On my roomie Prakash's recommendation, have been reading a book called "Fermat's Last Theorem" by Simon Singh. This book deals with how the world was baffled by a seemingly simple equation,
X ^N + Y ^ N = Z ^ N ( Put N instead of 2 in our familiar Pythagoras theorem).
This had kept the mathematicians hooked for over three centuries from Fermat's days, until this was recently solved by Andrew Wiles from Princeton.
Mid way through the book, describing the properties of prime numbers, the author says an example of prime numbers applied in the process of evolution, which makes us question if insects are just insects.
The periodical cicadas are insects found in North America, which have an extended and unique life cycle, which begins underground where they stay as nymphs for 17 years, after which they emerge in vast numbers and live for a few weeks and die. The choice of 17 years is where the cicadas stump us.
There are parasites which have life cycles of 2 and 3 years, which live by feeding on the Cicadas. By choosing a lengthy life cycle of 17 or 13 years (two varieties of cicadas), they ensure that there is no parasite that is also coming to life in the same year as they do.
How did an insect come to know that there is something called a prime number and that they can increase their chances of survival by just choosing 13 and17 instead of a 12 and 16. More importantly how do they keep track of the time of 17 years, when they stay underground without the sun and season to keep track of time?
X ^N + Y ^ N = Z ^ N ( Put N instead of 2 in our familiar Pythagoras theorem).
This had kept the mathematicians hooked for over three centuries from Fermat's days, until this was recently solved by Andrew Wiles from Princeton.
Mid way through the book, describing the properties of prime numbers, the author says an example of prime numbers applied in the process of evolution, which makes us question if insects are just insects.
The periodical cicadas are insects found in North America, which have an extended and unique life cycle, which begins underground where they stay as nymphs for 17 years, after which they emerge in vast numbers and live for a few weeks and die. The choice of 17 years is where the cicadas stump us.
There are parasites which have life cycles of 2 and 3 years, which live by feeding on the Cicadas. By choosing a lengthy life cycle of 17 or 13 years (two varieties of cicadas), they ensure that there is no parasite that is also coming to life in the same year as they do.
How did an insect come to know that there is something called a prime number and that they can increase their chances of survival by just choosing 13 and17 instead of a 12 and 16. More importantly how do they keep track of the time of 17 years, when they stay underground without the sun and season to keep track of time?
2 comments:
mmm.interestin theory :)
welcome saaar...
interesting stuff..
keep writing..
Post a Comment