I actually read a really interesting book but god damn it I can't remember what it was called exactly - ubiquity I think???
Its basically about how matter in the universe, and how all systems no matter how different seem to have similar behaviour, poised at what the writers term its critical state or something. (using the example that when there is a patch of grass, and a path way all the way round it, people still walk diagonally across the patch of grass, which eventually creates a new pathway)
I'm not explaining this very well, but basically theorise that everything follows a single universal pattern of change, comparing worldwide events to the events that take place on a sand pile (if you create a pile of sand sooner or later it will topple). for this reason whilst you can predict the magnitude of earth quakes you can't predict when they will happen because the earths crust is for example a critical state? These theories are also extended to the universe and how we all began etc
Anyway, I've probably confused the hell out of everyone, and have gone slightly off topic but I found it interesting anyway
I'll just get my coat...............