The Project

• How does agency first appear at the level of molecular chemistry? This question is inspired by the Evolution 2.0, $10M, Technology Prize Challenge  wherein this question appears. This project will not be an entry into that challenge, since the required solution must be in the form of a synthesizable chemical pathway. But the underlying question of agency is worth pursuing in its own right. 

• My first sense that the Evolution 2.0, Artificial Intelligence + Origin of Life, $10M Prize challenge was doable was when I ran across to the work of Natalia Ares, et al. on the subject of ultra-strong coupling in qubit systems.

• Qubits are chimeras of sorts; belonging to both the realms of quantum and classical physics at the same time. Thus, making them potentially useful as bridges between the worlds of quantum and classical physics.

• Is it possible to leverage this phenomenon of ultra-strong coupling to create the quantum gate equivalent of a Schmitt trigger? That is, a physical system that takes a quantum interaction as input with corresponding mechanical change in physical shape as output.

• If so, then a quantum gate Schmitt trigger could be used as an active element to construct a molecular version of a finite state machine. At which point, one could then show that the encoder and decoder elements required for the Evo 2.0 challenge would be, at least in principle, constructible.

Project Journal:

• 17Aug2025, Journal Entry 

Discussions:

• Agency as a physics question,

• Computation by construction,

• Agency is a symphony of choices over time,

• Computation as dance,

• Information as defined relative to agency.

Simulations:

• Classical systems,

• Quantum systems.

Theory:

• Ultra strong coupling in qubit systems.

Conclusions.

• TBD

17Aug2025, Journal Entry

• The challenge for the coming days is to start building a simulation in LTspice demonstrating how a Schmitt trigger, as the active element, can be used to fabricate a finite state machine. Since the realm of physical systems hinges on potentials and forces rather than flows, this suggests a MOSFET-based, voltage-driven, Schmitt trigger circuit rather than a BJT-based, current-driven, circuit.

• I have never seen a finite state machine assembled using Schmitt trigger circuitry as its active elements. So, this simulation will be an exploration into uncharted territory.

• In practice essentially, universally, all finite state machines are assembled using registers (flip-flops) to encode states. With additional combinational logic circuitry used to capture the state machine’s corresponding rule set. Stepping through accessible configurations being initiated by an external clock source.

• At the molecular level, there are no obvious way to instantiate bi-stable (flip-flops). Nor ways to assemble freestanding molecular arrangements corresponding to a companion system of combinational logic.

• Here the Schmidt trigger arrangement serendipitously gets us around the above challenge. Rather than combinational logic to couple the various states together, one can use instead the parametric coupling captured in the ratio of the resistor values R3, R7. See accompanying schematic.

• This is where things get really interesting. Suppose our Schmitt trigger based finite state machine is built using a combination of circuit elements and mechanical elements. Then that resistor ratio can be instantiated as a mechanical flexing of the state machines physical body itself.

• So, first step is to SPICE simulate a finite state machine using the Schmitt trigger as its active element. Then extend that SPICE simulation to include additional flexing mechanical elements.