In a significant stride for the world of maths, a remarkable development has emerged with the release of two groundbreaking papers on arXiv. These papers delve into the captivating realm of plane tessellations utilizing a singular irregular tile, known as “monotiles.” The spotlight is on the enigmatic “hat” and “spectre” monotiles, presenting an astonishing departure from conventional repeating patterns on a plane (see image below).
Diverging from the famed Penrose tiles, this innovation opens up new vistas in the world of tessellations. One of the four esteemed authors behind this pioneering work is none other than Joseph Myers, a dedicated volunteer associated with the UK Maths Trust (UKMT), who has played integral roles in the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Expanding upon this breakthrough, UKMT, in collaboration with the prestigious National Museum of Mathematics based in New York, is excited to announce an upcoming Einstein Mad Hat Competition centred around these captivating monotiles. This unique initiative is set to bridge the realms of mathematics and art, inviting educators to foster unprecedented collaboration between mathematics and art departments.
Stay tuned for updates on this exhilarating journey at UKMT and the National Museum of Mathematics.