HONEYBEES hexagons

HONEYBEES (Apis mellifera) construct their honeycombs with wax secreted from glands found on the underside of their abdomen. The honeycomb is regarded as an engineering marvel. Why?

Consider: For centuries, mathematicians suspected that partitions in the shape of hexagons were better than equilateral triangles or squares​—or any other shape—​for maximizing space with the least amount of building material. But they could not fully explain why. In 1999, Professor Thomas C. Hales provided mathematical proof for the advantage of what he termed “honeycomb conjecture.” He demonstrated that regular hexagons are the best way to divide a space into equal parts with minimal structural support.

By using hexagonal cells, bees can make the best use of all the space available to them, produce a light but sturdy honeycomb with a minimum amount of wax, and store the maximum amount of honey in a given space. Not surprisingly, the honeycomb has been described as “an architectural masterpiece.”

Today, scientists mimic the bees’ honeycomb to create structures that are both resilient and space efficient. Aircraft engineers, for example, use panels patterned after the honeycomb to build planes that are stronger and lighter and thus use less fuel.

What do you think? Did the superior structure of the honeycomb come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

Daz wrote:

HONEYBEES (Apis mellifera) construct their honeycombs with wax secreted from glands found on the underside of their abdomen. The honeycomb is regarded as an engineering marvel. Why?

Consider: For centuries, mathematicians suspected that partitions in the shape of hexagons were better than equilateral triangles or squares​—or any other shape—​for maximizing space with the least amount of building material. But they could not fully explain why. In 1999, Professor Thomas C. Hales provided mathematical proof for the advantage of what he termed “honeycomb conjecture.” He demonstrated that regular hexagons are the best way to divide a space into equal parts with minimal structural support.

By using hexagonal cells, bees can make the best use of all the space available to them, produce a light but sturdy honeycomb with a minimum amount of wax, and store the maximum amount of honey in a given space. Not surprisingly, the honeycomb has been described as “an architectural masterpiece.”

Today, scientists mimic the bees’ honeycomb to create structures that are both resilient and space efficient. Aircraft engineers, for example, use panels patterned after the honeycomb to build planes that are stronger and lighter and thus use less fuel.

What do you think? Did the superior structure of the honeycomb come about by evolution? Or was it designed?

What do I think Daz I think here Bees are smarter than I'm I'm & I don't worry about the evolution side of things there or if honeycomb was designed etc. Do know thou bee's are in trouble on the home front & that means big, big trouble for how we in some ways produce things on the eating side of life for us humans. & take care.

bee's are in trouble on the home front say Knackered. true, and that is also down to man kind.

Daz wrote:

bee's are in trouble on the home front say Knackered. true, and that is also down to man kind.

That's true Daz something good comes along in nature & what do us humans do do our very best to destroy it as such.

I think there are too possible scenarios.

God created the bee male and female, instilled the ability to build a hive that was ideal for the life intended for them, gave them the ability to make honey to see them through the Winter and in doing so pollinate plant life, (without which, as we are finding out, we would have of no fruit etc;)

Or, by a means of trial and error over billions of years they evolved from what?

Without going into detail the odds of the latter being a possibility is beyond expression.

Take your pick.

Regards.

MISTY wrote:

I think there are too possible scenarios.

God created the bee male and female, instilled the ability to build a hive that was ideal for the life intended for them, gave them the ability to make honey to see them through the Winter and in doing so pollinate plant life, (without which, as we are finding out, we would have of no fruit etc;)

Or, by a means of trial and error over billions of years they evolved from what?

Without going into detail the odds of the latter being a possibility is beyond expression.

Take your pick.

Regards.

You know me Misty I'm easy, easy etc if God thou     unfortunately created me here it wouldn't have been much trouble somehow I suspect to maybe create a simple bee type of thing .