Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts:  

I have heard of Boltzmann brains but I never thought I would see one.  Today's image, which lies on a twisted filament extending from a bud on the southeast shore line of the main bud of the Mandelbrot set has made me a true believer however, for lo and behold, there are eight of these pathetic accidental and lonely creatures gathered around the central minibrot in today's image.  And I think I can see many more brains huddled farther in.

Boltzmann brains (check them on the internet) are hypothetical entities that randomly fluctuate out of the quantum jitters of an infinite empty space at maximum entropy.  They might or might not resemble human brains, but somehow they are conscious and imagine themselves to be located inside a physical body which is surrounded by an immense universe of relatively low entropy.

The end result of this line of thought is the absurd assumption we are all merely imagining the outer world, and nothing but our own minds (and fractals, of course) are real.  I doubt that anyone actually believes in Boltzmann brains, but ever since the discovery of dark energy, it has been where the rational study of time and entropy leads us, and it is hard to see how we might get out of the conundrum, (if it actually is a conundrum and not reality).

Madam Zucchini, who talks to spirits every day at her fortune-telling shop down on the corner, makes better sense than many of today's so-called scientists.  No wonder I have lost my youthful enthusiasm and even respect for science, and now spend more time making fun of it.

The name "Boltzmann Brains!!" is self explanatory.  The art and math ratings are both somewhat above average, though not high enough to justify the 13 minutes required to calculate the image.  This is where the web sites charge to the rescue.

Heavy clouds moved in overnight here at Fractal Central, and the rain arrived just after lunch.  The fractal cats enjoyed the temperature of 63F 17C as much as possible from indoors, but would have preferred the sun.  The fractal humans were too busy with other things to concern themselves with a rainy afternoon.

The next FOTD will probably not be posted before April 13, two days from now.  Until then, take care, and hey!, it's not so bad being a Boltzmann brain.

Jim (bring on the ghosts) Muth
jimmuth@earthlink.net


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