A Powerful New 'QR Code' Untangles Math's Knottiest Knots

(quantamagazine.org)

34 points | by defrost 3 days ago ago

10 comments

  • latexr 2 hours ago

    Their use of ā€œQR Codeā€ is mighty confusing. QR (Quick Response) Codes are something specific that people are familiar with. These don’t share any characteristics apart from being images which represent something else. They’re not even the same colour or shape. Just call them ā€œknot codesā€ or something.

    • somethingsome 2 hours ago

      I mean... There is a 1-1 mapping, and they look kinda like QR codes. so technically, you can make an app that scan it and it will show you the corresponding polynomial.. It could even be useful for fast checking knots

      • Hendrikto an hour ago

        > There is a 1-1 mapping

        It is strong, but not 1 to 1:

        > Tubbenhauer computed, for instance, that the invariant uniquely identifies more than 97% of the knots with 18 crossings.

        • tromp 29 minutes ago

          Since they said "the corresponding polynomial", they must mean the mapping between the colored hexagons and the knot polynomials.

      • latexr 2 hours ago

        > mapping

        Which I not only mentioned in my comment, it is not even slightly unique to QR codes.

        > they look kinda like QR codes

        In what way? QR Codes are black and white, square, and asymmetrical. These are colourful, hexagonal, and symmetrical. By that token, a 16th century tile also ā€œlooks kinda like a QR Codeā€.

        I very much doubt you could show one of these to someone, ask them what they are, and that they would answer ā€œQR Codeā€. They don’t look alike at all.

  • MattPalmer1086 3 hours ago

    Interesting article. I love it when maths gives us some beautiful visuals too.

  • graphememes an hour ago

    this was so confusing at first not going to lie

  • larodi 3 hours ago

    Love them knots! The sudoku of the universe :)

  • ButlerianJihad 33 minutes ago

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code#License

      The text QR Code itself is a registered trademark and wordmark of Denso Wave Incorporated.[107] 
    
    Yeah this publication needs a legal team
  • charcircuit 3 hours ago

    This is not a new QR code, nor is it powerful. It's worse in every way and is not really even a code.