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Fractals in broccoli

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Romanesco broccoli displays its fractal-esque nature. Fractals show self-similarity, or comparable structure regardless of scale. In other words, a small piece of broccoli, when viewed up close, looks the same as a larger chunk. (The broccoli isn't a true fractal, because at a certain magnification it loses its self-similar shape, revealing instead regular old molecules.) For more on fractals, see this 1999 SciAm article written by Benoit Mandelbrot, the pioneer of fractal geometry, on their role in finance.

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  1. 1. bit_o_nuthin 08:02 AM 1/16/09

    There's a worm on the tip of the top flowerette!

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  2. 2. zhaopeng 07:05 AM 1/17/09

    Chaos, Fractal and Soliton are the three majoy chricteristics of object's shape. When the chaos is stable, that would be fractal pattern. Self-similarity property should be determined by a kind of math processer. So, they are awesome for study and reseach

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