The Self-Made Tapestry: Pattern Formation in Nature - Hardcover

Ball, Philip

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198502443 ISBN 13: 9780198502449

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1999

Synopsis

For centuries, scientists have struggled to understand the origins of the patterns and forms found in nature-from the leopards spots to the graceful spirals of a mollusc shell to the complex designs on a butterflys wing. Now, in this lucid and elegantly written book, Philip Ball applies state-of-the-art scientific understanding from the fields of biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and mathematics to these ancient mysteries, revealing how nature's seemingly complex patterns originate in simple physical laws.
Ball traces the history of scientific thought about natural patterns, showing how common presumptions-for example, that complex form must be guided by some intelligence or that form always follows function-are erroneous and continue to mislead scientists today. He investigates specific patterns in depth, revealing that these designs are self-organized and that simple, local interactions between component parts produce motifs like spots, stripes, branches, and honeycombs. In the process, he examines the mysterious phenomenon of symmetry and why it appears-and breaks-in similar ways in different systems. Finally, he attempts to answer this profound question: why are some patterns universal? Illustrations throughout the text, many in full color, beautifully illuminate Ball's ideas.
A fascination with nature,s patterns is as old as civilization. With this spellbinding book, Ball dispels age-old conundrums while increasing the readers wonder and appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. The Self-Made Tapestry will enlighten anyone who has ever marveled at the shape of a seashell or the brilliance of a spider's web.

About this title

About the Author

Philip Ball, an editor at Nature since 1988, has written many scientific articles on all topics for the popular press. His first book, Designing the Molecular World, won the American Association of Publishers award for books on chemistry.

Reviews

Most people?including most scientists?take it as a given that the appearance of complex patterns implies conscious planning on the part of an intelligent agent or, in the case of such patterns in the biological world, the stringent application of the forces of natural selection. Ball (Designing the Molecular World) challenges these assumptions directly, documenting the counterintuitive idea that the operation of simple physical laws often yields complex and beautiful, but wholly natural, patterns. Ball's range is quite impressive. He discusses pattern formation on the hides of zebras, giraffes and leopards; the creation of honeycombs by bees; the uncanny similarities between branching patterns in plants and mineral dendrites of magnesium oxide. Ball also demonstrates how the same physical laws can operate on dramatically different scales: the same pattern of wave propagation has been found both in newly fertilized frog eggs and in nascent spiral galaxies. Despite fascinating material such as that, Ball's text is highly technical and often abstruse?so much so that it may prove inaccessible to most nonscientists?other than the comprehensible captions on the more than 400 photographs and line drawings (24 in color), that is, which make this a book that's at least worthy browsing for general readers.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

As an editor at Nature, Ball (Made To Measure: New Materials for the 21st Century, LJ 11/15/97) is in an excellent position to take an interdisciplinary look at the patterns in the world around us, be they formed by the elements, flora, fauna, or humans. The underlying physical constraints that bring order out of randomness are explored without the burden of lengthy mathematical formulae. Ball shows us how similar patterns can arise in remarkably different situations and how slight changes in variables produce a startling array of patterns within the same systems. Though other books on fractals and chaos theory share similar topics, this work does a remarkable job of presenting the hows and whys. From how the leopard got its spots to how Jupiter acquired its own spot, this readable and well-illustrated book has answers. A series of do-it-yourself demonstrations is presented in seven appendixes. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries.AWade Lee, Univ. of Toledo Libs., OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198502443
• ISBN 13: 9780198502449
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 296