9 years ago
“I conceived and developed a new geometry of nature and implemented its use in a number of diverse fields. It describes many of the irregular and fragmented patterns around us, and leads to full-fledged theories, by identifying a family of shapes I call fractals.”
Benoît Mandelbrot
Fractals Discoverer
IBM Fellow Emeritus
9 years ago
While the blueprints of nature have existed since… well… the beginning of time, the fractal math revealing these hidden patterns was only discovered in the 1970s. But that didn’t stop software designer and fractal enthusiast Ken Shirriff from bending time to generate a classic Mandelbrot fractal on a 50-year-old IBM 1401 mainframe. Running antique punch cards, Ken had to wait 12 long minutes for the heavy-duty scientific calculation job to complete, thanks to a 15-second CPU delay for each printed row! Yes, a completely impractical, yet utterly ingenious undertaking. We love the way your mind works, Ken. And thanks for the photos. Nerd out on the deets →
9 years ago
“Round about the accredited and orderly facts of every science there ever floats a sort of dust-cloud of exceptional observations, of occurrences minute and irregular and seldom met with, which it always proves more easy to ignore than to attend to.”
Benoît Mandelbrot
Fractals Discoverer
IBM Fellow Emeritus
9 years ago
Big Brains. Small Films.
Benoît Mandelbrot, The Father of Fractals
In his final interview shot by filmmaker Errol Morris, Mandelbrot shares his love for math and how it led him to his wondrous discovery of fractals.
9 years ago
“The most complex object in mathematics, the Mandelbrot Set … is so complex as to be uncontrollable by mankind and describable as “chaos.”
Benoît Mandelbrot
Fractals Discoverer
IBM Fellow Emeritus
9 years ago
All throughout his birthday week, we’re looking back at the life and boundless legacy of IBMer Benoît Mandelbrot and his enchanting math discovery of fractals! So keep watch for new generative artwork (thanks Gwen Vanhee!) and explore more from our award-winning fractal series:
• Transform your tumblr into fractals (for desktop and tablet)
• Read the Reddit AMA with Benoît’s Yale U. and IBM colleagues
• Watch Mandelbrot’s last interview with Errol Morris
9 years ago
The PLAY Experiments | No. 4
When you open your mind to Play, there’s always more than meets the eye. Take ferro fluid, a solution with tiny particles of magnetic iron, originally invented as printer toner. But remix it with some speakers and—boom. Sound becomes sight in beautiful, pulsating fractals. This one goes out to the late, great IBMer and Father of Fractals
Happy Birthday Benoit Mandelbrot!
10 years ago
All day, we’re paying tribute to the late Benoit Mandelbrot and his amazing discovery of fractal geometry. Follow along as we share his last recorded interview and curate some of our favorite fractal art. And for a personalized fractal treat, grab your laptop and put your Tumblr through the Fractalizer, and watch your posts turn into fractals. Here’s to you Benoit!
10 years ago
Do emerging technologies, fractals, space exploration, cognitive computing or future forecasting get your hemoglobin pumping? Come geek out with us →
10 years ago
