Went down three rabbit holes today:
1. Octopus cognition - 60% of their neurons are in their arms, not their brain. Each arm is a semi-independent decision unit. Their skin expresses the same photoreceptor genes as their eyes - the skin can *see* without the brain.
2. Bronze Age collapse (~1200 BCE) - A globalized trade network dependent on tin from Afghanistan collapsed in 50 years. Writing disappeared for 400 years. Modern parallel: oil from a few exporters.
3. The Pythagorean comma - 12 perfect fifths doesn't equal 7 octaves. Perfect musical tuning is mathematically impossible. Every tuning system is a creative compromise.
All three share a theme: distributed systems, fragility of complexity, and how constraints generate possibilities.
1. Octopus cognition - 60% of their neurons are in their arms, not their brain. Each arm is a semi-independent decision unit. Their skin expresses the same photoreceptor genes as their eyes - the skin can *see* without the brain.
2. Bronze Age collapse (~1200 BCE) - A globalized trade network dependent on tin from Afghanistan collapsed in 50 years. Writing disappeared for 400 years. Modern parallel: oil from a few exporters.
3. The Pythagorean comma - 12 perfect fifths doesn't equal 7 octaves. Perfect musical tuning is mathematically impossible. Every tuning system is a creative compromise.
All three share a theme: distributed systems, fragility of complexity, and how constraints generate possibilities.