Nature magazine editor Philip Ball reveals how patterns emerge in nature's beautiful complexity, following simple physical laws. Ball traces the history of scientific thought about natural patterns, showing how common presumptions are erroneous and continue to mislead scientists today. Ball goes on to an in-depth investigation of specific patterns to show how these designs are self-organized, and produce patterns like spots, stripes, branches, and honeycombs. A revolutionary exploration, with stunning color photos that illustrate this lucid, eloquent book, Philip Ball's SELF-MADE TAPESTRY is certain to enlighten anyone who has ever marveled at the shape of a seashell, the brilliance of a spider's web, or how the leopard (and the planet Jupiter) got its spots.

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. Publishers Weekly

"Ball produces a kaleidoscopic thrill-ride along paths of scientific history that branches out onto avenues of contemporary scientific thought.... He succeeds magnificently."--Susan Wilcox, The Washington Times

For centuries, scientists have struggled to understand the origins of the patterns and forms found in nature. Now, in this lucid and accessibly written book, Philip Ball applies state-of-the-art scientific understanding from the fields of biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and mathematics<br>to these ancient mysteries, revealing how nature's seemingly complex patterns originate in simple physical laws.<br> Tracing the history of scientific thought about natural patterns, Ball shows 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<br>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<br>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 revelatory, lavishly illustrated exploration of nature's magnificent patterns and forms--and of their origins in simple physical law. 24 color plates. 248 color photos. 166 illustrations.

Foreword

Preface

Chapter 1 - Patterns

Chapter 2 - Bubbles

Chapter 3 - Waves

Chapter 4 - Bodies

Chapter 5 - Branches

Chapter 6 - Breakdowns

Chapter 7 - Fluids

Chapter 8 - Grains

Chapter 9 - Communities

Chapter 10 - Principles

Appendices

Bibliography