Fractals are commonly found in nature. There are even current theories of fractal time. Fractals closely follow the holographic principle where any part of the whole contains the complete pattern, information and content of the whole. Yet on the surface fractals appear to be chaotic in nature and indeterministic. A definition of the term “fractal” is as follows:
Def.: Innately chaotically unpredictable recurring pattern which becomes predictable in a deterministic sense when extrapolated into and viewed as a whole.
There are whole hierarchies of examples of fractals, from the atomic and the cellular level to the galactic and cosmic level. Since our universe is in many ways a holographic universe and since fractals so closely follow the holographic principle it is no surprise that examples of fractals may be found at any scale and in virtually any form throughout the cosmos. Here follow three short lists of fractals on three differing scales:
Small | Large | Cosmic |
plants (i.e. ferns) | Lightning (branches) | The Zodiac |
leaves and trees | clouds/weather patterns | galaxies |
crystals | landscapes | solar systems |
sea shells | coastlines | stars |
snowflakes | rivers/river basins | planets |
stalagmites | mountains | |
stalactites | mountain ranges |