I feel like I just got goatsed by Saturn
this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2025
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It is because this is how these things do be. QED.
That’s actually the prevailing theory. A hexagonal shape is the path of least resistance for the wind patterns on Saturn. It probably really is that simple.
If only we could see other natural hexagons somewhere
Unrelated though - that's a packing efficiency thing.
I don't think it's completely unrelated though. I don't claim to understand what's actually going but seems to me that whatever winds are whipping about there could create fronts that are sort of similar as pressure as what happens with honeycombs. In one it's just the cells themselves create the pressure whereas here it's the giant planetwide storms.
Idk.
As a an interplanetary stormologist. Or a geometrisist.
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Classic application of the "it is what it is" lemma.
You get hexagons as well when you drill a countersink bit into plywood. Something something layers.
Did not know that so I looked on Google.
AI Overview That statement is incorrect. Drilling a countersink bit into plywood (or any wood) produces a smooth, conical hole, not a hexagonal one.
Followed by every article talking about why the bits make hexagons, with videos and pictures.
Haha I love AI! We're so close to AGI I swear bro!
Interesting, I've only had the hexagon thing happen to me in plywood, but it seems it can happen in regular wood as well.
Presumably to do with vibrations at a harmonic of the RPM?
Yeah apparently it has to do with the bit sort of sliding in behind the holes it carves out with its blades. Doesn't happen with a regular drill bit because those don't have sticky-out parts.
Incredible.
When my drill bits are super, super dull, they make smooth triangles. Like triangular shaped holes, with no true points or flat edges. If I get crooked while laying on it and drilling (not uncommon with a dull-ass bit) two lobes will stand out more clearly than the side I'm not leaning towards.
Not hexagons, and sure as hell not cones.
Now if they're sharp, it's just a fucking hole. Circular. Like they're supposed to be
Buy me new drill bits. for science
Because the fox made it into the henhouse.
Now all the hexagon.
This was the topic of an awesome old web comic strip, I believe it was from smbc. It was a debate of two where one would simply state the existence of the hexagon, with increasing amounts of slurs. Banger.
Those are not slurs lol
Yup found it: https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2010-07-06
There's an xkcd one also, but not as funny: https://xkcd.com/2513/?ref=refind
Isn't it obvious? Someone put a hex on it