Articles

Scientific explorations of spirals and convergence phenomena in mathematics, physics, biology, astronomy, computer science and complex systems.

9 articles · Biology

Biology

20–27 min

Cardiac Spiral Waves: How Electrical Reentry Sustains Arrhythmia

Every serious arrhythmia conceals an electrical spiral rotating indefinitely in the myocardium. This article explores the physics of reentrant waves, from the FitzHugh-Nagumo model to realistic ionic models, and the strategies for breaking these lethal spirals.

Jun 26, 2026Read →

Biology

16–22 min

Phyllotaxis: How a Plant Organizes Space

The spirals of a sunflower are not drawn by a central plan. They emerge from the successive position of new organs around a meristem, under the effect of local growth and space constraints.

Jun 18, 2026Read →

Biology

17–23 min

DNA: Why the Molecule Forms a Double Helix

DNA is a helix, not a flat spiral. Its shape results from the geometry of nucleotides, base stacking, hydrogen bonds and the aqueous environment.

Jun 23, 2026Read →

Biology

16–22 min

Mollusk Shells: Growing Without Changing Shape

A shell grows by adding material at its opening. When proportions remain stable, its shape can be modeled by a logarithmic spiral, but each species has its own parameters.

Jun 6, 2026Read →

Biology

15–20 min

Meristems: The Cellular Workshop of Plant Growth

Apical meristems are the growth zones of plants. The way these cells divide and organize produces spiral arrangements, governed by the same equations as phyllotaxis.

Apr 28, 2026Read →

Biology

17–23 min

Alpha Helix: How a Protein Chain Stabilizes Itself

The alpha helix is one of the two fundamental secondary structures of proteins. It forms because hydrogen bonds between amino acids spaced four residues apart create a helical geometry that minimizes free energy.

Apr 24, 2026Read →

Biology

14–19 min

Horns and Tusks: The Geometry of Asymmetric Growth

The ram's horns, the mammoth's tusks, the narwhal's tusk grow in a spiral. The reason is biomechanical: helical growth distributes mechanical stresses optimally.

Apr 20, 2026Read →

Biology

13–18 min

Migratory Raptors: Climb in Circles, Travel in Lines

Migratory raptors use rising columns of warm air to gain altitude without expending energy. They spiral upward in these columns, then glide in a straight line to the next thermal.

Apr 16, 2026Read →

Biology

16–22 min

Bacterial Flagella: Turning Rotation into Propulsion

The bacterial flagellum is a rigid helix driven by a rotary molecular motor. The helical geometry converts rotation into translation with remarkable efficiency.

Apr 12, 2026Read →