Top 9 Equations

[Alex]

9 Equations True Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/equations-for-geeks

The Essence of Evolution: Nowak's Evolvability



At its most basic level, life is what replicates itself -- but how did it begin? It's the ultimate chicken-and-egg problem, and one that scientists studying what's called pre-life try to answer. On the left side of this equation, proposed by Harvard University mathematical biologist Martin Nowak, is a symbol representing all possible strings of molecules; at right are the speed of chemical reactions, the tendency of shorter strings to be more common than longer strings, selection pressures and fitness ratings. As Nowak has shown, all that's necessary for life to emerge are molecules subject to forces of selection and mutation. If those conditions are met, self-replication will emerge with the inexorability of gravity.