Although they appear to be simple natural structures, honeycombs conceal a lesson in pure geometry. Each cell is an almost perfect hexagon, repeated over and over again. But why did bees choose this shape? The answer is not aesthetic, but deeply functional.
We have all seen honeycombs in documentaries, photographs or even in the kitchen when we open a jar of honey with natural honeycomb. That mesh of identical, orderly cells looks like a work of art. But far from being random, its design responds to a practical need: to store honey as efficiently as possible.
The hexagon is one of three regular shapes that can completely cover a plane without leaving any gaps (along with the equilateral triangle and the square). However, it is the only one that maximises the area covered while minimising the perimeter, which means more space with less material. For bees, this is vital: producing wax takes a lot of energy, so they need to save as much as possible.
In addition, the design allows for even weight distribution and structural strength. A study by Thomas Hales (1999) mathematically proved that the hexagon is the most efficient way to divide a plane into equal areas using the least amount of edge. Evolution, then, has led bees to adopt this optimal solution without the need for formal mathematical knowledge.
The use of the hexagon by bees has inspired numerous fields outside the natural world. In architecture, for example, hexagonal structural panels are used in lightweight roofs, modular structures, and flooring designs, as they allow loads to be distributed efficiently and large areas to be covered with a minimum of material. Architects and designers know that this shape offers stability, lightness, and adaptability.
In the world of industrial design, hexagonal packaging is increasingly being used for sustainable products: it allows for better use of space in transport and storage and offers large surfaces for labelling without the need for traditional rectangular shapes.
Furthermore, in technology and science, hexagons are present in molecular structures such as benzene, in telescopes such as the James Webb (whose golden mirrors are hexagonal to optimise the light-gathering area without leaving gaps), and in materials such as aluminium honeycombs used in aircraft and high-performance bicycles. In all these cases, the choice of the hexagon is due to the same reason as in beehives: maximum structural efficiency with minimum weight and material.
Even in art and visual culture, hexagonal patterns appear in Islamic art, mandalas, and graphic elements that seek to evoke order, nature, and perfection. Hexagonal repetition creates visual balance and subconsciously recalls harmonious natural structures.
The case of the beehive is therefore much more than a zoological curiosity: it is a universal geometric model that nature discovered before us, but which humans have been able to observe and apply. It reminds us that geometry is not an artificial invention, but a principle deeply rooted in the way the world is constructed.
Through this video from a TED Talk we can discover why bees use this hexagonal design to make their honeycombs and why they are so efficient.
References:
Apicoltura Laterza. (s.f.). ¿Por qué las abejas construyen celdas hexagonales? Recuperado el 30 de abril de 2025, de https://www.apicolturalaterza.com/es/por-que-las-abejas-construyen-celdas-hexagonales
BBC Ideas. (2022, 15 de febrero). ¿Por qué las abejas adoran los hexágonos? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUSPTb005QI
Hales, T. C. (2001). The Honeycomb Conjecture. The Mathematical Intelligencer, 24(2), 29–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03025396
Comments
Post a Comment