Mario Markus – författare

Proceedings of a NATO ARW held in Leeds, UK, September 11-15, 1989

Proceedings of a NATO ARW held in Leeds, UK, September 11-15, 1989

Vor 3,8 Milliarden Jahren sind die ersten lebenden Zellen auf der Erde entstanden. Gefüge aus mehreren Zellen, darunter Quallen, gibt es seit 540 bis 640 Millionen Jahren. Die Quallen haben seitdem ihre Tentakel, ihre Fortbewegung und Millionen kleine giftige "Spritzen", mit denen sie Beute töten oder sich verteidigen. Sie haben einen Mund, Augen, Geschlechtsteile und einen Magen, aber keine Lunge und kein Herz. Es gibt männliche und weibliche Quallen.Zwei Nobelpreise sind verliehen worden, aufbauend auf der Forschung mit Quallen. Einer ging 1913 an Charles Richet und Paul Portier für ihre Untersuchung der Anaphylaxie, einer extrem starken allergischen Reaktion des Immunsystems. Als Optimum benutzten sie dabei das Gift einer Qualle. Der andere Nobelpreis ging 2008 an Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie und Roger Tsien für die Entdeckung des Proteins GSP in einer Qualle, welches, wenn es mit einem anderen Protein gekoppelt in einen Organismus injiziert wird, anzeigt, wo sich das zweite Protein normalerweise anlagert. Dazu beleuchtet man mit UV-Licht und schaut nach grüner Fluoreszenz.

Open nonlinear systems are capable of self-organization in space and time. This realization constitutes a major breakthrough of modern science, and is currently at the origin of explosive developments in chemistry, physics and biology. Observations and numerical computations of nonlinear systems surprise us by their inexhaustible and sometimes nonintuitive variety of structures with different shapes and functions. But as well as variety one finds on closer inspection that nonlinear phenomena share universal aspects of pattern formation in time and space. These similarities make it possible to bridge the gap between inanimate and living matter at various levels of complexity, in both theory and experiment. This book is an account of different approaches to the study of this pattern formation. The universality of kinetic, thermodynamic and dimensional approaches is documented through their application to purely mathematical, physical and chemical systems, as well as to systems in nature: biochemical, cellular, multicellular, physiological, neurophysiological, ecological and economic systems. Hints given throughout the book allow the reader to discover how to make use of the principles and methods in different fields of research, including those not treated explicitly in the book.

Open nonlinear systems are capable of self-organization in space and time. This realization constitutes a major breakthrough of modern science, and is currently at the origin of explosive developments in chemistry, physics and biology. Observations and numerical computations of nonlinear systems surprise us by their inexhaustible and sometimes nonintuitive variety of structures with different shapes and functions. But as well as variety one finds on closer inspection that nonlinear phenomena share universal aspects of pattern formation in time and space. These similarities make it possible to bridge the gap between inanimate and living matter at various levels of complexity, in both theory and experiment. This book is an account of different approaches to the study of this pattern formation. The universality of kinetic, thermodynamic and dimensional approaches is documented through their application to purely mathematical, physical and chemical systems, as well as to systems in nature: biochemical, cellular, multicellular, physiological, neurophysiological, ecological and economic systems. Hints given throughout the book allow the reader to discover how to make use of the principles and methods in different fields of research, including those not treated explicitly in the book.

En en el presente libro se explica cómo obtener cristales súper-planos utilizando un microscopio óptico pequeño.Las sustancias a cristalizar se pueden preparar a partir de reactivos que se encuentran en el hogar (vitamina C, por ejemplo), como también en laboratorios de colegios o de universidades.Las imágenes obtenidas permiten que nos planteemos la pregunta: ¿Se trata realmente de arte? Según el renombrado artista francés Marcel Duchamp (1887-1978), los llamados "objetos encontrados" (objets trouvés) sí son obras de arte, ya que si de una infinidad de imágenes se elige una, se transmite una sensación que puede ser compartida por el público e incluso podría llegar a ser premiada por un jurado de artistas. Tal es el caso de las imágenes de los cristales y los poemas químicos presentes en este libro: podemos decir que en ellos arte y ciencia no se pueden separar.Entre 1930 y 1960 varios investigadores dejaron cristalizar saliva, suero sanguíneo o lágrimas esparcidas sobre vidrio y vieron cambios en las formas de los cristales en casos de enfermedad. No obstante, los intentos diagnósticos posteriores resultaron ser irreproducibles. Intentando entender este comportamiento, hace diez años comencé a investigar y, de manera interesante, encontré que incluso leves cambios de temperatura o humedad producen cambios mayores en las formas de los cristales que aquellos provocados por enfermedades. Esto lo explicó todo. Sin embargo, quedé tan fascinado por las formas de los cristales que los produje y fotografié usando diversas sustancias químicas, considerándolos como obras de arte que Dios me regala. Ahora las comparto para que los lectores de este libro puedan disfrutar con cada una de las obras obtenidas. Mario Markus

This innovative book brings together two disciplines — science and art — and enables readers to produce their own computer-generated displays. 44 colour plates and 200 black and white pictures showcase the diagrams that can easily be reproduced using the accompanying CD-ROM. It is possible to create diagrams that indicate predictability or unpredictability of physical, chemical, ecological, mathematical or economic systems. Grey levels and colours indicate the stability of a predictable system, or the extent of unpredictability. In addition, diagrams can be drawn purely for their aesthetic value. Directed both at scientists and laymen, technicians and artists, this combination of book and CD-ROM is the first of its kind.Sample Chapter(s)