The shape of an egg is something that has fascinated humankind since the time we first encountered it. From an analytical point of view, it has continued to be of interest to mathematicians, engineers, and biologists.
Until now, however, there hasn’t been a mathematical equation that describes the shape of any egg. Researchers from the University of Kent have sorted that out, having discovered a universal mathematical formula that can describe any bird’s egg existing in nature. The findings have been published in a paper titled “Egg and math: introducing a universal formula for egg shape” in
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences in August 2021.
Perfect shape
The egg-shape has come to be highly regarded and is even hailed by many as the “perfect shape” as it has evolved into something that is large enough to incubate an embryo, but small enough at the same time to exit the bird’s body in an efficient way. An egg does not roll away once it has been laid, has a sound structure that allows it to bear weight, and serves as the beginning of life for many species.
The new universal formula for the shape of any egg is based on four parameters: egg length, maximum breadth, shift of the vertical-axis, and the diameter at one quarter of the egg length. Based on these, the shape of any bird’s egg in nature can now be described.
Plenty of possibilities
Apart from providing a solution to a long-standing problem and inspiring further investigations with the egg as a research object, scientists believe that this breakthrough could have widespread applications. The possibilities are literally endless as the egg-shape can be utilised in food research, mechanical engineering, architecture, and aeronautics, among countless other fields.
Picture Credit : Google
