One of the members of the Boston Malacological Society showed a book he had
discovered, "The Algorithmic Beauty of Sea Shells (Virtual Laboratory)" by
Hans Meinhardt.  The book discusses not WHY shell have their patterns but
HOW these patterns might be generated.  From Amazon.com's listing of the
book:
 
"Mathematical models and advanced computer-generated images are used to
explain and illustrate structural growth patterns of seashells in nature.
This fascinating and beautifully illustrated book conveys the intuitive
appeal and the "touch of magic" that accompany the current research. A
diskette, packaged with the book, contains the algorithms and simulations
necessary to replicate the results. 150 illustrations."
 
The full description can be found at:
 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0387578420/7882-2559548-645910
 
It is available from several Barnes & Noble bookstores in the Boston area
for $30-$35 and from Amazon.com on the web for $50.
 
I think it's an interesting book and that others on this list might want to
know about it.
 
 
Rant on off-topic posts follows:
 
I would prefer that posts to conch-L be kept on-topic, i.e. no flying pigs,
"amusing" stories, virus alerts, etc.  There are more than enough other
mailing lists for those who want humor.  As others have suggested, those
who want to discuss non shell related things can banter back and forth
between themselves by private email.  Suggesting to those who aren't
interested in such things that they just delete off topic message is
similar to the arrogant response of email spammers (who push chain letters,
MLM scams, and sex sites) who also tell those who are tired of such junk
filling up their email boxes that they can simply delete it.  I subscribe
to several high volume mailing lists and it does take a finite amount of
time to download an article and to open it before one can "hit the delete
key" and this time adds up and it's a waste of most people's time.  Conch-L
is a mailing list to discuss shell related subjects - anything else is
off-topic and doesn't belong.
 
 
--
Ed Foster
[log in to unmask]