So, I’ve recently become enamored with fractals, the mathematics of nature. I’ve always been a bit of a closet mathie, a decorated mathlete in my formative years, but how did fractals evade my radar for so long. And as an Environmental Engineer, how did this not show up at least somewhere along my course of study? It seems like it would belong at the foundation of required knowledge. Well, the good news for me is that the journey has now officially begun.
So, what am I all worked up about? Monsters, pathological curves, measuring the CO2 absorption of an entire rain forest using data from just one leaf and the branch pattern of one tree. Think about this one dilemma for a moment, in trying to measure the length of a coastline, the number is inversely proportional to the size of the ruler you use. The coastline becomes longer if you employ a smaller ruler to measure it. Fractal math seems to be what will propel us forward in technology and understanding of our universe. Already at play in some key locations such as cell phone antennas, african village structures and 3d video modeling of natural and organic shapes and textures; pondering the possible future applications is a whole hobby in and of itself.
If you’re feeling at all fractally frisky check out this video on Nova:
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Where did you read about using fractal patterns in the calculation of co2 uptake? I have heard of that and I’m kind of interested, since I’m also into fractals
Hi Henrik, I believe it was part of this documentary: Hunting the Hidden Dimension on Nova. It’s a must see if you’re at all into fractals.
Hi, I was wondering where you got the picture from? I did a course on Fractals for my MSc but I’m afraid I can’t remember much about it now! I am starting my own business (Fractal Crafts) and it would be great on my website/stationery. Thanks.