 |
| Perfection |
As well as entropy, I have long been fascinated by something very different - fractals.
Let's not pretend I have any idea about the mathematical definition, calculation or explanation - no, and neither do I really understand the process by which fractal art is produced. But I do understand that fractals show self-duplicating patterns and that computers were probably designed to make amazing images based on fractal calculations. (I said probably.) All the useful stuff came later when the possibilities of computer became clearer - but I bet you anything that the original scientists were a lot more interested in fractals than they were in online shopping or social networking!
 |
| Natural fractals in a cauliflower. |
No - there are no complicated or intellectual reasons I love fractals. I love them simply because they are amazing and I could look at them forever - probably literally!
 |
| Another natural fractal - a seaurchin |
A fascinating YouTube zoom into a Mandelbrot Fractal - mindblowing!
I feel better for sharing this. Hope you enjoy it too.
Annie, I've adored fractals for years! I've even got a sweater (very much stretched as the wool tension was a bit too loose!) with a Mandelbrot set on the front and a Julia set on the back (my given name is Julia!) Aren't they wonderful, and they're all tied up with Chaos Theory, too, which is fascinating in itself. Although I was a Maths teacher, my maths knowledge is seriously stretched (overstretched, actually!) to get to grips with all this stuff, but the pctures from nature are amazing - I've got a book full of them somewhere. When I get my blog going I'll try and copy some of them. All good wishes from mid-Wales.
ReplyDeleteWow!! A fractal jumper - did you make it yourself? I must look up the pattern - how fantastic! Glad to hear from you, Helva, thanks for reading and commenting. Axxx
ReplyDeleteHello Annie:
ReplyDeleteWell this, as you may imagine, appeals to us hugely for we are the absolute devotees of order, symmetry, pattern, pairing, repetition, etc. etc. which, as you will now have guessed, we combine with tidiness and attention to detail in all things. Reading this, what very sad people we are!
No, no, not at all. You are in good company, for as well as sea urchins, cauliflowers and ferns, there is a mass of people in the world who are totally devoted to fractals. Odd that the word itself comes from 'broken' or 'fracture'. Nothing to do with order at all perhaps and just another example of entropy in the making...
ReplyDeleteAxxx
I share this passion for fractals and spent far too long on Youtube looking at glorious films........... :O))))))
ReplyDeleteI never doubted for one second that this would resonate with lots of blogger friends! I'm so glad to have it confirmed. Axxx
DeleteI did enjoy it, I will enjoy it, hubby and son are enjoying it right now. We'll all fractal freaks here. Thanks Annie :D
ReplyDeleteWarms my heart to know this, Annie. Axxxx
DeleteIncredible images Annie...but I clearly have great gaps in my scientific understanding/ mathematical fascination quota.......what is a mandelbrot fractal ? it's beautiful, amazing ...but I dont know what I'm looking at. I once taught a student in the US who tried to explain the fascination of pattern through maths....I knew he was so much brighter than me, but, try as I might, I just did not "get it".
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can understand, Janice - and I am NO expert - a fractal is a set of mathematical equations that the computer allows to 'takes form'. It wouldn't be possible to 'see' these images without computer help. They are used to help predict the weather and earthquakes and are linked to 'chaos theory'. I have always loved self-repeating and self-defining patterns and writing about entropy recently jogged my memory about fractals too. I remember Zahid, in my team, who was a mathematician, also loved them and we often looked at them and talked about them. Mandelbrot created this particular set of fractals where you can really see how every pattern repeats itself no matter how close you zoom into it. I would be amazed if you understood it - this is HUGE scientific brain stuff!! But isn't it pretty. :-) Axxx
ReplyDeleteGosh, that was awesome, Annie. I love the patterns and understand barely a word of the theory behind them, having had my maths education back when we just did arithmetic, algebra and geomety for O Level. I didn't even do Venn diagrams - that was for A level. :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Perpetua. You don't need to be a mathematician to appreciate the perfect patterns of ferns, broccoli or snowflakes though, do you? I love Venn diagrams - and I promise you, I am no mathematician. It took me three attempts to get my 'O' level, lol! And I ended up working in statistics...that's one to 'go figure', don't you think! Glad you're back - must off to read your latest. Axxx
ReplyDeleteAmazing!!! Perhaps if I'd had such entertaining stories of fractals I'd have got maths - I didn't. I do however have a daughter (Sarah) who turned out to love maths and how it applied to everyday. I shall share with her.
ReplyDeleteCelia x
As I said, Celia, I don't pretend to understand them myself. Despite working in statistics, a lot of my understanding was instinctive* and I feel the same way about these patterns - obviously there's a complex pattern process going on.
ReplyDelete* And as far as work is concerned, I had Zah, and then Mark to provide evidence of my instinct! Zah loved fractals too - what a lovely man he was..still is!