[removed]

Life is inherently a beneficiary of disorder. Life was created through the circumstances of complex chemical reactions, borderline random temperature fluctuations, etc.

According to some paper I skimmed, we are squarely in the middle of the best time to be in a habitable universe.

"Based on the evolution of the global star formation rate, the CHA encompasses at least the last3.5 Gyrs (the time since the origin of life on Earth) and probably the last 5 Gyrs and the next 10Gyrs. "

https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0503298 Page 47

Life as we know it depends on several things including heavy elements that are cerated in stars so generally found in newer star systems and it requires a distinct lack of nearby supernova so the early galaxy would have been a likely nightmare. The order vs disorder is in the background of this, but its not really a tool for examining the more fine grained ways that matter is created and live emerges.

Thanks for the link really looks interesting, I'll check it out

I don't think so.

In terms of universal entropy, there's still tons of energy locked away in local maxima all over the place - and life is fantastic at finding ways to pull energy out of local maxima and helping it towards a more global maxima, while going about its business of riding more mundane energy gradients.

For example, there's plenty of nebulas that aren't likely to form stars anytime soon, and I'm sure the universe would love someone to plough a bussard ramjet through - and as long as there's elements other than iron that could be fused for more energy than it takes to bring them together, there's energy gradients out there for life to ride.

Also, there's been a thing floating around just recently that suggests we may actually be somewhat early at becoming complex life

[removed]

Could you elaborate on the 'thing floating around' please, I'd like to check it out the topic sounds right up my alley

Ultimately it goes to zero but in the history of the universe so far, no.