A student in Colorado, looking for some sort of synthesis--the big picture, encompassing all the strangeness in the universe--but willing to settle for the philosophic or poetic lens.
After questioning how easily we might create useful models of our environment the other day, I started to wonder if I could even mimic our planet with a fractal. I’ve played around with spherical fractals in the past, for instance, my Paper Ball and my Harvest Moon. As with most of my fractals, I could only come so close. These patterns, as with most fractals, are based on a "seed" number; a number chosen at random. So, after choosing an earth-like palette and setting up the basics, I started trying different seeds. Some produced worlds covered in oceans, others bare and rocky. Sometimes they had odd-shaped condiments continents (oops... see the comments for an explanation), or, as shown here, scattered archipelagos.
Simulated Fractal "Earth"
A part of me wanted to explore these alien worlds... but they were simply fractals. While based on complex variables, they didn’t have near the depth of complexity as the Earth. Still, as I toyed with the different settings, I couldn’t help notice how such intricate beauty was born out of chaos. Now, I could be speaking of the fractal, or of our planet. I’ll let you decide. In the meantime, here’s a fractal world, born of chaotic beginnings:
Fractals made by the author using ChaosPro.
Environment
Technology
Comments
"Sometimes they had odd-shaped condiments, or, as shown here, scattered archipelagoes."
I hereby lay claim to the Lands of Mustard and Relish! ;)
Posted by: chris | October 20, 2007 6:00 PM
Doh! I didn't even see that. I suppose that's what I get for trusting spellcheck before my first cup of coffee. Strangely, now I'm craving a cheeseburger.
Posted by: Karmen | October 20, 2007 7:32 PM
Have you noticed that your last couple of posts have showed up as being authored by Dave Munger?
Posted by: sciencewoman | October 21, 2007 10:34 AM
Strange, they look correct to me. I checked in a few different browsers. It sounds like there is some sort of database error that is misdisplaying for only some readers. Weird, and worth checking out. (I sort of like the idea of being able to suggest Dave was the one who typed "condiments" instead of "continents")
;)
Posted by: Karmen | October 21, 2007 12:30 PM
hmmm strange i like this blog
Posted by: sohbet | October 22, 2007 8:43 PM