There has been an exciting development in the world of mathematics. A team of researchers from the Budapest University of Technology has discovered a new “soft cell” shape that is abundant in nature. This discovery redefines the complexity of mathematical shapes in nature.
Hidden geometry in nature: Soft cell discovery
Soft cells are described as natural tiles with curved edges, a striking contrast to traditional tiling patterns in mathematics. This new discovery shows how mathematical concepts translate into real-world examples.
The researchers found that this new “soft cell” shape makes the transition from a mathematical possibility to abundant examples of nature. Soft cells can assemble in both two dimensions and three dimensions, although they lack the angular shapes of theoretical mathematics.
Why is soft cell discovery important?
Rather than having sharp corners and flat surfaces like the classical solutions of mathematical geometry – triangles, squares and hexagons – soft cells are characterized by curved edges and uneven surfaces. These shapes can smoothly tile two- and three-dimensional space.
Researchers note that these shapes appear not only in art but also in biology. For example, cross-sections of muscle tissue show that the cells have only two sharp corners.
Examples in nature and future applications
These ideal soft shapes can be found everywhere in nature, from cells to shells. Seashells in particular are said to be a natural example of this soft cell shape. The researchers discovered that the growth of the shells follows a regular pattern and that no corners can be found in three dimensions with CT scans.
This shows that nature is much more advanced than our understanding of geometry. This discovery offers an opportunity to reconsider the relationship between mathematical form and natural form. Soft cells open a new page in our understanding of the complexity of nature and the reflections of mathematics in nature.
