Life is the most complex phenomenon in
the Universe manifesting an extraordinary diversity of form and function
over an enormous scale. Yet, many of its most fundamental and complex
phenomena scale with size in a surprisingly simple fashion. For example,
metabolic rate scales as the 3/4-power of mass over 27 orders of
magnitude from molecular levels up to the largest multicellular
organisms. Similarly, time-scales, such as lifespans and growth-rates,
increase with exponents which are typically simple powers of 1/4. It
will be shown how these quarter power scaling laws follow from
fundamental universal principles embedded in the dynamical and
geometrical structure of underlying networks. These lead to a general
quantitative, predictive theory that captures essential features of many
diverse biological systems. Examples will include animal and plant
vascular systems, growth, cancer, aging, sleep and mortality. These
ideas will be extended to discuss social organizations such as cities:
to what extent are they an extension of biology? Analogues to metabolic
rate and behavioral times in cities scale counter to their behavior in
biological systems: the pace of life in cities increases with size.
Driven by innovation and the creation of wealth this has dramatic
implications for their growth, development and sustainability which,
left unchecked, potentially sow the seeds for their collapse.