I like to eat broccoli. Voluntarily.
But there’s one type of broccoli I love to look at even more than eat: Roman Broccoli.
Why?
Because of Spira Mirabilis.
This is the name Swiss mathematician Jakob Bernouilli (1654-1705) gave to the logarithmic spiral, or ‘similar growth spiral’ which we so often see in nature. As the size of the spiral increases, its shape is unaltered with each successive curve - creating a delightful repetition of form.
You can see observe this spiral in, for example, the nautilus, galaxies, cyclones - and Roman (or Romanesco) broccoli.
Now Bernoulli love this spiral so much he wanted it inscribed on his grave, together with the text:
“Eadem mutata resurgo” - I rise again changed, but the same
The perfect description for the logarithmic spiral.
Wolfgang Volk, Monuments for Mathematicians
Except…the accompanying illustration, as you can see above, is of an Archimedes spiral - not a logarithmic one.
A rather frustrating epitaph error which makes you think Bernoulli isn’t resting quite as comfortably as he otherwise might have been.
There are other gorgeous spirals in nature as well, such as the famous Fibonacci spiral which you can find e.g. in sunflowers and red cabbage.
Cross-section of red cabbage, © Else Kramer
It’s easy to get lost in the details of these amazing ready-made works of art.
Today, let’s celebrate the miracle of spirals by looking for them in nature.
Find them in flowers, shells, vegetables - and maybe even in the sky.
Capture them and share them using the hashtag #kramerseye on Twitter or Instagram.