I Demand a Refund! The Space in My Universe is Defective!

...But We Don't Have the Time!

On Assembly Theory:

For example, the word 'abracadabra' contains 5 unique letters (a, b, c, d and r) and is 11 symbols long. It can be assembled from its constituents as a + b --> ab + r --> abr + a --> abra + c --> abrac + a --> abraca + d --> abracad + abra --> abracadabra, because 'abra' was already constructed at an earlier stage. Because this requires at least 7 steps, the assembly index is 7.[6] The word ‘abracadrbaa’, of the same length, for example, has no repeats so has an assembly index of 10.

from Google AI:

In assembly theory, the "assembly index" refers to the minimum number of steps required to create an object from its basic building blocks, essentially measuring the complexity of the object's construction. It quantifies how "hard" it is to create something, based on a shortest assembly pathway. This index is often used in the context of studying molecules and life, helping to understand how complex molecules might arise from simpler building blocks. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Assembly Theory:

  This theory, developed by Sara Walker and others, provides a framework for understanding the selection and evolution of objects, particularly in the context of life. 
• Assembly Index:

  It's a numerical value representing the shortest pathway, or the minimum number of steps, needed to build a specific object (like a molecule) from its fundamental building blocks. 
• Molecular Assembly (MA):

  Specifically, when referring to molecules, the assembly index is called Molecular Assembly (MA). 
• How it works:

  The index is calculated by iterating through subgraphs within a molecule's structure and finding duplicates, essentially determining the minimum number of assembly steps to build the molecule from its components. 
• Complexity:

  A higher assembly index indicates greater complexity, meaning more steps are needed to create the object. 
• Applications:

  This concept has been used to study molecular complexity, identify potential biosignatures for extraterrestrial life, and even as a framework for understanding evolution and the origins of life.