I am a panditji who is bad at maths. And no, that is not a blot of ink on my kurta. That is fantastic mathematical gobledegook that has created this most complex mathematical shape. A little tweaking of equations, lots of gigabytes of computing power and little bit of artistic sense has also created the cover image of this issue. It is what they call a fractal image. Fractals help describe nature and her wonderful and mysterious ways very well. In the past two decades a new mathematics and science has emerged that helps us understand how living and non-living systems work. How do we explain the complexity and mystery of life? What makes ecosystems tick? How can this new knowledge help us create a sustainable world? Is it new at all?

Like I said, these scientists and mathematicians sometimes do things that I just cant understand. So I decided to wreck my brains and make sense of it all. Tell me if it made sense to you.