The Elusive Definition of Life: Scientists Remain Divided.
Scientists still can't agree on a definition of life, despite hundreds of attempts. The difficulty lies in edge cases, such as viruses, red blood cells, and the Amazon molly fish, which blur the lines of what constitutes life. Philosophers suggest that, like games, life may be better understood as a network of related meanings rather than a sharp definition. While a clear definition of life may be necessary for scientific and legal purposes, some argue that it is a waste of time until we have a better theory of life.