Ed Lorenz

Edward Lorenz was a meteorologist who discovered that small changes in atmospheric conditions could lead to vastly different weather patterns, a concept now known as chaos theory. His work showed that weather systems are highly sensitive and inherently unpredictable in the long term, often referred to as the "butterfly effect," implying that tiny differences—like a butterfly flapping its wings—can influence large-scale outcomes. This insight revolutionized understanding of complex systems, emphasizing how nonlinear interactions can produce unpredictable behavior even when governed by deterministic laws.