claim

active

claim:assembly-of-quasicrystals-requires-examining-the-state-of-the-pattern-many-atoms-away-meaning-global-structure-must-guide-local-assembly-a-clear-case-of-non-local-action

Assembly of quasicrystals requires examining the state of the pattern many atoms away, meaning global structure must guide local assembly — a clear case of non-local action.

Penrose's claim, endorsed by Alexander, that quasicrystals demonstrate non-local causation in morphogenesis

Neighborhood — ranked by edge-count

Findings (1)

finding

Schechtman and colleagues discovered naturally occurring metallic alloys with long-range orientational order and no translational symmetry — quasicrystals — confirming Penrose's tiling patterns in nature.
supports
Empirical discovery cited as evidence that non-local geometric order appears in physical matter

Concepts (1)

concept

Non-Local Action in Assembly
supports
Penrose's claim that assembling quasicrystals requires examining the state of the pattern many atoms away, implying that global structure guides local assembly

Quotes (1)

quote

In assembling the pattern, it is necessary from time to time, to examine the state of the pattern many atoms away, if one is to be sure of not making a serious error when putting the pieces together.
supports
Penrose's statement about quasicrystal assembly, used as evidence that non-local action is required in natural morphogenesis

Related by similarity (8)

cosine ≥ 0.65 · no typed edge

Entities in the same semantic neighborhood but without a typed relation to this one — candidates for new edges or unrecognized duplicates.

The nearly identical detailed structure on all six arms of a single snow crystal is not explained by any present diffusion-aggregation model, implying non-local coordination.claim0.773
Alexander's use of snowflake arm symmetry as evidence that something beyond local mechanics is required in morphogenesis
Local symmetries act as a kind of glue which holds space together; the more glue there is, the more the space is one, solid, unified, coherent—and the symmetrical segments must overlap for the glue to be effectiveclaim0.769
Interpretation of the experimental finding: overlapping local symmetries are the hidden structural feature that creates perceived wholeness
In nature, unfolding often consists of a process that establishes local symmetries one by one.claim0.763
Connects biological morphogenesis to architectural process.
Hierarchical structures in biological systems enable local order while globally disordered, explaining complex patterning.claim0.763
Claim that multiscale organisation produces complex patterns via clique-based local coherence
The deepest invariant of all living structures is that local symmetries are so densely packed that the highest possible density of local symmetries occurs, without having an overall symmetry.claim0.759
In every natural developmental sequence examined, each state follows without breaking structure from the state before, exhibiting smooth structure-preserving unfolding essentially without exception.claim0.755
The empirical-observational claim grounded in the diverse case studies presented in the chapter
Local symmetries are pervasive in nature (sun, trees, crystals, bodies) and are associated with minimum energy and least-action principles.claim0.753
You can only get the profound multiple structure of centers by unfolding each bit from the previous state, allowing the next layer of structure to appear from the previously established layers.claim0.752
Explains why time and sequence are essential for generated complexity.