Crop-Circles,Skepticism, andSnow-Sculpting

Carlo Séquin, EECS, CS Division

HKN Dinner, November 2, 2004HKN Dinner, November 2, 2004

From “CONTACT” MeetingFrom “CONTACT” MeetingNASA Ames Campus, Palo Alto, 2003NASA Ames Campus, Palo Alto, 2003

A sign from extra-terrestrial intelligence ??

The Face on MarsThe Face on Mars

Picture taken by Viking Orbiter in 1976

Face on Mars Close-upFace on Mars Close-up

High-res. photo, Global Surveyor, 4/8/2001

How Do We Make Sense How Do We Make Sense of the Unknown?of the Unknown?

Different people have different mental frameworks, belief systems and/or use them with different priorities

to come up with possible “explanations”.

My Attempt at ClassificationMy Attempt at Classification

Created by:

Intelligence Nature

Meaningfulmessage,or object

Systematic,repeatable

process

Randomone-time

occurrence

Artistic,or playfulartifact

I will display some intriguing(?) pictures:

Check yourself, how you interpret them...

Possible Answers,

with respective

probabilities:

Self-TestSelf-Test

Meaningfulmessage,or object

Systematic,repeatable

process

Randomone-time

occurrence

Artistic,or playfulartifact

Let’s start with another Let’s start with another mysterious example...mysterious example...

Nazca, PeruNazca, Peru Are these ancient landing strips ?

More Strange Lines…More Strange Lines…

PetroglyphsPetroglyphsBut what does it mean ?

GraffitiGraffiti

Faces on Faces on the Rocksthe Rocks

Mt. Rushmore

Panorama from Mars Rover “Opportunity”Panorama from Mars Rover “Opportunity”

Miracles of Photoshop ?

StrangeStrangeLife FormsLife Forms

Codex SeraphinianusCodex Seraphinianus

Codex SeraphinianusCodex Seraphinianus

Clouds in the SkyClouds in the Sky

UFO ?

Fire in the SkyFire in the Sky

Volcanic Vent Hole ? Volcanic Vent Hole ?

Art by Andy GoldsworthyArt by Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy – Stone FormationsAndy Goldsworthy – Stone Formations

Andy GoldsworthyAndy Goldsworthy– Ice Formations– Ice Formations

AntarcticaAntarctica

2001 ?2001 ?

Breckenridge CO, January 2004Breckenridge CO, January 2004Snowsculpting ChampionshipsSnowsculpting Championships

““Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”

A model of the Morin Surface = Half-way point of sphere eversion The challenge is to turn a sphere inside-out:

Surface may pass through itself, but no ripping, puncturing, creasing allowed,

e.g., this is not an acceptable solution: PINCH

Sphere Eversion ProcessSphere Eversion Process But there are more contorted paths

that can achieve the desired goal. Bernard Morin figured out one such path. Charles Pugh made models from chicken wire. Nelson Max made a first computer simulation.

Gridded Models for TransparencyGridded Models for Transparency

3D-Print from Zcorp SLIDE virtual model

Restructured Morin surface to fit block size: (10’ x 10’ x 12’)

Shape Adaption for Snow SculptureShape Adaption for Snow Sculpture

The Final ModelThe Final Model

Day1Day1

Day2Day2

Day3Day3

Day 4Day 4

Day4Day4

Day5Day5

Honorable Mention:

“Most AmbitiousDesign”

““Paradigm Shift” (British Columbia)Paradigm Shift” (British Columbia)

““Year of the Dragon” USA - TennesseeYear of the Dragon” USA - Tennessee

““Winter Oasis” (Canada – Ontario)Winter Oasis” (Canada – Ontario)

Why Do People Do Such Things ??Why Do People Do Such Things ??

All this effort for a short-lived artifact ?

The joy of creating something of your own design …

The pride of astounding people ...

Crop Crop CirclesCircles

Crop CirclesCrop Circles

Milk Hill Crop CirclesMilk Hill Crop Circles

Milk-Hill Design AnalysisMilk-Hill Design Analysis

http://bcornet.homestead.com/files/MilkHill/milkhill.htm

409 Circles

Milk Hill crop formation is exactly the same design as the interior of the Raelian Symbol which Raelians have been wearing publicly since 1990.

Crop Circle ConstructionCrop Circle Construction

26 person-hours of crop squashing,http://www.geocities.com/pduchesne3/

Probably not of extraterrestrial origin !

What Is the Message ?What Is the Message ?

Prof. Velvel Kahan, early 1980’s: Why are you giving this talk ? Who is the audience you are trying to reach ? What is the message you want to get across ?

( “If you don’t have answers to these questions,you may as well forget giving your talk !” )

Message #1Message #1

Don’t blindly believe everything you see or hear - even if it comes from an authoritative source such as the President of the most powerful nation in the world …

Use common sense Check the facts Look for other explanations Apply “KISS” principle

What will it be ?What will it be ?

Faith-based Government(wishful thinking)

(fabricated interpretations)

vs.

Fact-based analysis,logical thinking,

rational decision making.

Message #2: I love my job !Message #2: I love my job !

I love my job ...I love my job ... I love the flexibility it gives me.I love the flexibility it gives me. I love the variety.I love the variety. I love the art-math connection.I love the art-math connection. I love the “philosophy” connection.I love the “philosophy” connection.

Message #2 -- to you ...Message #2 -- to you ...

Find out: What is Your true calling ? What do you really like to do ? What are you good at ? Don’t choose your career just for the $$s. You can’t excel in a job you don’t like!

Stay true to your calling!

Message #3Message #3

The world around you is a mysterious, challenging place -- and it is changing constantly…

Be prepared to adapt to it!

Life-long LearningLife-long Learning Your education is not finished

when you leave UC.Keep a critical but open mind!

You will be obsolete in 5 years if you do not make a conscious effort to continue your education.

This is a good antidote against boredom and calcification of the brain...

Questions ?Questions ?

““Knot Divided”Knot Divided”

Accepted, August 5, 2004 for competition in January 2005