The isothermal Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy reduction affects survival of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 14166
• Main Authors: Gruss, Iwona, Twardowski, Jacek, Samsel-Czekała, Małgorzata, Beznosiuk, Jarosław, Wandzel, Czesław, Twardowska, Kamila, Wiglusz, Rafal J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 29.08.2023; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aquatic environment; Body mass; Crystals; Drosophila melanogaster; Entropy; Fruits; Insects; Life span; Silicon; Silicon dioxide; Survival
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41482-x

Abstract To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence of the effect of isothermal changes in entropy on a living organism. In greater detail, the effect of the reduction of the total Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy (S) of the aquatic environment on the survival rate and body mass of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster was investigated. The tests were carried out in standard thermodynamic states at room temperature of 296.15 K and ambient atmospheric pressure of 1 bar. Two variants of entropy reduction (ΔS) were tested for ΔS = 28.49 and 51.14 J K −1  mol −1 compared to the blind and control samples. The entropy level was experimentally changed, using the quantum system for isothermal entropy reduction. This system is based on quantum bound entanglement of phonons and the phenomenon of phonon resonance (interference of phonon modes) in condensed matter (Silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) and single crystals of Silicon (Si 0 ), Aluminum (Al 0 ) plates (“chips”), glass, and water). All studied organisms were of the same age (1 day). Mortality was observed daily until the natural death of the organisms. The investigations showed that changes in the Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy affected the survival and body mass of the fruit flies. On the one hand, the reduction in entropy under isothermal conditions in the aquatic environment for ΔS = 28.49 J K −1  mol −1 resulted in an extension of the lifespan and an increase in the body mass of female fruit flies. On the other hand, the almost twofold reduction in this entropy for ΔS = 51.14 J K −1  mol −1 shortened the lives of the males. Thus, the lifespan and body mass of flies turned out to be a specific reaction of metabolism related to changes in the entropy of the aquatic environment.