How Penguins Stay Cozy At -40°C

Viewing penguin colonies from a mathematical perspective helps us understand how huddling shields them from the wind and conserves each bird’s heat. This ingenious method is particularly effective near the huddle centre, where temperatures can reach up to 37.5°C.

The method of conformal mapping simplifies everything to a single equation, which means a numerical simulation of the huddle’s movement can be made.

Read more: Chalkdust

(TMN)