Pinecones.A pinecone speaks softly of mathematics. Listen to it count in curious sequence: 1,1,2,3,5,8,.... Spirals to the left and right whisper See WISPr. the magic numbers Magic numbers The number of neutrons or protons in nuclei which are required to fill major quantum shells. They occur at particle numbers 2, 8, 20, 50, and 82. to the sunflowers while pineapples applaud the secret three-fold. A nautilus nautilus, in zoology nautilus, cephalopod mollusk belonging to the sole surviving genus (Nautilus) of a subclass that flourished 200 million years ago, known as the nautiloids. acknowledges the coded message and rises to the surface. Pussy willows pussy willow: see willow. stretch in the sun and purr phylotactic ratios... 13,21,34,.... All nature sees the simple pattern and feels the common bond. Connected by a simple thought, numbers lean on other numbers for support. Where did the sequence start and what else repeats the count? Who hears the sighs of geometric growth? What living architects mimic the expansion? Quietly nesting on the ground, a pinecone is a most unlikely mathematician, an unsuspected philosopher, something you can count on. |
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