Probability
Dec. 3rd, 2005 04:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysCoincidence is an interesting mental phenomenon. This picture of the Cat's Eye nebula is the wallpaper on my home PC - it has been for a couple of months so I am quite familiar with it. In the latest Listener, exactly the same image appears as an illustration in an article about Harry Potter and the teaching of science - The Cat's Eye is in Draco you see.
It seems too strange. The Listener hardly ever has space images and yet when it does, it has one that I see every day. For some this would be proof of conspiracy. For some it would be proof of their importance in the universe. For some it would be proof of the ultimate connectedness of the universe.
I say - "coincidence happens". Probability dictates that strangely improbably things will happen from time to time. Its just the way the universe works. If you need wonder in the universe, it is there in plenty - just look at that picture for a start. You don't need to manufacture it.
This insight into Ross's brain brought to you today by the letters N G and C and the numbers 6, 5, 4 and 3.
It seems too strange. The Listener hardly ever has space images and yet when it does, it has one that I see every day. For some this would be proof of conspiracy. For some it would be proof of their importance in the universe. For some it would be proof of the ultimate connectedness of the universe.
I say - "coincidence happens". Probability dictates that strangely improbably things will happen from time to time. Its just the way the universe works. If you need wonder in the universe, it is there in plenty - just look at that picture for a start. You don't need to manufacture it.
This insight into Ross's brain brought to you today by the letters N G and C and the numbers 6, 5, 4 and 3.