Trends in the Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics represents a milestone in the history of not only physics but also chemistry, engineering, and, more generally, life and natural sciences. It has been known for over 150 years and is usually thought of as one of the most authoritative laws. It can be regarded as the completion of the First Law of Thermodynamics, which establishes the conservation of energy in thermodynamic systems as the counterpart to the conservation of mechanical energy in mechanical systems. It is a fundamental law of the universe and its universality can be proven by demonstrating its equivalence across all types of thermodynamic systems. To strengthen its generality and impact, it is sometimes elevated to the level of a principle and named the Second Principle of Thermodynamics, providing it with a philosophical nature.