Latest news with #RoryMacSweeney
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Hidden Detail in Crotch Solves 500-Year-Old Leonardo Da Vinci Mystery
Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian polymath who painted the Mona Lisa, had a sophisticated geometric understanding way ahead of his time. To draw the Vitruvian Man in 1490 – an illustration of the 'ideal' human body – the Renaissance man may have relied on a mathematical ratio not formally established until the 19th century. It's one of the most iconic images of all time, and yet for more than 500 years, no one could figure out why da Vinci chose such specific proportions for the arms and legs. A London dentist thinks he's solved the mystery at last. Related: Rory Mac Sweeney has found a crucial hidden detail, tucked in the Vitruvian Man's crotch: an equilateral triangle that he thinks may explain "one of the most analyzed yet cryptic works in art history." The Vitruvian Man is partly inspired by the writings of Roman architect Vitruvius, who argued that the perfect human body should fit inside a circle and square. Da Vinci's drawing uses a square to precisely contain a 'cruciform pose', with arms outstretched and legs in. The circle, meanwhile, encompasses a posture where the arms are raised and the legs are spread. A popular explanation is that da Vinci chose the Vitruvian Man's proportions based on the Golden Ratio Theory, but the measurements don't quite match up. According to Mac Sweeney, "the solution to this geometric mystery has been hiding in plain sight". "If you open your legs… and raise your hands enough that your extended fingers touch the line of the top of your head… the space between the legs will be an equilateral triangle," da Vinci wrote in his notes for the Vitruvian Man. When Mac Sweeney did the math on this triangle, he found that the spread of the man's feet and the height of his navel created a ratio of around 1.64 to 1.65. That's very close to the tetrahedral ratio of 1.633 – a uniquely balanced geometric form, officially established in 1917. The ratio is used to establish the optimum way to pack spheres. If four spheres are connected as closely as possible into a pyramid shape, for instance, then the height to base ratio from their centers will be 1.633. Perhaps Mac Sweeney recognized the significance of that number because of a similar triangular principle used in dentistry. Imagined on the human jaw, Bonwill's triangle dictates the optimal positioning for jaw function, used since 1864. Its ratio is also 1.633. Mac Sweeney doesn't think that's a coincidence. Similar to minerals, crystals, and other biological packing systems found in nature, Mac Sweeney thinks the human jaw naturally organizes around tetrahedral geometries, which maximize mechanical efficiency. If the tetrahedral ratio is repeated around our bodies, Mac Sweeney thinks that is because "human anatomy has evolved according to geometric principles that govern optimal spatial organization throughout the universe." If Mac Sweeney is right, Da Vinci may have stumbled across a universal principle while drawing the Vitruvian Man. "The same geometric relationships that appear in optimal crystal structures, biological architectures, and Fuller's coordinate systems seem to be encoded in human proportions," writes Mac Sweeney, "suggesting that Leonardo intuited fundamental truths about the mathematical nature of reality itself." Whether other scientists agree with Mac Sweeney remains to be seen, but the fact that da Vinci mentioned the equilateral triangle in his notes suggests that what lies between the Vitruvian man's legs is important. The study was published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts. Related News Neanderthal 'Swiss Army Knife' Discovered in Belgian Cave 'Classic' Hymn Deciphered From Ancient Babylonian Library Ancient Neanderthal 'Fat Factory' Reveals How Advanced They Really Were Solve the daily Crossword
Business Upturn
15-07-2025
- Health
- Business Upturn
Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man Encodes the Blueprint of Human Evolution, Says London Dentist
Photo Courtesy of Rory Mac Sweeney LONDON, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A London-based dental surgeon and researcher, Dr. Rory Mac Sweeney of Precision Endodontics, has ignited international interest with a provocative reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. His newly published research suggests the Renaissance masterpiece encodes a precise geometric ratio that reflects the biomechanical endpoint of human evolution. Dr. Mac Sweeney's theory, published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts, identifies a hidden equilateral triangle embedded in Vitruvian Man. He connects this geometry to Bonwill's Triangle—a fundamental dental structure first described in the 19th century, which governs optimal jaw alignment and function. According to Mac Sweeney, this triangular structure appears throughout the body and is mathematically anchored by the ratio √8/3, or approximately 1.633. 'Leonardo's drawing isn't just a study in proportion—it's a map of tension,' said Dr. Mac Sweeney. 'The 1.633 ratio appears in the jaw, the spine, and the skull. It reflects a state known as vector equilibrium, where structural tension and compression are perfectly balanced. I believe this marks the final step in the human journey toward full upright posture.' This ratio, derived from the geometry of the cuboctahedron, is widely recognized in biomechanics and architecture as a hallmark of tensegrity—the balance of forces within a stable form. Dr. Mac Sweeney contends that this geometry defines the Vitruvian Morphotype: a form that nature has converged on through evolutionary pressures—not because it is aesthetically pleasing, but because it is structurally optimal. 'Human evolution has been a long progression toward uprightness,' he explained. 'The 1.633 ratio may represent our evolutionary omega point—a structural threshold beyond which no further anatomical adaptation is needed to stand, move, and balance efficiently in gravity.' Mac Sweeney suggests that fossil evidence should reveal a slow convergence toward this geometric configuration, particularly in the jaw. He highlights the emergence of Class I occlusion in the fossil record—also known as the overbite/overjet 'step'—around 8,000 years ago as a key moment. While small variations remain, he argues that modern Homo sapiens are the first species to fully express this morphotype. 'It's like the hydrodynamic form of a dolphin,' he said. 'Nature solves gravity the way it solves water. Vitruvian Man is the first full sketch of what that solution looks like.' Dr. Mac Sweeney's theory is now attracting attention from experts in evolutionary biology, bioengineering, and anatomical design. He is currently conducting interviews, public talks, and media appearances to discuss what he calls the Vitruvian Ratio—and its broader implications for anthropology, architecture, and even consciousness. 'Leonardo, somehow, saw it coming,' Mac Sweeney added. 'Vitruvian Man may be the only anatomical diagram ever created that captures not just what a human is—but what a human is becoming.' About Dr. Rory Mac Sweeney: Dr. Mac Sweeney is a London-based endodontist and researcher known for his interdisciplinary work in dental anatomy, geometry, and human evolution. His work explores the convergence of structural biology and classical design, and he is the author of the book The Paradox of Lucid Dreaming. @luciddreamyoga Contact Information: Contact person: Dr. Rory Mac SweeneyCompany name: Precision EndodonticsWebsite: [ Press Contact: [email protected]
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man Encodes the Blueprint of Human Evolution, Says London Dentist
New research reveals a hidden geometric ratio in Leonardo's drawing that may define the endpoint of human evolution toward upright posturePhoto Courtesy of Rory Mac Sweeney LONDON, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A London-based dental surgeon and researcher, Dr. Rory Mac Sweeney of Precision Endodontics, has ignited international interest with a provocative reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. His newly published research suggests the Renaissance masterpiece encodes a precise geometric ratio that reflects the biomechanical endpoint of human evolution. Dr. Mac Sweeney's theory, published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts, identifies a hidden equilateral triangle embedded in Vitruvian Man. He connects this geometry to Bonwill's Triangle—a fundamental dental structure first described in the 19th century, which governs optimal jaw alignment and function. According to Mac Sweeney, this triangular structure appears throughout the body and is mathematically anchored by the ratio √8/3, or approximately 1.633. 'Leonardo's drawing isn't just a study in proportion—it's a map of tension,' said Dr. Mac Sweeney. 'The 1.633 ratio appears in the jaw, the spine, and the skull. It reflects a state known as vector equilibrium, where structural tension and compression are perfectly balanced. I believe this marks the final step in the human journey toward full upright posture.' This ratio, derived from the geometry of the cuboctahedron, is widely recognized in biomechanics and architecture as a hallmark of tensegrity—the balance of forces within a stable form. Dr. Mac Sweeney contends that this geometry defines the Vitruvian Morphotype: a form that nature has converged on through evolutionary pressures—not because it is aesthetically pleasing, but because it is structurally optimal. 'Human evolution has been a long progression toward uprightness,' he explained. 'The 1.633 ratio may represent our evolutionary omega point—a structural threshold beyond which no further anatomical adaptation is needed to stand, move, and balance efficiently in gravity.' Mac Sweeney suggests that fossil evidence should reveal a slow convergence toward this geometric configuration, particularly in the jaw. He highlights the emergence of Class I occlusion in the fossil record—also known as the overbite/overjet 'step'—around 8,000 years ago as a key moment. While small variations remain, he argues that modern Homo sapiens are the first species to fully express this morphotype. 'It's like the hydrodynamic form of a dolphin,' he said. 'Nature solves gravity the way it solves water. Vitruvian Man is the first full sketch of what that solution looks like.' Dr. Mac Sweeney's theory is now attracting attention from experts in evolutionary biology, bioengineering, and anatomical design. He is currently conducting interviews, public talks, and media appearances to discuss what he calls the Vitruvian Ratio—and its broader implications for anthropology, architecture, and even consciousness. 'Leonardo, somehow, saw it coming,' Mac Sweeney added. 'Vitruvian Man may be the only anatomical diagram ever created that captures not just what a human is—but what a human is becoming.' About Dr. Rory Mac Sweeney: Dr. Mac Sweeney is a London-based endodontist and researcher known for his interdisciplinary work in dental anatomy, geometry, and human evolution. His work explores the convergence of structural biology and classical design, and he is the author of the book The Paradox of Lucid Dreaming. @luciddreamyoga Contact Information: Contact person: Dr. Rory Mac SweeneyCompany name: Precision EndodonticsWebsite: [ Contact: rorymacsweeney@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Science
- Irish Times
The Da Vinci dentist: west Cork man finds secret of 500-year-old drawing in the jaw
A vitally important triangle, hidden in plain sight in Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, has been revealed and explained, more than half a millennium after the Renaissance genius drew it. Is there an Irish angle to this, you ask? Yes there is: it was dentist from west Cork who found it. Sometimes these things write themselves. Rory MacSweeney, who practices in London but comes originally from Dunmanway, explained his discovery and the relevance of the tooth trade in an article published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts. It goes something like this: everyone knows the famous Da Vinci drawing situates a man within a circle and a square and shows ideal proportions. But there was a third shape hiding in the drawing – an equilateral triangle created by the man's legs, and mentioned by Da Vinci himself. This shape has gone largely ignored by scholars, but MacSweeney says it was no accident and adds insight to our understanding of the drawing's meaning. READ MORE The equilateral triangle made by the figure's legs recall similar proportions in the jaw It's the same shape – stay with us here – as the triangle between the corners of the jaw and the place the teeth meet. Hence the dentist angle. It also happens to also be the ratio you see in superstrong crystals and other things in nature. Da Vinci, ever the engineer, found an 'architectural common denominator', MacSweeney told Overheard. MacSweeney's interest comes back to the question of evolution. Very few other animals have crooked teeth like humans do – 'something went wrong', he said, and he's interested in the maths of how we evolved. 'Humans have evolved over various iterations,' he said. 'We've tried out various versions of bipedalism. We reached a point when we're fully erect – it's when you reach the 1.633 ratio.' 'It's not just that we're the only humans to survive. There's an X factor with homosapiens. We're hugely successful, more dominant than anything else in nature.' The ratio isn't just an ideal, from an engineering perspective – 'it's a destination', the optimal situation our evolution has worked towards. Curiously, MacSweeney points out, the Vitruvian Man as drawn could spin on an X, Y or Z axis – which is to say, after a fashion, that he can breakdance. Plugged into high places Martin Naughton, founder of Glen Dimplex. Photograph: Alan Betson It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, as someone once said. But it looks like it can be done: Dundalk electrical appliance mogul Martin Naughton, the owner of Glen Dimplex, has been awarded the Order of St Gregory the Great, adding a Papal knighthood to his British KBE and his French Legion d'Honneur. The industrialist was recognised alongside his wife Carmel for their philanthropy in education and the arts, including scholarships and supports for university students at home and abroad. The conferral was one of the last acts of Pope Francis, 'who himself studied in Ireland at one point and for whom peace and education were especially close to his heart', said John McCaffrey, president of the Association of Papal Orders in Ireland. The Naughtons join the starry ranks of the knighthood alongside British Tory-turned-Reform politician Ann Widdecombe, Argentinian caudillo Juan Perón and Australian-American media magnate Rupert Murdoch. They are among about 60 Irish people who currently hold one of the five orders. Such honours were perhaps more prominent in Irish life in the past, with names such as Hume, Hillery and Lemass adorned by holy acronyms. The tenor John McCormack had three papal knighthoods as well as being a count. But the Naughtons should be warned: Fine Gael TD Oliver J Flanagan's efforts to style himself Sir Oliver after receiving the honour in 1978 prompted consternation from the government – which considered doing so potentially unconstitutional – and the Church itself, which confirmed that the 'sir' stuff is more of a British thing anyway. RTÉ retires Conor McGregor Conor McGregor: RTÉ News has referred to him as a 'former MMA fighter' Another blow to Conor McGregor in the High Court this week as the decorated-but-dormant UFC star was forced into retirement by the state broadcaster. In broadcasts and online, RTÉ News referred prominently to him as a 'former MMA fighter'. McGregor is appealing the High Court's finding that he is civilly liable for the rape of Nikita Hand. The 36-year-old hasn't fought since 2021, when he was stopped by Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. A comeback in the summer of 2024 was cancelled due to a training camp toe injury. After some talk of a 2025 return, UFC head honcho Dana White said in May that he wouldn't be fighting for him 'any time soon', and with the High Court appeal and an apparent desire to run for president occupying McGregor's time, there are no independent extravaganzas in the books either. But if there was an announcement that he is formally retired, we missed it. Perhaps RTÉ simply saw the writing on the wall. It's unlikely he would have given them the scoop: he once described them as 'robbing, lying, fake hypocrites', 'robbers of the Irish public' and even 'ooh laa laa heads' (snobs) in an online rant. Golf diplomacy Edward S Walsh: The new US ambassador to Ireland Whoever inherits the Áras will have a neighbour who's also new to the area: Edward S Walsh, United States ambassador to Ireland. The businessman and member of the Trump Bedminster golf club in New Jersey presented his credentials to the Irish Government this week, introducing himself to the Irish public with a video. What did we learn? He's Irish-American, like every ambassador since Lyndon Johnson sent a polo-playing second cousin of Winston Churchill's. His roots are in Clare. He doesn't read phonetic renderings of the phrase 'go raibh maith agat' especially well, although that will come with practice. And he likes golf. [ New US ambassador to Ireland takes office, thanking friend Donald Trump Opens in new window ] In fact, he tells us in the video that 'as a lifelong golfer, I've learned a lot about fairness, diligence and building relationships, values that I will bring with me into this position'. It will be interesting to see which aspects of golf help him keep the Irish-US relationship special while the two nations go in opposite directions on Israel. 'Ireland, while often a valuable US partner, is on a hateful, anti-Semitic path that will only lead to self-inflicted economic suffering,' the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Jim Risch threatened on social media website X this week in the wake of coverage of the Government's Occupied Territories Bill. 'If this legislation is implemented, America will have to seriously reconsider its deep and ongoing economic ties.' Ambassador Walsh might have dreamt of cherishing Irish links, so to speak, but he faces a period in the rough first.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
London dentist discovers hidden detail in Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man
A London -based dentist, Rory Mac Sweeney, discovered a hidden equilateral triangle within Leonardo da Vinci 's 'Vitruvian Man' drawing. This triangle, found between the man's legs, matches Bonwill's triangle, a modern anatomical concept explaining efficient human jaw mechanics. The discovery, published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts, suggests da Vinci understood ideal human body design centuries before modern science. The triangle's presence helps create a 1.64 ratio between the square and circle in the artwork, closely mirroring a natural 'blueprint number' of 1.633. This finding indicates 'Vitruvian Man' is a scientific work demonstrating a universal rule of design, linking human anatomy to the mathematical elegance found in nature.
