Mathematician Steven Strogatz shares the wonder and joy of discovering how math can uncover patterns in nature. He’s explored the hidden synchronization found in the natural world and wrote a book titled “Sync!” which delves into this fascinating subject. He also published an article called, “Synchronization of Pulse-Coupled Biological Oscillators.”
Math has an incredible way of revealing patterns that are invisible to the naked eye, showing us a hidden universe within our everyday lives that only math can unveil. Those who understand math can step behind the curtain into this world full of intricate and beautiful patterns. One remarkable phenomenon is the way fireflies can synchronize their flashing. In certain regions, fireflies don’t flash randomly; instead, they create massive, synchronized displays as if choreographed like a dance troupe. It’s a stunning example of how seemingly simple creatures can create such coordinated beauty.
This synchronization is not just a natural anomaly but a profound question in science about how order arises from chaos. Amazingly, this synchronization is a math problem instead of a biology one. The work done on understanding how fireflies sync has even influenced technology, helping engineers develop distributed computing and sensor networks. This demonstrates the transcendent nature of math, as patterns can emerge similarly across different domains like fireflies, sleep cycles, and technology.
Specialists in these fields may not see the connections, but mathematicians, like birds soaring above, can perceive these patterns at an abstract level. Abstraction in math removes the specifics, allowing us to see the common patterns and connections that bind different phenomena. That’s the beauty of mathematics—it’s a subject where hidden patterns come to light.
