Scientists put forward historic new 'law of nature' which completely changes how evolution is viewed

Scientists have put forward a new theory which could change the way we think about the universe forever.

The theory has even been called a 'new law of nature', such is the scope that some scientists believe it could have on how we think about the world.

It follows on from Darwin's theory of evolution. This proposes that organisms adapt themselves to better survive depending on their circumstances.

But now a group of nine scientists and philosophers have put forward a new theory which takes this notion further than ever before.

It's not just with organisms, but with everything from atoms to stars and more which is subject to this process.

In essence, it proposes that complex systems will evolve into increasingly more complicated systems with great patterning, diversity, and complexity.

Co-author on the paper Robert Hazen told Reuters: "We see evolution as a universal process that applies to numerous systems, both living and nonliving, that increase in diversity and patterning through time."

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The law has been called 'law of increasing functional information'. It proposes that any evolving system will form a building block such as an atom or molecule. These configurations are then subject to selection for useful functions.

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Hazen said: "We have well-documented laws that describe such everyday phenomena as forces, motions, gravity, electricity and magnetism and energy.

"But these laws do not, individually or collectively, describe or explain why the universe keeps getting more diverse and complex at scales of atoms, molecules, minerals and more."

One example is that at the very start of the universe only hydrogen and helium existed. There are now quite a few more than just two elements.

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Hazen explained: "Imagine a system of atoms or molecules that can exist in countless trillions of different arrangements or configurations.

"Only a small fraction of all possible configurations will 'work' - that is, they will have some useful degree of function. So, nature just prefers those functional configurations."

Michael Wong, a Carnegie Institution astrobiologist and planetary scientist and the paper's lead author, said it describes how the cosmos is 'rooted in function'.

Co-author Jonathan Lunine explained the significance of the theory.

He said: "The significance of formulating such a law is that it provides a new perspective on why the diverse systems that make up the cosmos evolve the way they do, and may allow predictions about how unfamiliar systems - like the organic chemistry on Saturn's moon Titan - develop over time."