Snowflakes Quote by Julie Buxbaum
““Did you know that it’s not mathematically impossible for two snowflakes to be identical? They’re made up of a quintillion molecules that can form in various geometries, so it’s just highly improbable.” “A quintillion?” “Picture a one and then add eighteen zeros.” She shrugs and I don’t think she pictures it. Which is too bad because the image of a quintillion looks just like a line of poetry. “The point is it’s totally possible. Unlikely, of course. The chances are like one in a gazillion. Which is not an actual number but an exaggerative placeholder, but you get my point. It’s possible.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2023
The passage highlights the vast number of possible snowflake configurations, emphasizing that while identical snowflakes are theoretically possible, they are astronomically unlikely.
In simple terms: Identical snowflakes are theoretically possible but extremely unlikely.
Key Takeaway
Understand the difference between possibility and probability.
Themes
science
probability
nature
wonder
education
Mood
curious
thoughtful
informative
Type
explanatory
inspirational
When to use this quote
- weather observation
- science teaching
- public speaking
- writing
- debate
Key Concepts
Statistics
entropy
uniqueness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this tell us about interpreting rare events?
- How do we balance wonder with scientific rigor?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex molecular dynamics, giving a false sense of certainty.
