Roots Unknown

We like this one, but don't forget the lasers.

"Roots Unknown" or "finding roots to polynomials with mechanical devices"

Photo by Joseph Schell. Distortions courtesy of TechShop.

Rooting polynomials was a technology that accompanied major changes in human culture around the ancient world.

Agriculture and increasing populations brought exponential cycles of feast and famine, driving the need to understand the cycles that brought celebration and sorrow, and defined our species. 

Rooting polynomials made heaven beautiful and predictable, however it also revealed a perplexing chaotic edge to the universe.

Rooting polynomials with a mechanical device...
... fractal-tiling, to the hyperbolic plane!

This [was] the subject of [last] Saturday's presentation at TechShop SF's Open House.