What Shape Is a Snowflake? Magical Numbers in Nature

Think of the stripes of a zebra and the complexities of a spider¿s web. Think of a snowflake¿ These are natural patterns that have been recognized for centuries, and they can all be accounted for mathematically. In this enlightening book, Ian Stewart shows how life on Earth develops not simply from the outworkings of genetic processes, but also from the principles of mathematics. The result is a visually compelling guide to the links between mathematics and the natural world ¿ a beautiful journey through the fields of science, mathematics, history and art.