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Then there is the idea of "impossible".
We live in an impossible world. So much of what we take for granted - at one time or another, was considered to be "Impossible". And, with time and consistent effort, every impossibility has yielded, and become not only possible, but commonplace. Think of automobiles, airplanes, computers, cell phones. The list is endless.
The most important aspect of "Impossible" is the fact that whenever anything is generally accepted as "impossible", it generally is.
There are a few ideas as to why this might be, the most obvious is that most people will not spend time addressing the impossible, prefering to address the easy and difficult possibilities instead. And so unaddressed it remains impossible. But once addressed, impossible frequently proves to be a mirage, a problem with our thought or approach. We've created our own limits and boundaries. Impossible, then, becomes the easy answer to the flawed question.
Here are a few phases that relate to the challenge of impossible:
Phases:
#0: Not even considered. Of course, nothing is possible until first there is the idea or recognition of it; it must first be thought of.
#1: Out and out dismissal- not possible. As noted above, the problem or issue needs to be addressed before it can solved. Hence in this phase things tend to remain impossible.
#2: Rationalized: Considered, but dismissed as impossible. Impossible things are speculatively considered, but dismissed as impossible. Circuitous thinking at it's best (or worst)...
#3: The Challenge. The Impossible is attempted, usually with poor results. But as much depends on the approach, the next phase is crucial. Here you should have in your mind the fleeting and grainy black and white film image of a man flapping wax, paper or cardboard wings leaping off of a pier....
#4: Reconsidered, reapproached. retried. The impossible is approached from a different angle. Now consider the more lasting image of the Wright Brothers.
#5: Perhaps failure again. If failure, redo step #4. [Note: often things end here because people keep retrying the same approach. Key is knowing when to vary approach and effort.]
#6: Success
Once conquered, you have the exception, you've disproved the rule, it is no longer impossible, and with patience and continued effort the exceptional will become the rule.
Find something impossible to do. Then give it a try. It might be easier than you think.
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Fractals are shapes (2 or 3 dimensional) wherin each part of the shape resembles or recreates the whole.
Looking at the image to the left, you will see that each piece of the picture taken seperately resembles the whole.
The Fibonocci Series is, in a sense, fractal, as the patterns or geometry created by the series of numbers will be the same across infinite scales.
Like the Fibonocci series Fractals are found throughout nature - from patterns in the florets of broccoli, the patterns within lightening, to the clustering of stars and galaxies at the outer edges of the universe. Undoubtedly you've had that conversation with a stoner friend that conjectures atoms are really suns, their electrons are planets and if only we could build a microphone small enough we could possibly talk to them...
Horton hears a Who, anyone?
Fractals have what could be described as a self-symmetry across scale...
What are other, less noted, examples of fractals? Are there examples of fractals, for example, in Music? Could time in any sense be fractal?
What does this suggest about the nature of the universe?
And for more great images of fractals, check the Wiki.
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Common among artists, Synesthesia is a cross wiring of the senses that allows the Synesthete to experience one sense (for example colour) in conjuntion with another (such as taste or sound). For example, a Synesthete might describe the color red as being hot, brown as being slick, and blue as making a ringing sound akin to a telephone, another might describe the sound of C Sharp as "tasting salty". Various explanations exist for the condition.
Famous synesthetes include Vladimir Nabokov (see his autobiography "Speak Memory"), Duke Ellington , David Hockney and Richard Feynmann.
Further links and videos are listed below.
Brief definition with examples at: Absolute Astronomy
Website for Synesthetes: www.synesthete.org
YouTube clip explaining: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvwTSEwVBfc
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More ideas that could change the world.
The idea that evolution is to some (part or perhaps even wholly?) self directed.
By which I mean we decide within ourselves what traits we will pass on to our children. Of course, this is true with social evolution, we as parents pass on our values to our children. But why not physical evolution? And not necessarily "Intelligent Design" - there is no need to invoke God or a third party, why not ourselves? If our beliefs determine who we become, and what is possible for us, [and here I don't necessarily mean "The Secret" - there is plenty of excellent research on how outlook affects perception...], and in so doing socially affect our children, is it not possible that there is some evolutionary benefit (or detriment) associated with our beliefs? Is greed a belief that will help us continue to evolve? Is self interest?
With genetic engineering we are now self directing our evolution in ways that we have no means of predicting or even controlling. The antithesis of Intelligent Design. But I am speaking outside of the lab, a more personal evolution.
An interesting link here - youtube clip of Bruce Lipton speaking on the Biology of perception. If you haven't time for all 7 clips (70 minutes) watch the last 2, in which he explains how genes are turned and offed by perception.
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And to ensure I sleep tonight I'll muse for a bit upon symmetry. Symmetry refers the ability of an object to be bisected or divided in such a manner that each half (or fraction) represents a mirror image of the other half (or portion). Nature abounds with examples of symmetry, think leaves, pine trees, fish, animals, people. Most of these living examples demonstrate a bilateral symmetry - which means that symmetry exists on only one axis. IE There is only one way to cut me in half and have the two halves resemble one another.
Curious note, we are evolutionarily designed to seek out people with a high degree of symmetry. Biologists use symmetry to assess the attractiveness of animals. People unconsciously are drawn to partners with more symmetrical features. Symmetry can often be an indicator of good or bad health (higher symmetry indicates better health). But not TOO symmetrical, a person who's left half was perfectly symmetrical with his right would look odd.
But there are other types of symmetry as well. For example, think rock crystals - they exhibit symmetry, but on several axis. This is referred to as Multi-lateral symmetry. Or think of music, where the symmetry isn't in space, but in time. Artists, Architects and Painters will use symmetry to create spaces beyond what they're working on - the mind will fill in the rest, provided the composition has lead it in the right direction. And there is supersymmetry as well. In fact, this entire blog could be filled with examples of symmetries in nature, mathematics, physics, every branch of science, art and understanding.
And symmetry is observed to the farthest reaches of the universe in the structure of the galaxies, and to the minutest observed particles and quarks. It characterizes the "spooky action at a distance " by which quantum particles demonstrate their entanglement.
So, what then would be the general rule? What would an assymetrical universe look like? And when is assymetry beautiful?