Background: Correlating Microscale and Macroscale

Abstract

Since the second half of the twentieth century our knowledge of microscale information and macroscale behaviors of complex phenomena has expanded, and researchers now anticipate complete solutions to various challenging problems. However, it remains difficult to correlate system behaviors with microscale information, such as organism characteristics via genomics, protein characteristics via proteomics, turbulence through molecular interactions, and superconductivity considering a single electron. That is, reductionism does not currently meet with holism. What is missing in between? Bridging the gap between these two well-understood areas is a challenge in contemporary science and technology. We believe that the gaps are caused by an overlooked common governing principle that is valid at various mesoscales. In addition, the term mesoscales itself is not widely understood. This provided us with the driving force to write this brief, which presents a preliminary but relatively complete introduction to the concept of mesoscience.