A boids simulation is a computer program that simulates the behavior of flocks of birds, schools of fish, or swarms of insects. It was first introduced by computer scientist Craig Reynolds in 1986. The simulation is based on three simple rules that dictate how the individual agents in the simulation (called "boids") move and interact with each other, resulting in complex emergent behavior similar to that observed in real-life flocks or schools.

Global Temperature Histogram from 1950 to Present Day. The spiral is interesting in that it allows for a non-linear approach to events. It combines both the linear aspect of a line and the cyclical nature of a circle. Time is often represented as a line to evoke its linear and infinite nature, or as a circle to emphasize the concept of cycles.