Nature’s Prettiest Patterns
By Vandya Rai
June 26, 2022
Fibonacci
Also known as the Golden Ratio is a mathematical pattern built into the universe. Here, each number is the sum of the two numbers that precede it. This pattern can be observed in the spirals of sunflower seeds, snail shells, and even galaxies.
Image Source: Unsplash
Fractals
A never-ending pattern that looks similar at any scale, and repeats itself over time. They are found in snowflakes, branches, lightning, and ferns.
Image Source: Unsplash
Tessellation
A repeating pattern of polygons on a surface with no gaps or overlaps. The most common sight is the hexagonal pattern of a honeycomb. A tortoise’s shell and snake skin also have tessellations!
Image Source: Pexels
Voronoi
A testimony of how nature favours efficiency. This pattern finds a way to fit perfectly within a space or path. You can see Voronoi on giraffe skins, leaf cells, corn cobs, heads of garlic, and foam bubbles.
Image Source: Unsplash
Meanderings
The curved lines are the dominant designs in this pattern. These graceful shapes can be observed in a climbing vine tendril, a slithering snake, or the course of a flowing river.
Image Source: Pexels
Waves
A pattern that moves — waves are disturbances that carry energy as air or water passes by. One can observe waves in oceans. Or, on sand dunes that can be crescent-shaped, long wavy lines, or parabolas.
Image Source: Unsplash
Symmetry
Pleasingly proportionate to the eyes — this shape remains unchanged if you flip, rotate, or scale it. It can also be divided into identical halves. Symmetry is abundant in nature - a butterfly, a starfish, or a flower.
Image Source: Unsplash
Spirals
Starting from a centre point, this pattern revolves around itself in curves. You can notice this formation in hurricanes, pineapples, and pine cones.
Image Source: Pexels