Nature is full of mesmerizing patterns. These patterns challenge scientists to think how evolution could have reached such specific and complex processes. Thus, it is no surprise that many people invested their lives in understanding patterns and finding “coincidences” in the wild world.
One of these people is Rafael Araujo. Illustrator and architect in Venezuela, Rafael dedicated 40 years of his life to draw nature patterns by hand. His tools are a pencil, a compass, a ruler and a protractor.
Rafael’s drawings are based on one pattern: PHI. After learning about the Golden Ratio, Rafael could see its geometric formula appearing in many different sides of nature, creating beautiful designs. The Golden Ratio ratio equals 1.618 became the essence of his work as well as his identity as an artist. Rafael life goal is to inspire people and spread his love for our natural environment.
However, not all patterns in nature follow a number, a ratio. Instead, some of them are base on many numbers, on many different combinations. If we compare organisms searching for shared traces, we are looking for patterns evolution left behind. A quick look at species tree of life can reveal evolutionary “coincidences” that connect the past of our planet with assumptions for the future.
Thinking about our planet, living beings are not the only ones subjected to patterns. Oceans are highly susceptible to air currents and the Earth magnetic field. Ocean currents combine several patterns that have the capability to affect ecological systems as well as our planet’s climate.
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