<ul><li>Roses have been cultivated for thousands of years, but the physical mechanism behind the shape of their petals has remained a mystery.</li><li>Researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem conducted theoretical modeling and experiments with synthetic disc 'petals' to understand the formation of cusps on rose petals.</li><li>They found that the cusps on rose petals are a result of a geometric frustration mechanism called Mainardi-Codazzi-Peterson incompatibility.</li><li>This research could have applications in areas like soft robotics and spacecraft components, while also enhancing our understanding of nature's balance between growth and geometry.</li></ul>

The mechanics behind rose petal shapes revealed

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