In 1865, German physicist Rudolf Clausius introduced the concept of entropy, fundamentally changing the field of thermodynamics. His work provided a mathematical framework for understanding the direction of heat transfer and the efficiency of engines, leading to the formulation of the second law of thermodynamics. Clausius's definition of entropy not only advanced scientific knowledge but also had profound implications for various fields, including physics, chemistry, and information theory, influencing how we understand energy and disorder in physical systems.

Rudolf Clausius's definition of entropy in 1865 introduced concepts of disorder and decay that resonated with poets of the 19th and 20th centuries. This scientific framework influenced literary themes of inevitability and the passage of time, as seen in the works of poets like W.B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot.