As a physicist, I know that symmetry is behind many of the most beautifully brilliant theories, but that nasty experimentalists have a habit of performing experiments that disclose cracks in these theories and that these violations of symmetry are the likely cause of the universe consisting of matter, rather than equal quantities of matter and antimatter, annihilating each other to nothing.
In chemistry, most organic molecules have chirality: that is to say, they are right-handed or left-handed. While most synthetic processes produce equal quantities of each, biological processes tend to be very specific, producing (and consuming) left-handed amino acids and right-handed sugars. As we search for life on other worlds, one tool that will be used is looking at these compounds to see if they show a preference for one hand or the other. If they do, it will be strong evidence of biological function.
As an artist, I know that symmetry is graceful and pleasing to the senses, but that asymmetry causes tension that makes art exciting and inspiring.
Something as common as a face may seem symmetric, but virtually no one's is. Psychologically, more symmetric faces are generally viewed as more attractive, but as these photos show, even when viewing a random person, the natural face appears more interesting than do either of the two faces created by mirroring one half onto the other:
Even a face generally considered to be beautiful looks strange and uninviting when made symmetric:
So this blog is all about the interesting and exciting world that comes when things are not in balance. When good and evil aren't equivalent, when truth and lies don't cancel out, and when you discover that two left gloves aren't the same as a pair.
I believe in balance. I'm just opposed to it. This is the place where chaos begins.
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