The K-T Boundary

The K-T boundary is the demarcation, deep within the layers of the earth, which separates the activities of the Cretaceous period from the Tertiary period. The presence of iridium in this layer is suggestive of the impact of a giant meteor and supports the theory that the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period were wiped out by a calamitous meteor strike rather than through their behavior.

Complexity Theory

Formerly known as chaos theory, complexity theory suggests that complex systems share certain common behaviors. The complexity of the world conceals an underlying sense of order that remains to be discovered by science.

Reductionism

The opposite of complexity theory, reductionism is the long-practiced art of taking something apart to see how it works - a watch, for example. Reductionism does not work on complex systems, however, because complex systems incorporate self-organizing behavior that cannot be dissected and catalogued...