Nodes are part of daily life. We attach our Nike dunks, tamed unruly hairstyles, adorable animal luxuries with crochet, secure bags while we take out the trash and unravel a frustrating range of extensions, headphones and vacation lights. The most adventurous among us use harshly won knotted skills to set up relays for climbing, expert moors boats or embark on successful camping and fishing expeditions.
But mathematicians see the nodes in a different way, say the researchers of the Utah State University Seth Porter and Matt Young.
“Look at the laces in your shoes,” said Porter, undergraduate researcher in 2024 and scholarship holder of the year of the College of Science. “You can think that they are established in a knot but, mathematically speaking, unless the ends of the laces are glued together, they are not nodes.”
Does that make a circle a knot?
“In fact, no,” explains Young, assistant professor in USU Department of mathematics and statistics and the mentor of the ability to wear. “A node refers to the incorporation of a closed circle or curve, in a three -dimensional space. A circle is an “unknown”.
Plot?
Young and Porter will present the “theory of disentangled nodes” on the public awareness program not packed by USU, April 11. Their discourse, which includes interactive demonstrations, begins at 7 p.m. in the Ememert auditorium, Room ESLC 130, of the Eccles Science Learning Center. Entrance is free and all ages are welcome.
Young and Porter’s speech is the fourth presentation of the Science Spring 2025 series, Science, “Celebrate the first cycle search”, which is presented jointly with the state of Utah 2025 first cycle research year.
“Matt and Seth will present a subject of brain torsion in a fun and entertaining way,” explains Brynja Kohler, president of non -packaged science, dean associated with the College of Science and professor in the department of mathematics and statistics. “We are delighted that these exceptional researchers take us on a trip through a fascinating branch of mathematics.”
Practical learning activities led by USU students and community volunteers, as well as refreshments, follow the presentation. In addition, this spring series presents research posters by USU undergraduate students.
The April 11 speech will be recorded on video and published on unpacled science websitein the week following the event in person.
After the event in April, Science Unlebald, which was launched in 2009, took a summer break and returned in September 2025.
Instructions and parking information is available on the program website.
For more information, call 435-797-3517, visit the Unpacked science website or consult the “science unpacked at the USU” Facebook page.