A unique shape, a 3D einstein tile, has been discovered
AI helped uncover a special object that can fill space without repeating patterns
A unique 3D shape, dubbed the Chair44 monotile, has been discovered that can tile a three-dimensional space without repeating patterns. This object, which looks like a child's Lego creation, is a mathematical marvel that was uncovered using artificial intelligence. The discovery follows a major announcement in 2023 when a hat-shaped tile called an "einstein" was found to be the first known example of a two-dimensional aperiodic monotile, also called an "einstein."
This new shape, Chair44, fulfills a decades-long quest to find a strong example of a 3D aperiodic monotile, which can infinitely tile a three-dimensional space without gaps or overlapping shapes while maintaining an aperiodic pattern.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
