Thermodynamics is a universal science. The language of thermodynamics is energy and its derivatives such as entropy and power. The physical theory of thermodynamics reigns across a full spectrum of non-living objects as well as living beings. In the traditions of the past, the dichotomy between matter and life resulted in the natural sciences studying matter while the social sciences focused on living beings. As the state of human knowledge continues to evolve, anticipating the sciences of matter (natural science) and of life (social science) becoming unified under a single overarching theory is not unnatural.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)’.