Dissipative structures

Dissipative structures are highly ordered, stable systems operating far from equilibrium. They are characterized by the appearance of stability, but are continually changing. A simple example is a whirlpool[?]. While a similar shape is maintained water is continually moving through. More complex examples include lasers, Bénard cells[?], and even life itself. The term dissipative structures was coined by Ilya Prigogine.