James Lucas Profile picture
Oct 8, 2024 27 tweets 8 min read Read on X
The mesmerizing perfection of nature 🧵

1. Sunflowers are made up of hundreds of tiny flowers aligned in near perfect symmetry. Image
2. Snowflake resting on a crow's wing.
Photo by Shawn Bergman. Image
3. Under a mushroom cap Image
4. A bubble freezing

5. Aloe polyphylla, commonly referred to as spiral aloe, is well known for its stunningly symmetrical growth pattern, which forms a distinctive five-pointed spiral. Image
6. The fractal symmetry of Romanesco broccoli Image
7. Chemistree!

Trees are natural fractals. The branching pattern of trees was first described in the Italian Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci: "All the branches of a tree at every stage of its height when put together are equal in thickness to the trunk below them." Image
8. The symmetry of this kudu, a large woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Image
9. Inside a honeycomb

10. The perfect symmetry of this plant Image
11. Japanese camellia Image
12. The graceful symmetry of this American yellow warbler in flight Image
13. Guttation is the process by which liquid is forced out of leaves through specialized glands, forming droplets that sit on the edges like jewels. Image
14. Perfectly symmetrical snowflakes

15. Mathematicians believe that honeycombs are arranged in tessellating hexagonal patterns because this shape allows bees to store the largest possible amount of honey while using the least amount of wax. Image
16. Stunning opal reveal

17. The spiral arrangement of pinecones

Most pinecones display spirals that follow Fibonacci Sequence, where each scale is arranged in a mathematical spiral that ensures efficient growth and space usage. Image
18. The web created by the spiny orb-weaver spider is a remarkable example of engineering, built from various types of silk, each serving a unique purpose.

19. The atlas moth has wings that mimic two cobras watching its back.

20. The symmetry of the dahlia Image
21. The breathtaking colors of the Anna's hummingbird result from iridescence created by light scattering through nanoscale structures in its feathers.

22. The logarithmic spiral shape of many seashells, such as nautilus shells, demonstrates both beauty and mathematical symmetry. Image
23. This is a melanistic fox, one of the rarest animals on Earth. Image
24. This is how a starfish walks

25. Humans and most animals have bilateral symmetry, meaning they can be split into two matching halves.

Scientists believe symmetry is crucial for physical attractiveness, with the peacock being a prime example of how it is used to attract a mate.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this thread about the ineffable beauty of nature, please follow me and retweet the first post so others can see it as well:
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When it first opened, The New York Times described it as "the largest building in the world ever built at one time." Image
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