Capturing Mathematics in Nature

 Symmetry is when different sides of something are alike. These reflections may be mirror images
with only two sides like the two sides of our bodies, they may be symmetrical on several sides like
the inside of an apple sliced in half, or they might be symmetrical on all sides like the different face
of a cube.

We understand symmetry quite well in living organisms because it is a function of their environment. In
order to balance, we need to have symmetrical body structure so we don't fall over from imbalanced
weight.

Snowflake
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Snowflakes form from water molecules freezing in a hexagonal pattern. As they

grow, they follow a repeating, balanced pattern because each arm of the
snowflake experiences the same conditions (like temperature and humidity),
leading to six-fold symmetry.

Diamond
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Diamonds have a symmetrical structure due to the way carbon atoms bond
together in a crystal lattice. The atoms arrange themselves in a repeating pattern
that creates a strong, stable structure with symmetrical shapes.

Face of Human

During development, the left and right sides of the body grow at the same rate,
and our genes guide this process to make sure everything is balanced and
proportional. This creates symmetry, where one side of the face mirrors the other.
Symmetry in faces is also often seen as more attractive because our brains are
wired to recognize balance and harmony, which are natural principles found
throughout nature and mathematics. Symmetry can indicate good health and
strong genetics, which is why it’s often favored in evolution.
  Fractals
are the 'never-ending' patterns that repeat indefinitely as the pattern is iterated on an infinitely smaller scale.
Infinite iteration is not possible in nature so all 'fractal' patterns are only approximate We see this type of
pattern in trees, rivers, mountains, shells, clouds, leaves, lightning, and more.

Ferns
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Fern are a common example of a self-similar set,

meaning that their pattern can be mathematically
generated and reproduced at any magnification or
reduction. The mathematical formula that describes
ferns, named after Michael Barnsley. In other words,
random numbers generated over and over using
Barnsley's Fern formula ultimately produce a unique
fern-shaped object

variant form of cauliflower

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This variant form of cauliflower is the ultimate fractal

vegetable. Its pattern is a natural representation of the
Fibonacci or golden spiral, a logarithmic spiral where every
quarter turn is farther from the origin by a factor of phi, the
golden ratio.

A pine cone
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A pine cone is a fractal because its pattern repeats in a similar

way at different scales.
When you look closely at a pine cone, you’ll see that its scales
are arranged in spirals that repeat over and over again, getting
smaller as they go inward. This repeating pattern is called a
fractal.
Fractals are shapes that look similar at different sizes,
whether you zoom in or out. Pine cones grow this way
because it’s an efficient way for the plant to pack its seeds
 tightly and evenly, following mathematical patterns like the Fibonacci sequence. Nature often uses fractal
patterns because they are both beautiful and efficient.

 THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, . ..

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. The number 2 is found by adding the
two numbers before it (1+1). 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2), and 5 is (2+3), and so
on

 Spirals are another common pattern in nature that we see more often in living things. Think of
the horns of a sheep, the shell of a nautilus, and the placement of leaves around a stem. A special
type of spiral, the logarithmic spiral, is one that gets smaller as it goes. We see this pattern in
galaxies, hurricanes, and some seashells

Examples:

A nautilus
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A nautilus is a cephalopod mollusk with a spiral shell

and numerous short tentacles around its mouth.
A nautilus shell is grown in a Fibonacci spiral. The
spiral occurs as the shell grows outwards and tries to
maintain its proportional shape.
 Sunflower
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Sunflowers boast radial symmetry of the Fibonacci

sequence. This is not uncommon since many plants produce
leaves, petals and seeds in the Fibonacci sequence.
Sunflowers and other plants abide by mathematical rules for
efficiency. In simple terms, sunflowers can pack in the
maximum number of seeds if each seed is separated by an
irrational-numbered angle.

Hurricane
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The Fibonacci sequence is a series of

numbers where each number is the
sum of the two before it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5,
8, etc.). When you plot these
numbers, they create a spiral called
the Fibonacci spiral, which appears
in many natural forms.

In a hurricane, the warm air rises and

spins around a central point (the eye), and the way the air flows and rotates follows a
natural spiral pattern that looks like the Fibonacci spiral. This happens because of the way
forces like wind and pressure work together in a rotating system, following mathematical
rules that naturally form spirals.

 Geometric shapes
Geometric shapes are precise, regular shapes that have clear and defined edges
or curves. They are often studied in geometry, a branch of mathematics that deals
with the properties and relationships of points, lines, surfaces, and solids.
Geometric shapes can be simple or complex, but they always have a specific
structure that follows mathematical rules.

Examples:

Honeycomb (Hexagons):
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Honeycombs in beehives are made up of

hexagonal cells. Hexagons are an
example of a geometric shape that fits
together without any gaps. This shape uses the least amount of wax for construction while
maximizing storage space, making it very efficient.

Spider Web (Circles and Radial

Lines)
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Spider webs often have circular

patterns with straight radial lines
extending from the center. The circular
shape allows the spider to easily move
to any point on the web, and the radial
lines provide strong support. This
combination of geometric shapes makes
the web both strong and efficient for
catching prey.

Crystals (Cubes, Tetrahedrons, etc.)

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Crystals, like salt or snowflakes, form

geometric shapes such as cubes or hexagons
because of the way their molecules bond
together in repeating patterns. These shapes
are the most stable and balanced way for the
molecules to arrange themselves, following
mathematical rules of symmetry and
regularity.