Mathematicians discover new universal class of shapes to explain complex biological forms

A team of mathematicians from the University of Oxford and Budapest University of Technology and Economics have uncovered a new class of shapes that tile space without using sharp corners. Remarkably, these ’ideal soft shapes’ are found abundantly in nature – from sea shells to muscle cells.

The findings not only explain the geometry of biological tissues but could also unlock new building designs, devoid of corners. The findings have been published in PNAS Nexus.