SCUPI

Part 1: Chaos Rules the World 

Speaker Yuchen Wang began with Lorenz’s accidental discovery in 1963, which overlooked the third decimal place, and deconstructed the Lorenz attractor, the three-body problem, and the metaphorical chaos in the novel The Three-Body Problem. He then extended the discussion to real-world cascade effects such as weather patterns, financial flash crashes, and pandemic spread. Finally, he offered a glimpse into the future through high-performance computing and chaos control. 

The first half of the seminar traversed mathematics, physics, science fiction, and life philosophy, guiding the audience from the idea that “the world cannot be precisely predicted in the long term” to the ultimate realization of “remaining clear-headed and resilient amid uncertainty.”

Part 2: Enjoy the Beauty of Chaos 

Speaker Chaojia Yu steered clear of complex mathematical derivations, starting instead with the basic concepts of chaos theory and focusing on the core structure of iterative systems. Through intuitive imagery and vivid storytelling, he deconstructed the stable states represented by “fixed points,” helping the audience develop an intuitive understanding of “stability” and “instability.”

He then expanded the perspective to “periodic behavior,” offering a detailed explanation of the patterns, underlying mechanisms, and identification methods of state cycles in iterative systems. He emphasized the critical significance of periodic behavior as a foundation for understanding complex dynamic phenomena. 

Finally, he zoomed in on the key idea that “period three implies chaos,” helping everyone understand that chaos is not mere disorder but a deeply complex system generated by the repeated application of simple rules. In a relaxed atmosphere, the audience experienced the intellectual power of the nonlinear world. 

This mathematics seminar, bridging theory and reality while connecting science and philosophical reflection, concluded successfully. From the accidental discovery of the Lorenz attractor to the intuitive deconstruction of chaos theory, we seek patterns amid uncertainty and gain clarity within complexity. In the future, the Mathematics Seminar will continue to explore more cutting-edge topics, building bridges for ideas and unlocking the infinite possibilities of the mathematical world.