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Podcast Episode

Fractals: Simple rules, complex shapes

The Art of Mathematics·Carol Jacoby·28 January 2026·15 min

About this episode

Krystal Taylor, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Ohio State University, discussed the surprising characteristics of fractals, "infinity in a box." They may have fractional dimension, which varies depending on how it's measured. An infinite perimeter may enclose a finite area. Yet they are not just mathematical oddities--they appear in nature and have practical applications.