Hexagons are mutually associated with bees and wasps, as both insect species build their nests using this humble six-sided shape. Anyone who stumbles upon a bee or wasp nest in nature will be greeted by rows and rows of dozens of tiny symmetrical hexagons. But these bug aesthetics are completely functional and used by the insects to store their food and raise their young. Yet for some species, the hexagon comes with a nasty catch: It isn't one-size-fits-all. Consequently hexagons of various different sizes need to be built, and yet still fit neatly within the overall nest.
How do wasps and insects solve this architectural problem? Thanks to an international team of scientists, humanity now knows the answer — and it will perhaps change the way we look at insects, and evolution, forever.
