A step closer to ylem?

[omega_tyrant]

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but I've been thinking about the implications of turning light into matter, and how that might be useful in the far future in "Deep Time." I've been reading about the Heat Death of the Universe, and how all matter will eventually decay into photons and leptons, and no more useful work will be possible in the universe after this time. If photons can be turned into quarks and other types of matter, theoretically, shouldn't this delay the "Heat Death" scenario at least somewhat? Wouldn't those newly created bits of matter be able to do useful work? Perhaps my understanding of "waste heat" is not complete. What does waste heat consist of? If it is just photons, then shouldn't they be able to be re-used under this hypothetical case?