Explore the intersection of information theory, thermodynamics, and computation in this 37-minute conference talk by David Wolpert from the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into cutting-edge research on non-equilibrium statistical thermodynamics (NEST) and discover how fundamental physical principles govern information processing systems. Examine the thermodynamic costs of computation, the relationship between information erasure and energy dissipation, and the implications for understanding biological and artificial systems. Gain insights into how these theoretical frameworks apply to real-world scenarios including molecular machines, neural networks, and complex adaptive systems. Learn about the latest developments in understanding the physical limits of computation and the deep connections between physics, information theory, and complex systems science.