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/sci/ - Science & Math

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4884784 No.4884784 [Reply] [Original]

Why are hexagons common in sci-fi depictions of emerging biotech?

>> No.4884788

A grid of hexagons is more interesting than a grid of squares.

>> No.4884791

Because the most commonly referenced compounds in early level organic chemistry books are benzene and cyclohexane and different permutations of them.

>> No.4884795
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4884795

because hexagons are the shape of the future. you'll see, it will happen.

hexagons as far as the eye can see! hexagons 20 stories tall blotting out the skyline! hexagon cars bringing little hexagon shaped people to their jobs manufacturing yet more hexagons!!

it will be glorious

>> No.4884798

they are a symbol for stuff nature does better than humans, and how humans could improve themselves when looking at nature and how people who look at nature are smarter than people just think inside their boxes.

>> No.4884799

BEEEEEEES

>> No.4884800

>>4884784

I'm not a scientist by any means, but if I would wager it's because of chemical compounds representative of carbon? I remember in high school that we drew diagrams that looked like those. Maybe?

>> No.4884804

>>4884800
You're right, see
>>4884800

>> No.4884809

>>4884804
Wonder how I've made it this far being borderline retarded, I meant to link to >>4884791

>> No.4884827

>>4884809

Thanks bro. This has actually sparked in interest in chemistry for me again.

>> No.4884829
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4884829

Because graphene.

>> No.4884834

>>4884827
That's the best response I've ever received.

>> No.4884838

>>4884829
HEEEEEXXXAAAGGGGOOOONNNNSSSS!!!

>> No.4884842

Because hexagons make an appealing pattern that is complicated enough to look "advanced" and not so complicated as to appear a mess.

>> No.4884844

cuz they have two more sides than squares, and squares are the gayest polygon known to math. future can't be gay, brah

>> No.4884854

>>4884834

I try to keep the asshole level down in /sci/. Sometimes I feel it's just me and other non-scientists though.

>> No.4884859

>>4884854
I meant I was glad to see I helped instill an interest in chemistry in somebody.

>> No.4884862

>>4884859

I know, but normally I get a response like "herp derp OP can't into chemistry or physics".

>> No.4884876

Because hexagons are the strongest structure know to man.

Even the fucking bees know this.

>> No.4884934

I think this is a great question, OP;
we do seem to have a lot of respect (in some arenas) for hexagonal forms.

here's how I see it:
a hexagon is simple (regular, symmetrical, in 2D), appealing (obtuse angles), practical (occupying space, rigidity, low materials) and familiar (in 2D).

Rectangles in 2D space seem archaic (perhaps we perceive their weaknesses out of real experience with breaking), but in 3D hugely practical and efficient.
Hexagons seem to be an upgrade of packing and storage efficiency (resilient, efficient, flexible) and are new to most of our applications, so newness is taken to be an improvement, too.

But the next appealing shape -- circles -- gets lots more qualities from our psychology.
It is spiritual, whole, about oneness and universe and tons of other qualities.

So, maybe look at it this way --
where a rectangle is the most basic storage shape, and a circle the most elegant and perfect, a hexagon is between those.

>> No.4884964

It's the largest shape that can fill up every space on a plane.

>> No.4884971

>>4884829
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene#Potential_applications

On that topic...

>Graphene oxide membranes have been shown to be impermeable to all gases including helium, while simultaneously allowing water vapor to pass through the membrane as though no barrier were there.

I cannot into chemistry. How in God's name does that work?

>> No.4884986
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4884986

>>4884971
I am absolutely sure that is incorrect, because water vapor is a gas.

>> No.4884989

>>4884971
Hydrogen (in the water) might get along better than other atoms in squeezing through tight spaces.

At that scale, these atoms and molecules don't really have physical, rigid shape and boundaries so much as they have "structure" that interacts with other atoms and shifts as it does so.

>> No.4884992

>>4884971
>>4884986
Here's the arxiv.
http://arxiv.org/abs/1112.3488

>> No.4884996

>>4884992
>We attribute these seemingly incompatible observations to a low-friction flow of a monolayer of water through two dimensional capillaries formed by closely spaced graphene sheets. Diffusion of other molecules is blocked by reversible narrowing of the capillaries in low humidity and/or by their clogging with water.

>> No.4885018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5rWmGe0HBI

watch the full episode, the whole series is great