TED: A mysterious design that appears across millennia | Terry Moore

The video explores Roger Penrose's contributions to physics and mathematics, particularly his development of Penrose Tiling, a pattern using two shapes that can expand infinitely without repeating. It discusses Peter Liu's discovery of similar patterns in ancient architecture, highlighting the cultural and anthropological significance of such designs. The video delves into the philosophical interpretations of underlying unity in complex patterns, referencing thinkers like Plato and Spinoza. It concludes by emphasizing that cultural designs are profound statements about values and worldviews, not mere decorations.

What is the unique property of Penrose Tiling that makes it remarkable?

• It uses three shapes to form a pattern.

• It can be expanded infinitely without repeating.

• It is based on random numbers.

• It was discovered in the 20th century.

Who discovered the Penrose-like pattern in a 14th-century madrasa?

• Peter Liu

• David Mohm

• Roger Penrose

• Albert Einstein

Which magazine named the discovery of the Penrose-like pattern as the 59th most important scientific discovery of 2007?

• Discover

• Nature

• Science

• Scientific American

What does the pattern found in the madrasa symbolize according to anthropology?

• Life's complexity and aperiodicity

• The predictability of future events

• The simplicity of ancient cultures

• Randomness in life

Which philosopher referred to the underlying unity as the 'First Cause'?

• Plato

• Spinoza

• Alfred N Whitehead

• David Mohm

What term did David Mohm use to describe the underlying unity?

• Singular Substance

• First Cause

• Implicate Order

• Undifferentiated Aesthetic Continuum

What is the main takeaway about the designs created by ancient cultures?

• They are modern inventions.

• They are random patterns.

• They are statements of cultural values.

• They are purely decorative.