Fractals are mathematical objects with strange properties.
They have been known for many years, but had been relegated to an obscure corner of mathematics. All that changed when Benoit Mandelbrot began his career. Mandelbrot discovered that complex phenomenon in a variety of sciences, including astronomy, could be understood in terms of fractals. Fractal geometry along with several other sciences were motivated by examining human senses. For example, the sense of sight led to the study of electromagnetic radiation and the sense of hearing led to the study of acoustics.