New research by University of Alberta scientists shows that one movement started by a single individual ripples through the entire group of animals and helps them form intricate and complicated ...

Ever wondered how leopards wear perfect dots or zebra's stripes? Scientists now know that patterns are not random at all. They are guided by nature’s chemistry, mathematics and tiny skin cells. These ...

There are many purposes that spots and stripes serve in nature, but how they form has been more of a mystery to scientists. Now, researchers have advanced their breakthrough theory – and it could help ...

Nature follows mathematical rules and creates repeating patterns across completely different organisms and environments. These patterns appear so consistently that scientists can predict them, and ...

A thought experiment can help visualize the challenge of achieving distinctive color patterns. Imagine gently adding a drop of blue and red dye to a cup of water. The drops will slowly disperse ...

More than 70 years ago, mathematician Alan Turing proposed a mechanism that explained how patterns could emerge from bland uniformity. Scientists are still using his model—and adding new twists—to ...

A team has identified several factors to help answer a fundamental ecological question: why is there a ridiculous abundance of species some places on earth and a scarcity in others? What factors, ...

More than 70 years ago, mathematician Alan Turing proposed a mechanism that explained how patterns could emerge from bland uniformity. Scientists are still using his model—and adding new twists—to ...

Nature’s canvas is full of awe-inspiring and astonishing designs, some of which can be found in animals with remarkable facial expressions. These designs can be used for functions such as ...