tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (Missing thread on tangled strings)

Alt Gerry Myerson comments on "Missing thread on tangled strings" (18286)

Alt Gerry Myerson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:54:27 -0800

"Second" if you have your answers ordered by votes.

Sam Nead comments on "Missing thread on tangled strings" (18284)

Sam Nead — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:14:24 -0800

Second answer to:
http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/88938/immediate-applications-of-differential-geometry

quid comments on "Missing thread on tangled strings" (18194)

quid — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:41:52 -0800

The closest thing I remember (though not really very close) is Thurston's answer to Gowers asking about hard unknots . It involves a marionette.

Side note: some things also got deleted from MO. So, perhaps what you are looking for is actually not around anymore.

gunnihinn comments on "Missing thread on tangled strings" (18189)

gunnihinn — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:37:48 -0800

I can't bring myself to ask this on MO itself, and I've spent the last hour googling everything I think of without results. Thus:

Does anyone remember an answer or comment that relates differential geometry with the twisting of your telephone (or any other) cable?

It's there somewhere, I know I read it here, I just can't find it again. I'm giving a non-expert introduction to Riemannian geometry in the very near future and thought this might make a good example to bring up. Shame that I only remember its existence and none of the details.