Scientists discover a new ‘hemihelix’ shape using rubber bands

Scientists have discovered a new shape called a hemihelix, which is rarely produced in nature.

The corkscrew helix shape is one of the most common structures in nature, but hemihelices, where the direction of the spiral periodically changes direction down the spiral is far more rare.

Scientists from Harvard University studying how to fabricate new springs using rubber bands to support a cephalopod-inspired imaging project, discovered the rare hemihelix shape.

To investigate their discovery, the researchers stretched, joined, and released rubber strips, and analysed the shape-forming process, and found that the aspect ratio of the rubber strip was the determining factor as to whether the shape formed would be a helix or hemihelix.

In a study published in the journal PLoS ONE, the authors suggest that there is a critical aspect ratio, or width-to-height ratio, where the rubber strips would produce a hemihelix, with the results not previously observed because other materials would simply break when stretched in a similar fashion.

Now scientists understand how to create the hemihelices from flat parts, it may spur the development of new molecules.