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We are surrounded by order that -- until now -- physics has
been unable to explain. The spread of veins in the back
of our hands mirrors the spread of branches on a tree; fern fronds bear a resemblance
to the outline of fjords; the best-loved classical music echoes the patterns of
our heartbeats. The theory of Universality is
using fractal patterns to explain much of the world around us. Could it be that
the same laws that govern systems in their critical state also govern some of
the most unpredictable events such as earthquakes, avalanches, the growth of cities
and stock market crashes -- even the way businesses are run and the way fashions
come and go? Is there a common principle, a universal affinity that binds us to
the forces of nature? A consensus is emerging on how
complex structures grow and sustain themselves; phenomena that were once thought
to be unique now appear to have a great deal in common. Mark Ward examines these
theories, explores how they fit into an age-long quest to discover how the universe
works, delves into their possible limitations and ask what we can do with this
new knowledge. While identifying patterns does not mean
that we can always predict what will happen next, some of the trends scientists
are noticing prove that life is not a series of random events. Universality
deepens our understanding of natural phenomena and our place in the physical world.
Mark Ward is a journalist who has written about science and
technology for the trade magazine, Computer Weekly, the New Scientist
and the Daily Telegraph. He is now a technology reporter for the BBC.
Mark Ward is the author of Virtual Organisms: The Startling World of Artificial
Life. |
