Helicone math: what secrets of nature and numbers does it unlock?

2025-01-04

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Helicone math(s), a video I've been meaning to do forever. Bought my first helicone in 2008 and keep showing its magic to people all the time :)

0:00 Intro

2:48 Helicone lab!

9:41 Fibonacci Christmas tree

12:28 Number scope

17:22 Nuts and bolts

23:41 Fractional angles

27:34 3, 22/7, ...

34:07 Nature’s numbers

40:49 Best Fibonacci fractions

42:39 Original Helicone Puzzle

45:01 Microscope zooming spectacle

46:13 Thanks!!

John Edmarks website with sections dedicated to his helicone and presentations by him about his work:

https://www.johnedmark.com/

http://www.johnedmark.com/#/rotating/

http://www.johnedmark.com/talks

If you want to buy one of these google "lollipopter".

The earlier Mathologer videos about the golden ratio and the Fibonacci numbers in nature referred to in this video:

The fabulous Fibonacci flower formula /youtube/video/_GkxCIW46to

Infinite fractions and the most irrational number /youtube/video/CaasbfdJdJg

Here is a bare bones version of the microscope: https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/PhyllotaxisExplained/

The technical term for Wolfram's spikey is Rhombic Hexecontahedron.

There is also a plant called Heliconia. However it looks nothing like the Helicone :)

Idea for the real-life Fibonacci Christmas tree: individually addressable LEDs. See, for example, this intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOimwthcdqo&feature=youtu.be

Mathologer junior is my son Karl and the Mathologer "junioress" behind the camera is my daughter Lara. Thanks Lara and Karl! And in this video we are paying a visit to my office at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Music: Christmas tree by Zac Nelson, Tea time by Ty Simon and I promise by Ian Post,

T-shirt: Pretty sure it's this one https://www.etsy.com/listing/720022200/pi-christmas-math-science-algebra-gift

Enjoy!

Burkard