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Auxin makes the spirals in gerbera inflorescences follow the Fibonacci sequence

Researchers have found that the spirals in gerbera inflorescences follow the Fibonacci sequence, with the number of left- and right-winding spirals determined by consecutive Fibonacci numbers. The study used X-ray tomography and confocal microscopy to examine how auxin levels influence the patterning of floral primordia.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 14, 2021

The cascade to criticality

Quasiperiodic structures exhibit unique beauty and intriguing physics, but a lack of overarching framework hindered understanding. Researchers establish versatile tools for exploring quantum behavior in diverse quasiperiodic settings, demonstrating the strength of their approach to uncover new physical mechanisms.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 1, 2020

Mathematics of plant leaves

A new mathematical model, EDC2, explains the peculiar 'orixate' leaf arrangement pattern of a Japanese plant, suggesting that older leaves have stronger inhibitory signals. The findings support the accuracy of the formula and shed light on the genetic and cellular machinery behind plant development.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 6, 2019

A trillion triangles

Researchers from North America, Europe, Australia, and South America have solved the first one trillion cases of an ancient mathematics problem. The team developed a clever technique for multiplying large numbers, making it possible to calculate the area of right-angled triangles with whole number or fraction sides up to a trillion.