As we know from the school geometry course, symmetry can be of one of three types: central, axial and symmetry relative to any plane. Central is the symmetry of an object with respect to a point (the simplest example is any circle), axial is symmetry with respect to a straight line, and the last kind of proportionality (with respect to a plane) is also known to us as mirror symmetry.
Geometry with mathematics gives us clear criteria by which we can unambiguously determine which object can be considered symmetrical and which is not. However, in addition to boring formulations, there is another parameter that a person singles out almost unmistakably - this is beauty.
Even the ancient Greeks noticed that symmetrical objects are inherent in harmony and beauty. The German mathematician G. Weil once wrote the work “Etudes on Symmetry”, in which he claims that symmetry and beauty are closely related to each other. According to him, what is considered symmetrical has a good ratio of proportions, and symmetry itself is a special type of consistency.parts of the whole.
Mirror symmetry in geometry is often associated with regular polygons, but if you look closely, these shapes are quite common in nature. Some of them can be seen as crystals, others as simple microorganisms or viruses.
Mirror symmetry is very common in architecture. It is present in all the buildings of Ancient Egypt and the temples of ancient Greece, amphitheatres, basilicas and triumphal arches of the Romans, churches and palaces of the Renaissance, as well as in many works of modern architecture.
In nature, mirror symmetry is characteristic of animals and plants that move or grow parallel to the earth's surface, and is also often found as a reflection of the terrain in the water surface of a river, lake, etc. A vivid example of this is the colorful butterfly wings, the pattern on which matches surprisingly accurately.
And now let's turn our attention to the person. Why are some people reputed to be handsome men, while others are completely devoid of human attractiveness? British scientists led by evolutionary biologist William Brown set out to get an accurate answer to this question and conducted a study in which 37 girls and 40 young people took part (a detailed report is published in PNAS). First, scientists using a scanner created a three-dimensional three-dimensional model of the body of each of the participants in this test. The researchers then determined, using 24 parameters,how accurate the mirror symmetry of each model is. After that, each volunteer was asked to rate the attractiveness of members of the opposite sex.
The result dispelled all doubts. The experiment confirmed that the mirror symmetry of the body has a direct impact on the beauty of a person. And this is true for both men and women.
What conclusion can be drawn from this? The ideals of beauty change, but at the same time remain the same - the reason for attractiveness lies in symmetry. And this is true for everything that surrounds us in this wonderful world.
