Why does nature prefer symmetry?

"Evolution is searching in the space of algorithms, not in the space of shapes. That's how it does stuff. Once you realize that, it opens up a very different way of thinking about what evolution is doing. And symmetry is just one of the consequences of th

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

Symmetry is a pervasive criterion for beauty in art and science alike. Symmetrical shapes abound in nature. But why? A prevailing assumption is that it must afford some advantage in terms of fitness – nature must have tried various shapes and those that are symmetrical are somehow more useful. But Oxford physicist Dr. Ar…