First Law of Thermodynamics Limitation Overcome in Physics Breakthrough
Physicists at West Virginia University have developed a new understanding of the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can be converted into different forms. The researchers have generalized the law for systems that are not in equilibrium, which has numerous potential applications, including helping scientists understand plasmas in space and preparing for space weather. The breakthrough could also be useful for studying low-temperature plasmas, chemistry, and quantum computing. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation.