FIBONACCI NUMBERS IN NATURE
Come forth into the light of things,
let Nature be your teacher.
–William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
The fabulous Fibonacci numbers occur in nature in quite unexpected places. In this chapter, we will cite a number of such occurrences to pique your curiosity. You may come across others as well.
FIBONACCI AND THE EARTH
Do Fibonacci numbers appear anywhere? Zerger observed that the equatorial diameter of the Earth in miles is approximately the product of two alternate Fibonacci numbers, and this, in kilometers, is approximately the product of two consecutive Fibonacci numbers: 
miles and 
kilometers. In addition, the Earth's diameter, according to The 2000 World Almanac and Book of Facts, is 7928 miles or 12,756 kilometers; the polar diameter is 7901 miles. The diameter of Jupiter, the largest planet, is 11 times that of the Earth.
Fibonacci and Illinois
In 1992, Zerger discovered some astonishing occurrences of Fibonacci numbers in relation to the state of Illinois [618]:
- Illinois was admitted to the Union on the 3rd of December.
- Illinois was the 5th largest state by population, according to the 1990 census.
- Illinois' name consists of 8 letters.
- Illinois ...
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