XForce23 t1_jeg109i wrote on March 31, 2023 at 7:12 PM Reply to TIL: honeycombs start out circular, and the surface tension of the beeswax pulls them into hexagons as it solidifies, because it is the most energetically favorable conformation. by craigdahlke "most energetically favorable conformation" = easiest shape to achieve tessellation in other words. Achieves the most area with the smallest perimeter and does not waste any space in between each shape Permalink 36
XForce23 t1_jeg109i wrote
Reply to TIL: honeycombs start out circular, and the surface tension of the beeswax pulls them into hexagons as it solidifies, because it is the most energetically favorable conformation. by craigdahlke
"most energetically favorable conformation" = easiest shape to achieve tessellation in other words. Achieves the most area with the smallest perimeter and does not waste any space in between each shape