In the 1980s, IBM mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot gazed for the first time upon his famous fractal. What resulted was a revolution in math and geometry and our understanding of the infinite, not to mention how we see Star Trek II. Get blown away by fractals in this classic episode.
# Summary
In this mind-bending episode, Josh and Chuck dive deep into fractals, a relatively new branch of mathematics that describes the infinitely complex patterns hidden everywhere in nature. They explain how fractals are self-similar, infinitely detailed shapes created through simple recursive formulas, then explore the surprisingly practical applications from creating realistic CGI landscapes in Star Trek to improving cell phone antenna design. Along the way, you'll learn why a coastline has an infinite perimeter but finite area, how a guy named Jason Padgett can now draw mathematically perfect fractals by hand after being hit in the head, and why understanding fractals might just revolutionize medicine and our understanding of how animals use energy.
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