Modern physics can explain many things, but it can’t explain life. However, a new theory is being tested in the lab that proposes an “assembly index”. This index quantifies the minimal steps required to build an object. It also tracks the degree of “selection” necessary to yield an ensemble of objects. This refers to the memory, such as DNA, required to create living things. 

The theory states that life arises when enough star-stuff is arranged in a way that self-propagates

Assembly theory is a bold new approach to explaining life on a fundamental scale, with its framework recently published in Nature. It assumes that complexity and information (such as DNA) are at the heart of it. The theory provides a a way to understand how these concepts emerge in chemical systems

For centuries, physicists have been fascinated by the mysteries of life. From the intricate workings of cells to the complexity of ecosystems, the phenomenon of life has eluded a complete understanding within the realm of physics. However, recent developments in the field have given rise to a groundbreaking new theory that aims to bridge the gap between physics and biology

One example of this research is the study of artificial life, where scientists create computer simulations or physical models of living systems. These simulations allow researchers to observe how simple rules and interactions can give rise to complex behaviors, such as reproduction, evolution, and adaptation

Assembly theory (AT) is a framework that explains and quantifies the emergence of selection and evolution. It bridges the gap between physics and biology by explaining how complex objects are identifiable as products of evolution. 

AT conceptualizes objects not as point particles, but as entities defined by their possible formation histories. It calculates the complexity of an object by recursively dividing it into its component parts. The “assembly index” is defined as the shortest path to put the object back together. 

AT explains how: 

• The number of independent parts and their abundances determine the complexity of an object. 
• The reusability of parts allows novelty and identical intricate items to be constructed by selection in nature. 
• If one were to build a specified molecule algorithmically a set number of times, soft evidence of life could be drawn. 

AT does not alter the laws of physics, but redefines the concept of an “object” on which these laws act.

Assembly theory is based on the following elements: 

• Object An object is finite, distinguishable, and breakable. It persists over time, and the set of constraints to construct it from elementary building blocks are measurable. 
• Assembly universe An assembly universe is a finite set of basic building blocks and some rules that allow you to assemble them into more complex composite objects. 
• Assembly index The assembly index is the number of steps on a minimal path producing the object. 

Assembly theory is often equated with designating chemical structure. It has origins in the “Theory of Assembly Pathway”

Lee Cronin and Sara Walker are Future Humans Fellows who proposed assembly theory. They say that assembly theory can explain how objects come into existence in the universe, including those that are alive and intelligent. They also say that assembly theory can be used to identify extraterrestrial life. 

Cronin, a chemist from the University of Glasgow, says that assembly theory provides a new way to look at the matter that makes up the world. He says that assembly theory defines matter not just by immutable particles, but by the memory needed to build objects through selection over time. 

Cronin says that assembly theory is experimentally testable. He says that this opens up the possibility of using assembly theory to design new experiments that could solve the origin of life by creating living systems from scratch in the laboratory

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