%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |    Not for the faint of art. |
|
Complex Numbers A complex number is expressed in the standard form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is defined by i^2 = -1 (that is, i is the square root of -1). For example, 3 + 2i is a complex number. The bi term is often referred to as an imaginary number (though this may be misleading, as it is no more "imaginary" than the symbolic abstractions we know as the "real" numbers). Thus, every complex number has a real part, a, and an imaginary part, bi. Complex numbers are often represented on a graph known as the "complex plane," where the horizontal axis represents the infinity of real numbers, and the vertical axis represents the infinity of imaginary numbers. Thus, each complex number has a unique representation on the complex plane: some closer to real; others, more imaginary. If a = b, the number is equal parts real and imaginary. Very simple transformations applied to numbers in the complex plane can lead to fractal structures of enormous intricacy and astonishing beauty. ![Merit Badge in Quill Award
[Click For More Info]
Congratulations on winning Best Blog in the 2021 edition of [Link To Item #quills] !](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Quill_Award-1375927_6.gif) ![Merit Badge in Quill Award 2
[Click For More Info]
2022 Quill Award - Best Blog - [Link To Item #1196512] . Congratulations!!!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Quill_Award_2-1375927_6.gif) ![Merit Badge in 30DBC Winner
[Click For More Info]
Congratulations on winning the Jan. 2019 [Link To Item #30dbc] !!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-30DBC_Winner-2064535_14.gif) ![Merit Badge in Blogging
[Click For More Info]
Congratulations on winning an honorable mention for Best Blog at the 2018 Quill Awards for [Link To Item #1196512] . *^*Smile*^* This award was sponsored by the blogging consortium including [Link To Item #30dbc] , [Link To Item #blogcity] , [Link To Item #bcof] and [Link To Item #1953629] . For more details, see [Link To Item #quills] .](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/type-Blogging-2180.gif) ![Merit Badge in Highly Recommended
[Click For More Info]
I highly recommend your blog.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/Kudos-Highly_Recommended.gif) ![Merit Badge in Opinion
[Click For More Info]
For diving into the prompts for Journalistic Intentions- thanks for joining the fun!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Opinion-1150.gif) ![Merit Badge in High Five
[Click For More Info]
For your inventive entries in [Link To Item #2213121] ! Thanks for the great read!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/Kudos-High_Five.gif) ![Merit Badge in Enlightening
[Click For More Info]
For winning 3rd Place in [Link To Item #2213121] . Congratulations!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Enlightening.gif) ![Merit Badge in Quarks Bar
[Click For More Info]
For your awesome Klingon Bloodwine recipe from [Link to Book Entry #1016079] that deserves to be on the topmost shelf at Quark's.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-Quarks_Bar-2046190_12.gif)       |
| I don't have a lot to say about today's article. But I figured, if you're reading this blog, you might have a passing interest in science. And you know how to read. So... Nightstand? Didn't science figure out that to get good sleep, one should use one's bedroom only for sleeping and sex? I don't think science books qualify as the latter, though they might help with the former. Fans of nonfiction enjoy diving into the infinite, intricate worlds that exist on our planet and beyond. I quibble with "infinite," but since our lives are time-limited, I'll accept "more than we can ever explore." Below, five science book recommendations for smart people with a range of interests. And maybe also for dumb people who don't want to be dumb. I Contain Multitudes, Ed Yong Ed Yong makes it easy to understand the complexities of our bodies, perhaps muddling your definition of self in the process. I haven't read this one, but we've discussed the human microbiome in here before. Pale Blue Dot, Carl Sagan It annoys me that the pictured book cover reads, "Author of Contact." Like that's what we should know Sagan from. Anyway, of course I've read this. Everyone has, or at least lies about it. Where Buddhism Meets Neuroscience, the Dalai Lama  One of these things is not like the others... To be fair, the elevator pitch: "Experts in the fields of consciousness, dreams, memory, psychiatric illness, meditation and more summarize the latest research and then engage in a dialogue with the Dalai Lama." Still, I've about had it with books that claim consciousness is quantum and we can affect the world with our minds, or whatever. Maybe it is, but we can't, except the old-fashioned way through the medium of our bodies. She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity, Carl Zimmer This lengthy, meaty read provides a new framework for thinking about what we inherit from our parents and ancestors, DNA, genes, race, inheritance, and the moral and ethical questions surrounding new procreation technologies. Might be worth a read. Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, Joshua Foer Join writer and co-founder of Atlas Obscura Joshua Foer on his thoroughly entertaining yearlong quest to improve his memory under the tutelage of top “mental athletes,” and discover the bizarre, niche world of the United States Memory Championships. Aw hell no. We invented the internet, and computer files, and paper, and writing utensils, for a reason: so we didn't have to remember every damn detail. Considering what most of our lives are like, it can be a good thing to forget. Incidentally, I've linked to Atlas Obscura in here before, and almost certainly will again. It's one of my favorite websites. Also incidentally, Foer's brother is also a writer; I've never read his stuff, but one of his semi-autobiographical fiction stories was adapted into a movie. It's called Everything is Illuminated, and it's absolutely wonderful. And topical right now, as it deals with Ukraine's troubled history. So that's it. Like I said, not much commentary here. I've only read one of these books so far, but I might give some of the others a shot; it's been a while since I've gone on a nonfiction binge. I'm also happy to hear your recommendations. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
