Susan D’Agostino ’91 on Researchers Studying the Mathematical Efficiency of Emperor Penguin Huddles for Insights on the Health of Penguin Colonies
Lars Lehnert / 500px / Getty
“Penguins seem to know what mathematicians learned long ago: The densest packing of shapes on a plane is a hexagonal grid,” writes D’Agostino, in The Atlantic. “Huddles typically last a few hours, during which the penguins may cycle through multiple rotations from the huddle’s cold exterior to its warm interior. In the process, each individual prioritizes his own warmth, yet the huddle’s heat is shared by all.”
Post Date: 09-02-2020
Post Date: 09-02-2020