Mysteriously beautiful fractals are shaking up the world of mathematics and deepening our understanding of nature.
What do movie special effects, heart attacks and the rings of Saturn have in common?
You may not know it, but fractals, like the air you breathe, are all around you. Their irregular, repeating shapes are found in cloud formations and tree limbs, in stalks of broccoli and craggy mountain ranges, even in the rhythm of the human heart.
In this film, NOVA takes viewers on a fascinating quest with a group of maverick mathematicians determined to decipher the rules that govern fractal geometry. Discovered by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot, fractals are the architecture used by nature.
Their remarkable findings are deepening our understanding of nature and stimulating a new wave of scientific, medical, and artistic innovation stretching from the ecology of the rain forest to fashion design.
The documentary highlights a host of filmmakers, fashion designers, physicians, and researchers who are using fractal geometry to innovate and inspire.
Fractals – Art Gallery
