Sometimes nature mimics nature - even if it's not a conscious effort. Such is the case with a genus of stingless bees called Tetragonula, native to Southeast Asia and Australia. Their mesmerizing spiral or target-shaped hives follow the mathematical principles that shape crystals: The way these bees stack pockets of wax to form the familiar hexagonal cells in their comb is surprisingly similar to how atoms and molecules grow layer by layer to form a terraced crystal structure. Humans have even copied these design principles for their own building projects, such as in spiral ramps or multi-story parking garages.
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