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by daveguy 3584 days ago
Can you name anything in nature that experiences exponential growth, or is it all logistic growth?
2 comments

Technology is part of nature in my view. I don't distinguish. If you mean in biology then I guess cell division is an example?
No, I meant in nature. In all of the natural world. Physics through economics and everything in between including technology. (Hint: nothing is exponential -- it always levels off. Otherwise we would have been consumed by it.) I would be genuinely surprised and extremely curious to see any natural phenomenon that maintains exponential growth.

I guess compound interest could be considered indefinitely exponential, but you eventually reach a barrier in what's insured and it is a relatively small exponent. Also, is it still savings if you never spend it? I wonder what is the longest continuous account in banking that has never been touched.

Anyway, that is a tangent and a somewhat artificial scenario. Can you name a naturally occurring scenario? I would accept technology if you could show that it isn't going to level out like all other natural phenomenon.

The size of the universe.
Bacterial growth is exponential until a limit is reached. You can find many examples. Doesn't really have anything to do with the article or OP post though.
I am not sure I understand your point.

Who says it needs to be exponential forever?

Pretty much every living thing reproduces exponentially until it reaches the carrying capacity of its environment.

(Humans, fortunately, are starting to get better about this.)

Also, you want "logarithmic," not "logistic."

> Also, you want "logarithmic," not "logistic."

Don't think so - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logistic_function

The 'S' curve of logistic growth looks exponential for a while, which is why the question arises. By contrast, no one mistakes logarithmic growth for exponential growth for very long.