The butterfly effect is the idea that a small change in one part of the world can have huge consequences in another. It is often used as a metaphor for how our actions can shape the future in unpredictable ways.

The term was coined by the American mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz, who was studying the behavior of weather systems. He discovered that even tiny variations in the initial conditions of a weather model could lead to vastly different outcomes over time. He illustrated this with the example of a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil and causing a tornado in Texas.

What kind of systems exhibit the butterfly effect? What does the butterfly effect mean for us? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

In partnership with upday UK.

First broadcast 30/11/2023

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