Space gives astronauts unique chances to test out things in an environment that is completely different from Earth, resulting in priceless insights for math and science. One such experiment was carried out by Hungarian astronaut and mission specialist Tibor Kapu aboard the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year and led to a math breakthrough. Known as a soft cell, this brand-new geometrical shape has no sharp corners and can only be achieved in microgravity.
Developed alongside the Institute of Mathematics at Oxford University and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the soft cell only worked in theory, having been discovered just last year. What makes it special is that, unlike polyhedra like a prism, cube, or dodecahedron, the edges of soft cells don’t need to be flat. Instead, the soft cell boasts concave sides that look like horse saddles.