As we explored the motif of shape in both art and science in our morning lecture, the similarities between the two subjects grew even greater. Shape was discussed in the context of music, architecture, molecules, as well as art in the form of dance.
A change in the shape of an atom, with the changing of the number of electron orbitals can contribute greatly to the functioning and attributes of the molecule. The drastic changes accruing in the atoms made me think about how differently something can be looked at when looked at from another perspective. New information as well as perspectives can be acquired and adds multi dimensions to some problems that may seem unsolvable. In cases in which there seems to be no more answers it seems there is always another way to look at the subject in order to attain more answers.
Another interesting point discussed in this lecture was the continuity of shapes in out universe. The orbital diagram of an electron draws many similarities to the diagram of the universe. The planets are placed around the sun in a similar manner to that of the electron orbitals to the nucleus of an atom. There may be many similarities in our world that have not been yet discovered. When this similarity was discussed, I began to think of what additional nano systems have similar shapes to the macro objects in our world. Many things, that at first do not seem remotely similar, may have many similarities when looked at from different perspectives.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1008_031008_finiteuniverse.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_of_the_Universe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/crystal-giants/shea-text
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/02/3.html