Scale refers to the way quantities scale with size. For example how do calories consumed vary with the size of the animal. One might think if size doubles that calories should double but it doesn't work like that. Calories needed go up by 75%. The reason is that needed energy comes via the bloodstream with networks that split into smaller and smaller tubes to reach every cell. This geometry allows larger animals to be more efficient. But correspondingly animals can only grow so much. Growing cells does double with a doubling in size so eventually the increase in cells cannot get energy from the network with slower growth. This also limits lifespans.
Interestingly as biological organisms humans need only 90 watts per day of energy, but with our culture and lifestyle we needs cars, roads, TV, etc., etc., which amounts to 11,000 watts, a tremendous increase. Companies also follow this pattern and mostly die out. However cities do grow exponentially. If its size doubles then both the good and the bad features of the city increase by 115%. The good part is that this makes for the innovations that allows humanity to grow exponentially as it has been since the industrial revolution. The catch is that the innovation that makes this possible has to happen faster and faster. Even now we can see that change happens so fast that an innovator with a good idea cannot implement it before it becomes obsolete.
Scale is a thought-provoking book.
