A 500-Year-Old Secret & a 62-Million-Ton Problem

The Point by Modern Sciences - October 22, 2025

Author

Don Smith
October 22, 2025

By The Modern Sciences Team

October 22, 2025

Welcome back, Cultivators of Curiosity!


Welcome to the 42nd volume of The Point by Modern Sciences! To mark this milestone, we're exploring the connections between the past, present, and future.


We begin by traveling back 500 years to solve a puzzle encoded in Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. A stunning new study reveals how a simple triangle not only unlocks the drawing’s geometry but connects it to universal principles of nature and modern anatomy. Then, we confront a massive contemporary challenge: the 62 million tons of e-waste we generate annually. We break down the complex realities of recycling and explore why the most obvious solution isn’t always the easiest. Finally, we look to the future by tracing the origins of the modern rose. A fascinating genomic study pinpoints its ancestry in China, offering a blueprint for cultivating more resilient flowers in a changing climate. From timeless art to timely problems, we invite you to dive in.

HISTORY

Study: Da Vinci's ‘Vitruvian Man’ secret is a hidden triangle

A new study suggests the 500-year-old geometric puzzle of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man has been solved: the key, hidden in Leonardo’s notes, is a simple equilateral triangle that links the iconic drawing to modern anatomical principles and a universal mathematical ratio found in nature’s most efficient structures, revealing a prescient scientific understanding encoded within the masterpiece.



The Point:

  • Da Vinci’s hidden triangle solves a 500-year-old mystery: A reference to an "equilateral triangle" in Leonardo's notes provides the geometric key to the circle-square relationship in the Vitruvian Man.

  • The drawing anticipates modern anatomical principles: Leonardo's triangle corresponds to Bonwill's triangle, a foundational concept in modern dental anatomy that defines optimal jaw function and efficiency.

  • The artwork reflects a universal mathematical blueprint: The resulting ratio approximates the tetrahedral ratio, a constant that appears in efficient natural structures and optimal human craniofacial design.


ENGINEERING

Humans generate 62 million tonnes of e-waste each year. Here’s what happens when it’s recycled

Australians generate nearly three times the global average of e-waste, driven by a culture of constant upgrades and products designed to fail. While a complex recycling process exists to recover valuable materials, major hurdles, including consumer inconvenience, data security concerns, and high costs, mean that most of our discarded electronics still end up in landfills, creating a massive and hazardous problem.



The Point:

  • E-Waste Surge and Recycling Gap: Global e-waste reached 62 million tons in 2022 and is projected to rise to 82 million tons by 2030. Less than 25% is recycled, with most ending up in landfills, posing environmental and safety risks, such as battery explosions in garbage trucks.

  • Recycling Process and Challenges: E-waste recycling involves collection, sorting, dismantling, and material recovery, but Australia has only 20 reprocessing facilities, leading to significant exports to Asia. Challenges include consumer inconvenience, data security concerns, and high recycling costs compared to raw material prices.

  • Path Forward with Circular Economy: Australia's circular economy framework aims to double recycling rates by 2035 through business incentives and supportive policies. Local governments can facilitate recycling by establishing accessible drop-off points and offering monetary or motivational incentives.


NATURE

Study Traces the Ancestry of Roses, Revealing Two Key Origins in China

A recent study from Beijing Forestry University uncovers the origins of modern roses, tracing their ancestry to two key regions in China. Through genomic analysis, researchers identified a yellow, single-petal flower as the common ancestor of all modern roses. The study also offers insights into the genetic makeup of wild roses, paving the way for more resilient, sustainable rose varieties amidst climate change.



The Point:

  • Ancestry of modern roses: Genomic analysis reveals that today’s roses descend from a yellow, single-petal wildflower with seven leaflets, shaped by centuries of human breeding.

  • Wild roses hold key traits: As climate change shifts breeding priorities, wild rose species offer resilience, fragrance, and disease resistance critical for future cultivars.

  • China as a diversity hub: The study identifies two key centers of rose evolution in China, challenging previous assumptions that placed rose origins in Central Asia.