Butterfly Effect

In the vast world we live it is often amazing that small and simple things can make such a huge impact. The phenomenon “Butterfly Effect” is just this—that the simple in life like wings flapping of a small butterfly can make a massive difference in our world. As the Butterfly Biosphere opened last January more and more small but significant guests are able to see these also small, but significant insects.

Inside the Butterfly Biosphere guests meet butterflies from Costa Rica, the Congo, and more. Butterflies like the Blue Morpho (see page 6-7) and the amazing Great Mormon species are just a couple of the amazing species you’ll get to know! Beyond their natural beauty butterflies can make a huge difference in the world outside of this special venue.

Female Great Mormon Butterfly

By small and significant events, the world truly does change around us. These events help the world and help our community. We invite you to join us at the Butterfly Biosphere, the Museum of Natural Curiosity, Farm Country, the Ashton Gardens, and the Museum of Ancient Life to see the living proof of the butterfly effect right here in Utah. Proof that the smallest things can have the biggest impacts.

Everything that occurs at Thanksgiving Point is a result of something similar to the butterfly effect. The smallest visitors, the smallest contributions, the smallest critter—all have helped create the Thanksgiving Point we enjoy today.

It used to be thought that the events that changed the world were things like big bombs, maniac politicians, huge earthquakes, or vast population movements, but it has now been realized that this is a very old-fashioned view held by people totally out of touch with modern thought. The things that change the world, according to Chaos theory, are the tiny things. A butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazonian jungle, and subsequently a storm ravages half of Europe.

— from Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman