Mandelbrot RIP

Benoit Mandelbrot, the mathematical genius who developed fractals as a way of understanding the infinite complexity of nature, has died of cancer at the age of 85. His concept has been used to measure all sorts of natural phenomenon, from coastlines to clouds, and led to new ways of thinking in physics, biology and astronomy. Fractal geometry created a beautiful new art form. Shown here is the Mandelbrot Set. The Julia Set is my favourite. I derived a lot of fun from that on my old Atari ST. CLICK for a BBC slide show. Lastly, here's a sobering thought: if this Polish Jew hadn't escaped the Nazis at the age of 11, the concept of fractal geometry would have died in the Holocaust!