But as we learn more about nature, where so much is geometrically patterned and/or based on significant numbers, Baron says, “Pythagoreanism is being rediscovered in physics.” This 1913 illustration shows Pythagoras giving a lecture to a women’s group. 490 BC), best known for the Pythagorean theorem. It was advanced by, among others, the ancient philosopher Pythagoras (ca. The idea that our world is fundamentally mathematical is not a new one. Sam Baron, “ Pythagoras’ revenge: humans didn’t invent mathematics, it’s what the world is made of” at The Conversation (November 21, 2021)
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When a cicada with a 13-year life cycle comes out of the ground, none of its predators will be out of the ground, because none of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 divides evenly into 13.
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What if predators have life cycles (or population dips and spikes) of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 years? One explanation appeals to the fact that 13 and 17 are prime numbers. Why is it 13 and 17 years? Why not 12 and 14? Or 16 and 18? Then, every 13 or 17 years (depending on the subspecies), the cicadas emerge in great swarms for a period of around two weeks.
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There are two subspecies of North American periodical cicadas that live most of their lives in the ground. A 17-year cicada, Magicicada, Robert Evans Snodgrass, 1930/public domain