Researchers have discovered a new shape that has put an end to a six-decade long geometrical scavenger hunt. The goal was to find a shape that tiles together with itself in an infinite, non-repeating pattern. This shape is called an Einstein tile, not after the famous physicist, but rather because it is German for “one stone”. Lots of shapes can fit together perfectly without overlapping or leaving gaps, forming a repeating pattern like a honeycomb. Mathematicians were unsure if an Einstein tile could exist, but in March 2023 a team of researchers announced their 13-sided tile called the Hat, a true Einstein tile. As of yet, the paper has not been peer reviewed, however, its discovery could lead to cool breakthroughs in Material Science. For instance, there are 3D structures similar to Einstein tiles called quasi-crystals that have unique properties, such as having very low conductivity, which gives them potential as a future non-stick coating for cookware. It is unknown if this could be used for bathroom tiling.