MetaFilter posts tagged with goldenratio

golden ratio in the amen break

p3t3 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:09:14 -0800

The Amen Break and the Golden Ratio by mathematics educator and author, Michael S. Schneider. Schneider, having already researched and written about the golden ratio extensively, noticed it right away when hearing the the amen break for the first time (amen break previously on the blue). While some composers have been known to intentionally incorporate fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio into their works, perhaps this is just another one of the many instances of the ratio showing up in nature.

Impossible Crystals

parudox — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:54:55 -0800

"This is a story of how the impossible became possible. How, for centuries, scientists were absolutely sure that solids (as well as decorative patterns like tiling and quilts) could only have certain symmetries - such as square, hexagonal and triangular - and that most symmetries, including five-fold symmetry in the plane and icosahedral symmetry in three dimensions (the symmetry of a soccer ball), were strictly forbidden. Then, about twenty years ago, a new kind of pattern, known as a "quasicrystal," was envisaged that shatters the symmetry restrictions and allows for an infinite number of new patterns and structures that had never been seen before, suggesting a whole new class of materials...."

Physicist Paul J. Steinhardt delivers a fascinating lecture (WMV) on tilings and quasicrystals. However, it turns out science was beaten to the punch: a recent paper (PDF) suggests Islamic architecture developed similar tilings centuries earlier.

Phylotaxis is pretty. And trippy. It's pretty trippy.

kirkaracha — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 14:05:08 -0800

Phylotaxis, created by Jonathan Harris for Seed magazine, is "an exploration of the space where science meets culture." In other words, a groovy Flash visualization of photographs, "quivering with Brownian Motion." (more info)

The so-called Golden Ratio

stbalbach — Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:47:07 -0800

A good article on the so-called Golden Ratio.

lbergstr — Mon, 15 Apr 2002 17:00:54 -0800

The golden section (math, graphics) is an important relation used by artists and mathematicians, among others. I'm curious if any of you have good examples of recent use.