Numbers in Nature is a thinking person's exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. It's a combination of simple arithmetic and advance mathematics. Throw in some spirals and other twists and turns and you've got it.
"It looks at all the fascinating mathematical patterns that surround us in the natural world every day. I think it's a lot of things people do not know how to look for and if you come to the exhibit you'll never look at the world the same again," John Beckman, director of exhibit design and development, said.
Once again, the MSI has created a hands on exhibit designed to teach the ever repeating patterns of nature. For instance, the mathematics of music and how our bodies are so symmetrical. Our wingspan is the same as our height.
You don't have to be good at mathematics to enjoy this exhibit. All you have to do is look around you, look at yourself and look at nature.
For instance something called fractal branching demonstrates how the growth and spreading of a treetop is very closely related to us.
"A tree. A tree exhibits fractal branching as it grows. But so do weeds and so does your own body when you think about the way your veins flow from your heart when they're big all the way down onto your fingertips," Beckman said.
The highlight of the exhibit is the mirror maze: endless mirrors and endless hallways and endless confusion. It's all about mathematics.
"The math behind the maze is relatively simple. You put a bunch of equilateral triangles chambers together of the same size. Some of the arches with mirrors and some of them without and you create the infinity effects that are very hard to find your way through," Beckman said.
Numbers in Nature is a permanent exhibit.
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/numbers-in-nature/
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637