Strength through Curvature

Writing for Wired, Aatish Bhatia explains Gauss's Theorema Egregium (Latin for excellent or remarkable theorem) and how familiar objects derive strength from their curvature. 

"Gauss’s remarkable theorem, the one which I like to imagine made him giggle with joy," Bhatia writes, "is that an ant living on a surface can work out its curvature without ever having to step outside the surface, just by measuring distances and doing some math."

Bhatia's generously illustrated piece will have you getting pizza into a "fold hold" and stomping on halved oranges. You'll look at Pringles and blades of grass differently. You'll stand on empty soda cans and squeeze eggs and corrugate printer paper...

Read the essay.