Window display highlighting a snowflake's hexagonal symmetry. Montreal, Quebec, 2006.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 31, 2015
December 30, 2015
MAA 100
The Mathematical Association of America (MAA) came into existence 100 years ago today, at a meeting in Columbus, Ohio. The founding members chose the icosahedron as the symbol for the association.
This stained-glass rendering of the MAA icosahedron is in the lobby of the Edgar H. Vaughn Building, named for the grandfather of James Vaughn, president of the Vaughn Foundation, a major contributor to the 1978 fund to purchase the building to serve as MAA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Edgar H. Vaughn Building (left) is one of three adjacent historic buildings that constitute the Dolciani Mathematical Center.
Photos by I. Peterson
December 29, 2015
December 28, 2015
December 27, 2015
December 26, 2015
Triceratops in Snow
Triceratops (Uncle Beazley) in snow. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., 1982.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 25, 2015
December 24, 2015
Organ Pipes
Symmetric array of organ pipes for a Reiley organ, built in 1898. Dumbarton United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C.
See also "Organ Pipe Distributions."
Photo by I. Peterson
December 23, 2015
December 22, 2015
National Christmas Tree
National Christmas Tree on a snowy day, with the Washington Monument in the background. Washington, D.C., 1982.
See also "Skylight Fractal" and "A Field Guide to Math on the National Mall."
Photo by I. Peterson
December 21, 2015
December 20, 2015
December 19, 2015
December 18, 2015
December 17, 2015
December 16, 2015
Classic Building Symmetry
Asymmetrical lighting of a classic building design with bilateral symmetry. African Union Mission, Wisconsin Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 15, 2015
December 14, 2015
Glitter Path
A golden glitter path arising from the reflection of sunlight from the rippled surface of the water. Lake George, New York, 1980.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 13, 2015
December 12, 2015
Parabolic Detection
Parabolic antenna of radio telescope, Green Bank, West Virginia, 1977.
Photos by I. Peterson
December 11, 2015
Daisy Spirals
Spirals at the center of a daisy.
This daisy has 21 white petals and a yellow central disk of tubular florets.
See "Fermat's Natural Spirals."
Photos by Kenneth Peterson
December 10, 2015
Quarthead
Quarthead by Bob Sidenberg. Mathematical Art Exhibit, Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, 2011.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 9, 2015
Gordian Knot Theory
The Gordian Geometric Knot (poster for colloquium on geometric knot theory) by Karl H. Hofmann. Mathematical Art Exhibit, Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, 2011.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 8, 2015
December 7, 2015
December 6, 2015
Clumping Cheerios
Cheerios floating in milk tend to clump together, thanks to surface tension effects (attracting meniscus effect).
For more about surface tension, see "Climbing a Watery Slope."
Photo by I. Peterson
December 5, 2015
December 4, 2015
Triangle Tree
Bald cypress tree with a triangular profile, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.
Photo by I. Peterson
December 3, 2015
Vapor Trail
A vapor trail begins to fragment in a pattern reflecting prevailing air currents, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.
Photos by I. Peterson
December 2, 2015
Monticello Octagons
Octagonal compass rose on the ceiling of the Northeast Portico was connected to a weather vane on the roof, Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia.
View of Monticello, with octagonal dome. The octagon was one of Thomas Jefferson's favorite architectural shapes.
Photos by I. Peterson
December 1, 2015
November 30, 2015
Folding Math
Mathematical origami models created by mathematician Thomas C. Hull.
Tom Hull at work, Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, 2007.
For more mathematical origami, see "Pleated Cone" and "Folding a Klein Bottle."
Photos by I. Peterson
November 29, 2015
Ordovician Catenoids
Ordovician Pore by Tony Cragg features objects that look like catenoids. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Photos by I. Peterson
November 28, 2015
Cracked Globe
Globe inscribed with lines of latitude and longitude, Alumni Plaza, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee.
Photo by I. Peterson