Mathematicians have discovered a single shape that can be used to cover a surface completely without ever creating a repeating pattern. The long-sought shape is surprisingly simple but has taken decades to uncover – and could find uses in everything from material science to decorating.
Simple shapes such as squares and equilateral triangles can tile, or snugly cover a surface without gaps, in a repeating pattern that will be familiar to anyone who has stared at a bathroom wall. Mathematicians are interested in …