[math-fun] Laces high

Today's Nature has an interesting article - a survey is available from http://www.nature.com/nsu/021202/021202-4.html Paper itself: -- Mathematics: What is the best way to lace your shoes? BURKARD POLSTER School of Mathematical Sciences, PO Box 28M, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia e-mail: burkard.polster@sci.monash.edu.au The two most popular ways to lace shoes have historically been to use 'criss-cross' or 'straight' lacing but are these the most efficient? Here we demonstrate mathematically that the shortest lacing is neither of these, but instead is a rarely used and unexpected type of lacing known as 'bowtie' lacing. However, the traditional favourite lacings are still the strongest. -- Helger