Stalagmites adhere to a single mathematical rule, scientists discover
Scientists have discovered that all stalagmites growing from cave floors follow a mathematical rule that explains how these mineral formations develop into different shapes.
The new mathematical descriptions could help scientists extract more accurate data about past climate conditions, the researchers noted in a study.
"It turns out that the rich diversity of stalagmite shapes can be explained by one simple parameter,"
study co-author Piotr Szymczak, a physicist at the University of Warsaw, said in a statement.
"This is a rare case where the beauty we see in nature corresponds directly to a clean mathematical law."
Author's summary: Scientists discover a mathematical rule for stalagmite growth.