Of Corals and the Cosmos - A Story of Hyperbolic Space

Explore the fascinating intersection of nature, mathematics, and geometry in this 52-minute lecture by Margaret Wertheim. Discover how hyperbolic geometry manifests in the natural world through corals, cactuses, and lettuce leaves, showcasing swooping, curving, and crenelated forms. Learn about the contrast between nature's long-standing use of hyperbolic space and humans' centuries-long struggle to prove its existence. Delve into the biological manifestations of this alternative geometric concept and gain insights into how it differs from the Euclidean geometry taught in schools.

Margaret Wertheim