About this episode

Krystal Taylor discusses the characteristics and applications of fractals in mathematics and nature.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Carol Jacoby

Guest: Krystal Taylor

Topics covered

• fractals
• mathematics
• infinity
• geometry
• nature
• applications

Keywords

• fractals
• infinity
• fractional dimension
• perimeter
• finite area
• mathematical applications
• nature

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ohio State University

More episodes of The Art of Mathematics

• Math as it Should Be · May 27, 2026 · 17 min
• Pythagorean Triples and Some New Conjectures · March 25, 2026 · 20 min
• Proofs and Buckets of Fish · February 25, 2026 · 15 min
• The Many Facets of Math · April 23, 2025 · 16 min
• Will AI Replace Mathematicians? · March 26, 2025 · 20 min
• The National Museum of Mathematics · February 26, 2025 · 18 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Art of Mathematics podcast page.