Scientists found a completely new, unnamed shape in Mathematics

New shape called "scutoid", future geometry will have new chapter.

Skin is the body of the largest body size in a person. On average, a 2-square-meter friend is still growing, but there is one surprise: it doesn't have the shape you imagine.

Picture 1 of Scientists found a completely new, unnamed shape in Mathematics
New geometric structure.

In fact, scientists have discovered a completely new geometric structure that has never been found by science or mathematics and it turns out, it still hides in your skin for a long time, probably existed. there from human birth, no one knows. It is located in the epithelial cell - the foundation that creates the tissue structure, making the human skin (both inside and outside).

These epithelial cells are one of the most important cells in the early days of the development of a human body, which helps us build the embryonic structure and gradually, become part of our body. The epithelium is made up of millions of tiny cells that sit side by side, not only forming the outer skin but also connecting the skin to the internal organs.

Picture 2 of Scientists found a completely new, unnamed shape in Mathematics

Scientists have never understood the full shape of each individual cell, it can only be assumed that they are vertical prisms or dead ends. But when they used computers to build 3D models of epithelial cells, they were surprised about their new discovery.

"In the process of rendering, the results are very unusual," explained biological engineer Javier Buceta from Lehigh University . "Our simulator model predicts that when the tissue is bent, the cells will not retain the prism or pyramidal shape."

They noticed a strange shape, unable to recognize what it was.

It looks like a pyramid but its bottom has six sides, the opposite side has 5 sides, that is because in the lines connecting the two vertices of the bottom edges, there is a line divided into Y-shaped, creating Make a small triangle on the body of this geometry and at the same time, create another vertex at the bottom. No scientific text describing this geometry exists.

Picture 3 of Scientists found a completely new, unnamed shape in Mathematics
It looks like a pyramid but its bottom has six sides, the opposite side has 5 sides.

"To our great surprise, this group has no name in math yet!" , Buceta said. "And not everyone has a rare opportunity to name a new geometric concept."

The researchers call this image " scutoid", inspired by the "scutellum" - shield scales on themselves of some insects, animals whose bodies also have a small triangle.

Picture 4 of Scientists found a completely new, unnamed shape in Mathematics
"Scutellum" - shield-shaped scales on some insects.

Why does this shape exist in my skin? The research team said that this torsion form allows the structure to conserve energy better, especially when the cells are bent . "When the cells curl, it will minimize the impact energy and therefore, become more stable ," cell biologist Luisma Escudero comes from Seville University, a research team member told. Science Alert. "For that reason, the biophysical data in our body determines that the other cells must have scutoid shapes."

When scientists construct scutoid shapes, they will try to find this shape in nature. When all animals have epithelial cells, the team thinks that identifying the scutoid shape will be a turning point in how we study epithelial cells.

Many more studies are needed to determine which high-level scutoid masses in the organism (including humans), will help to better understand the many three structures in human organs.

"For example, if you want to create artificial organs, this discovery will help you create more realistic cells, just as naturally created cells, tissues , " said the researcher. Buceta said. "We have unlocked the natural way of creating epithelial cells that can be bent, twisted effectively."

The study is published in Nature.