Reframing the coronavirus to elicit new thinking

Cognitive Engagement with Spike Dynamics of a Polyhedral Coronavirus (Part #5)

The earlier paper used the following depictions of the coronavirus as a basis for triggering imaginative reflection.

Depictions of the coronavirus
Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically.	Images combined from a 3D medical animation, depicting the shape of coronavirus as well as the cross-sectional view. Image shows the major elements including the Spike S protein, HE protein, viral envelope, and helical RNA

CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM / Public domain	Reproduced from Wikipedia https://www.scientificanimations.com / CC BY-SA

As indicated by the subtile of the earlier paper, emphasis was placed on visual transformation of the coronavirus in order to associate with other "spiky" patterns discussed in detail there (Reimagining Coronavirus in 3D as a Metaphor of Global Society in Distress: crowning pattern that connects spiky organisms, satellite constellations, nuclear explosions, and egomania? 2020). The following is one such example in which the association with polyhedral forms was emphasized. Analogous patterns were cited there from the global form of certain plants and animals (Global "spiky-prickly" indications of a "pattern that connects", 2020).

Also noted was the tendency for viruses to take polyhedral form, as illustrated by the following image from a description of icoashedral capsids in Wikipedia.

Icosahedral form of adenovirus

Thomas Splettstoesser (www.scistyle.com) / CC BY-SA

It was in the light of such polyhedral configuration that it was decided to configure together the 72-spikes of the coronavirus as shown below.

Global configuration of mushroom-clouds on vertices of polyhedra -- simulating a coronavirus
72 vertices -- icosahedral symmetry (mp4; x3d)		74 vertices -- cubic symmetry (mp4; x3d)
Animation of solid variant	Screen shot of wire frame variant	Animation of solid variant	Screen shot of wire frame variant

Combination and adaptation of polyhedral and mushroom-cloud models separately prepared by Sergey Bederov of Cortona3D

The earlier paper emphasized that such global patterns of spikes, however they might be configured in polyhedral form, offered insights into psychosocial organization which could be considered analogous whether in terms of general systems theory or as mnemonic aids (Psychosocial "global implication" of a "pattern that connects"? 2020).