Life

In 1867 James Clerk Maxwell introduced an observer to challenge the pillar of the modern physics - the second law of thermodynamics. According to that law, the universe is descending towards inevitable heat death, i.e. the same temperature all over the place (entropy). Since there will not be a difference in temperature to make the energy available, life in any form will not be possible.

Maxwell imagined a little creature within a divided chamber that lets the hotter gas molecules pass from one side to another and cooler in the opposite direction. Through these simple actions, that little creature would create a difference in the temperature making energy available and running, for example, our fridge for ever, without an electricity bill attached.

Unfortunately, Maxwell gave to this little creature the complete and absolute knowledge of all molecules in the chamber. Such ultimate knowledge costs. It costs more energy to gain and maintain than resulting differences in temperature could provide.

To keep the challenge alive, I would suggest that we imagine a different, much simpler and less knowledgeable living creature:

With a simple description of itself and its surroundings.
Perceiving and acting within its surroundings.
Remembering, improving and communicating its description.
Surviving and multiplying at locations with higher differences in temperature.

Obviously, such reduced knowledge would cost less. But, could the balance be tipped by such a humble mortal creature? Could it ever evolve its description of its surroundings and itself within it to rival that absolute knowledge of Maxwell's creature? It may have a chance. Not because it is almighty, but precisely because it is not.