Exactly 200 years ago, a French engineer introduced an idea that would quantify the universe’s inexorable slide into decay. But entropy, as it’s currently understood, is less a fact about the world ...

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...

Imagine you’re standing in front of a closed door. Behind it is a teenager’s bedroom, and your task is to rate how messy it is on a scale of 1 to 10. But here’s the twist: you can’t open the door – ...