us that writing—unlike speaking—endures. It’s a message meant not only for today’s scientists but also for future generations who may read his words centuries from now. As he eloquently puts it, “We are citizens of the universe.”

If you are interested in:
● The deep connection between physics and biology
● Entropy, biology and medicine
● Why quantum mechanics matters for understanding life
● The crisis in modern medicine
● And how science must evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century
…then this interview will expand your mind and challenge your assumptions.

🔬 Featured Guest:
Professor Emeritus Marc Henry
Department of Chemistry, Strasbourg University
Author of Thermodynamics of Life

🎙️ Host: Klaus Schustereder
Scientific discussions on life, energy, and consciousness

📘 Topics Covered:
● Entropy vs. Disorder: The historical misunderstanding
● Boltzmann, Clausius, Carnot, and Planck: The roots of thermodynamics
● Quantum Physics and Relativity: Two languages of nature
● How thermodynamics connects life to the universe
● Why biology and medicine need a paradigm shift
● The concept of Homeodynamics of Life

🧠 Key Ideas:
● Entropy is not disorder—it’s a measure of possible states.
● Medicine and biology must realign with 21st-century physics.
● Life follows the second law of thermodynamics, not against it.
● True understanding of entropy connects us to the cosmos.

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