"Survival hinges on the critical role of information in realistic models, say researchers"

Researchers have applied the theory of semantic information to a model of foraging agents in biology and ecology, revealing a semantic threshold where information becomes crucial for survival. By quantifying the correlations between an agent and its environment, the study highlights the role of information in maintaining the agent's existence. The findings have implications for understanding how living systems interact with their surroundings and may offer insights across disciplines. The research represents a promising step towards unraveling the mystery of how lifeless matter evolves into purposeful entities that interact meaningfully with their environment.