The golden ratio, a triumph of both mathematics and aesthetics, now takes its rightful place in the stars as scientists witness this pattern in the blinking of several stars.

Humans are hardwired to look for patterns. Perhaps patterns are seen most everywhere due to the golden ratio; a pattern seen in nature, arts, and beauty. The beauty and attraction inherent in the golden ratio is due to its simplicity.

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The golden ratio is achieved when a rectangle is divided so the ratio between the larger and smaller parts is the same between the larger part and the whole. The value of the golden ratio is 1.618.

This pattern is observed everywhere: the pattern on leaves; the shape of the mountains; the ratio in Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, and even several buildings. Now, however, it's also been witnessed in the blinking of some stars.

Four scientists took to studying a group of stars to learn about their structure and age.

Stars brighten and dim when their atmospheres expand and contract due to periodic pressure changes.

Clara Moskowitz writes in the Scientific American that "Each star pulses with a primary frequency and also shows smaller brightness fluctuations occurring on a secondary frequency."

When the scientists were studying fluctuations of certain stars, they noticed they oscillated between two frequencies that adhered to the golden ratio.

They hope this new finding suggests something about the dynamics of stars.

While the news is intriguing, scientists are skeptical about the matter. Several dismiss it as a freak occurrence.

Robert Szabo of Konkoly Observatory in Hungary told New Scientist that "in my opinion, more evidence is needed to demonstrate that it has a privileged role in the dynamics of [these] stars."

No matter what it may be, the golden ratio is just as intriguing as it always was.

It's hoped that with every new discovery of the golden ratio, we can begin to understand what this pattern means in the universe and even why there's such a pattern to begin with. 

TagsThe golden ratio, Stars, Patterns, 1.618