The Infinite Pattern That Never Repeats
Why Hacker News recommends it
Strongly recommended as a mind-bending, approachable explanation of aperiodic patterns, even enjoyable with kids.
What it is
Veritasium explains how Penrose tilings and quasicrystals overturned the belief that 5-fold symmetry and non-periodic crystals were impossible, including an interview with Paul Steinhardt.
Recommended by 4 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2021 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec pseudolus · 2021-05 · on “First nuclear detonation created ‘impossible’ quasicrystals”
The Youtube channel "Veritasium" featured a great video on Penrose tilings and their relationship to quasicrystals [0]. A fascinating example of a mathematical discovery with a previously unsuspected physical incarnation. [0] [this video]
Strong rec belter · 2021-07 · on “The first atomic bomb created ‘forbidden’ quasicrystal”
Great video thanks for sharing. My brain still hurting, it tried to explode at 14.38 :-) [this video] Also quite interesting these are found in a few meteorites. I wonder if somebody is confidentially keeping some quasicrystal with very special properties somewhere. "Third-ever natural quasicrystal found in Siberian meteorite" [LINK]
Strong rec MontagFTB · 2023-03 · on “Mathematicians discover shape that can tile a wall and never repeat”
My kids and I geeked out over the Veritasium video on Penrose tiles ( [this video] ). It is pretty exciting to see approachable math like this being discovered before our eyes.
Recommends namelosw · 2021-07 · on “The first atomic bomb created ‘forbidden’ quasicrystal”
I just happened to come across this fascinating video[0] yesterday that explained the same thing. And he mentioned the crystal as well. [0] The Infinite Pattern That Never Repeats: [this video]