Jonathan Wolfe
@fractalic.bsky.social
Creator of @FlyingFractals art balloons. Lover of #fractals and Director Fractal Foundation. PhD Neurosci. Founder & CTO. Transforming education and technology. Building community, pursuing beauty, joy, creativity, adventure. Based in New Mexico
Reading The Last American Roadtrip by @sarahkendzior.bsky.socials, utterly captivated by her beautiful writing. Savor this quote by Teddy Roosevelt, from an era when politicians cared about the future: “One distinguishing characteristic of really civilized men is foresight.” (Full quote in alt-text)
December 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reading The Last American Roadtrip by @sarahkendzior.bsky.socials, utterly captivated by her beautiful writing. Savor this quote by Teddy Roosevelt, from an era when politicians cared about the future: “One distinguishing characteristic of really civilized men is foresight.” (Full quote in alt-text)
If you’ve read the amazing book “Finding the Mother Tree” by @drsuzannesimard.bsky.social you’ll understand how important these mycorrhizal fungi are, and how urgent it is to save this collection. It’s an irreplaceable ecological treasure!
It’s super important that this priceless and irreplaceable collection not be lost! We need to find a way to help! Does anyone know any soil scientists connected to INVAM in Kansas? We - the community of smart good people - must find a way to support them!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Defunding fungi: US’s living library of ‘vital ecosystem engineers’ is in danger of closing
These fungi boost plant growth and restore depleted ecosystems, but federal funding for a library housing them has been cut – and it may be forced to close
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:45 PM
If you’ve read the amazing book “Finding the Mother Tree” by @drsuzannesimard.bsky.social you’ll understand how important these mycorrhizal fungi are, and how urgent it is to save this collection. It’s an irreplaceable ecological treasure!
It’s super important that this priceless and irreplaceable collection not be lost! We need to find a way to help! Does anyone know any soil scientists connected to INVAM in Kansas? We - the community of smart good people - must find a way to support them!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Defunding fungi: US’s living library of ‘vital ecosystem engineers’ is in danger of closing
These fungi boost plant growth and restore depleted ecosystems, but federal funding for a library housing them has been cut – and it may be forced to close
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:13 AM
It’s super important that this priceless and irreplaceable collection not be lost! We need to find a way to help! Does anyone know any soil scientists connected to INVAM in Kansas? We - the community of smart good people - must find a way to support them!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
For the last night of #ArtAdventCalendar I want to thank @jayispainting.earthskyart.ca for creating and nurturing this beautiful phenomenon. What a joy to share and discover so much great art.
Here’s a fresh pic taken this weekend, featuring a favorite perspective. Keep looking up!
Here’s a fresh pic taken this weekend, featuring a favorite perspective. Keep looking up!
December 25, 2025 at 5:39 AM
For the last night of #ArtAdventCalendar I want to thank @jayispainting.earthskyart.ca for creating and nurturing this beautiful phenomenon. What a joy to share and discover so much great art.
Here’s a fresh pic taken this weekend, featuring a favorite perspective. Keep looking up!
Here’s a fresh pic taken this weekend, featuring a favorite perspective. Keep looking up!
A future vision of a different kind of flying #fractal. This 3D Mandelbox #balloon evokes gothic cathedrals and luscious timeless psychedelia.
#artAdventCalendar #Blueskyartshow #openhouse
#artAdventCalendar #Blueskyartshow #openhouse
December 21, 2025 at 5:47 AM
A future vision of a different kind of flying #fractal. This 3D Mandelbox #balloon evokes gothic cathedrals and luscious timeless psychedelia.
#artAdventCalendar #Blueskyartshow #openhouse
#artAdventCalendar #Blueskyartshow #openhouse
Fractals everywhere!
Water flow is gravity & least line of resistance
Tree branch and leaf arrangement is access to sunlight, so an opposite direction of travel
The results are the same though
Tree branch and leaf arrangement is access to sunlight, so an opposite direction of travel
The results are the same though
December 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Fractals everywhere!
Here’s an impressively optimistic story amidst all the doom and gloom. Bittersweet, but important to remember the global progress we’re making as a species, if not as a country.
Science has named the seemingly unstoppable growth of renewable energy worldwide as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year.
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx
December 19, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Here’s an impressively optimistic story amidst all the doom and gloom. Bittersweet, but important to remember the global progress we’re making as a species, if not as a country.
Great art doesn’t have to be political. But it can be. And… is flying a peace flag a political act? Is this controversial? Wouldn’t we all want peace?
#ArtAdventCalendar
#ArtAdventCalendar
December 19, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Great art doesn’t have to be political. But it can be. And… is flying a peace flag a political act? Is this controversial? Wouldn’t we all want peace?
#ArtAdventCalendar
#ArtAdventCalendar
I’ve got the Flying Fractal Blues
#ArtAdventCalendar
#ArtAdventCalendar
December 17, 2025 at 5:15 AM
I’ve got the Flying Fractal Blues
#ArtAdventCalendar
#ArtAdventCalendar
Destroying this crown jewel of US science really really hurts
An absolute bedrock institution for understanding how the planet works, just civilization-scaled vandalism by the most incurious morons on Earth
December 17, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Destroying this crown jewel of US science really really hurts
One of my favorite pictures of one of my favorite places to fly in the whole world - Red Rock State Park, near #Gallup NM. Flying your fractal through the fractals, that’s the art of living… #ArtAdventCalendar
December 17, 2025 at 1:32 AM
One of my favorite pictures of one of my favorite places to fly in the whole world - Red Rock State Park, near #Gallup NM. Flying your fractal through the fractals, that’s the art of living… #ArtAdventCalendar
Next-level balloon glow, with LEDs. “Ballumination”!
December 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Next-level balloon glow, with LEDs. “Ballumination”!
And here’s part 2 of our fabulous flight last weekend at Red Rocks outside #Gallup. Ballooning like this - flying fractals in the fractal canyons - is a splendid form of performance art. #ArtAdventCalendar
December 13, 2025 at 11:51 PM
And here’s part 2 of our fabulous flight last weekend at Red Rocks outside #Gallup. Ballooning like this - flying fractals in the fractal canyons - is a splendid form of performance art. #ArtAdventCalendar
Two of my favorite tiedyed balloons against a perfect blue #sky perfect for #blueskyartshow :)
December 13, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Two of my favorite tiedyed balloons against a perfect blue #sky perfect for #blueskyartshow :)
Fractal balloon “Fibonacci” hovers over a mountain lake as its perfect symmetry is mirrored in the water below. #ArtAdventCalendar
December 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Fractal balloon “Fibonacci” hovers over a mountain lake as its perfect symmetry is mirrored in the water below. #ArtAdventCalendar
Incredible beauty, joy and adventure flying Infinitude at the Red Rock #Balloon Rally in #Gallup. Catch the awesome high five at 0:55! #Newmexicotrue
December 10, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Incredible beauty, joy and adventure flying Infinitude at the Red Rock #Balloon Rally in #Gallup. Catch the awesome high five at 0:55! #Newmexicotrue
This is fun and beautiful
Made a site comparing the sizes of living things :)
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
The great Julius Csotonyi spent 5 months painting over 60 illustrations for the site, no ai used
> neal.fun/size-of-life/
December 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
This is fun and beautiful
Will always remember the joy of flying Gloria in the Red Rocks. #ArtAdventCalendar
December 10, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Will always remember the joy of flying Gloria in the Red Rocks. #ArtAdventCalendar
Actually intoxicated by color
#ArtAdventCalendar
#ArtAdventCalendar
December 8, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Actually intoxicated by color
#ArtAdventCalendar
#ArtAdventCalendar
Amazing fractal art ballumination! #ArtAdventCalendar
December 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Amazing fractal art ballumination! #ArtAdventCalendar
Fibonacci, the second flying fractal. An incredible hi resolution artwork, based on the simplest nonlinear equation, teaching the world that math is beautiful. #ArtAdventCalendar
December 4, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Fibonacci, the second flying fractal. An incredible hi resolution artwork, based on the simplest nonlinear equation, teaching the world that math is beautiful. #ArtAdventCalendar
Looking up!
One of my favorite perspectives is gazing up at balloons lifting off - it’s magical. Imagine a sky full of flying art! #ArtAdventCalendar
One of my favorite perspectives is gazing up at balloons lifting off - it’s magical. Imagine a sky full of flying art! #ArtAdventCalendar
December 3, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Looking up!
One of my favorite perspectives is gazing up at balloons lifting off - it’s magical. Imagine a sky full of flying art! #ArtAdventCalendar
One of my favorite perspectives is gazing up at balloons lifting off - it’s magical. Imagine a sky full of flying art! #ArtAdventCalendar
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - my fourth flying artwork, and one of my favorites. What can I say, they’re like my children, they’re each magnificent I love all of them, can’t play favorites. #ArtAdventCalendar
December 2, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - my fourth flying artwork, and one of my favorites. What can I say, they’re like my children, they’re each magnificent I love all of them, can’t play favorites. #ArtAdventCalendar
Delighted to start off #ArtAdventCalender with a pic of my greatest tiedyed balloon (to date), Gloria Caeli. She was magnificent, will be hard to top.
December 1, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Delighted to start off #ArtAdventCalender with a pic of my greatest tiedyed balloon (to date), Gloria Caeli. She was magnificent, will be hard to top.
Reflecting on the value of gratitude, one of my favorites. I named this balloon “Infinitude”, a contraction of “Infinite Gratitude”. The pic shows the dedication expressing my gratitude to Benoit Mandelbrot, but really it’s to all the scientists and artists who help us see and understand the world.
November 28, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Reflecting on the value of gratitude, one of my favorites. I named this balloon “Infinitude”, a contraction of “Infinite Gratitude”. The pic shows the dedication expressing my gratitude to Benoit Mandelbrot, but really it’s to all the scientists and artists who help us see and understand the world.