We all know that the geometric object of minimal surface area amongst all shapes with a fixed volume is the round ball, whose boundary is spherical. Water blobs try to minimise surface area and curl into spherical droplets. The physical problem of surface-area minimisation is thus quite well understood. What about the opposite problem of surface-area maximisation? Does the problem even make sense? Indeed it does. Trees try to maximise surface area to get the most of sunlight through their leaves.
Image: Dolomedes indicus, Adult Female (left) and adult male (right). Credit: Authors https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-26308-2
Wayanad/