Nature Prefers Hexagons

nautil.us

53 points·dnetesn··12 comments

Vanadium tends to "like" them as well:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Vanadium...

I'm surprised they didn't mention Jupiter's hexagonal storm and how it arises from fluid dynamics. Is the same force at work there as soap bubbles, honeycombs, etc?

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/cassini-2007...

Saturn.

Unearthing the memories of my (long) years worth of organic chemistry classes, Hexagonal aromatic molecules are some of the most stable due to resonance. The shape of the molecule allows electrons to essentially ferry themselves between atoms of the structure to form double bonds, adding unique stability and reactive properties.

Hexagons are seen in rock structures such as basalt.

https://www.google.com/search?q=basalt+cliffs&source=lnms&tb...

Not really evident from 95% of the pictures there though, they look like tall square bars in most.

Had to scroll a bit down to find this one, that shows it nicely: https://duckystravels.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/giants-cau...

That place is a boardgame nerd's dream. Final Fantasy Tactics LARPing?

They like to use those almost like abstract art around here. It's been going on for at least a decade or so and there are some new pieces I've seen turn up in just the last few years.

Wikipedia's Hexagon entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagon) explores the mathematical side.

I see what you did there.

What if Douglas Adams was half right and it's been the bees in charge this whole time. What if Colony collapse disorder is just them getting on their spaceships and going home?

We are so getting bypassed...

Wasn't it mice? edit: wait, nvm - I get your meaning now.

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