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All Shapes in One Equation?

Posted by chrisd on from the coolness dept.

asadodetira writes ""One simple equation can generate a vast diversity of natural shapes, a Belgian biologist has discovered. Nature has the story. "The Superformula" sounds impressive, apparently its only for shapes, i thought you could solve lots of PDE's or tensor integrals or something with this, but not, it's only for shapes."

1 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Don't be so condescending... by robbo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I can decide which comment to reply to so I'll just top-level post. Yes, polar coordinate equations are quite simple, and yes, there is prior art for a variety of shape generating equations (for example, superquadrics)... That being said, the fact that this research has been published in Nature is indicative that his work has generated at least *some* excitement among mathematicians. Sometimes the most compelling mathematical constructs are also the simplest. e=mc^2 anyone?

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    So long, and thanks for all the Phish