Emergence Is Real, but It Can't Replace Information

Without doubt, you can watch some pretty amazing things emerge in nature by a combination oflaw and chance. A snowflake is a classic example.

The binding properties of the water molecule dictate what angles are permissible, and then the crystal's chance path through the cloud accounts for the unique result: a six-sided marvel that looks like a work of art. But you won't see snowflakes spell out "John loves Mary" -- that kind of purposeful communication requires more than natural law and chan...