Helicoid

Okay kiddo, a helicoid is like a spiral shape that can be found in lots of things around us. Imagine a slinky toy – it’s coiled up and when you stretch it out, it looks like a line that goes around and around. That’s sort of what a helicoid looks like, except it can be twisted in different ways.

One way we see helicoids in nature is in the shape of snail shells. The snail shell is twisted in a spiral shape, which helps protect the snail and make it strong. Helicoids can also be found in things like screws, which have a spiral shape that helps them move things when they’re turned.

Think about the game Twister – you’re spinning around and your arms and legs are all twisted up in different directions. That’s sort of what a helicoid can do, but with more structure and shape.

Scientists study helicoids in things like DNA strands, which are twisted in spirals, and in certain types of lenses and mirrors that help us see things better. So, when you see something that has a spiral or twisted shape, you can think of it as a helicoid!