Mathematics
The Logistic Map and the Route to Chaos
Quick fact
The logistic map produces chaos for certain parameter values, meaning that even though the rule is deterministic, two initial populations that differ by just 0.0000001% will diverge exponentially, making long-term prediction impossible.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a simple rule that predicts next year's population from this year's count—yet for some growth rates, the prediction becomes utterly unpredictable. How can a single, simple formula lead to chaos?