A Powerful New 'QR Code' Untangles Math's Knottiest Knots (quantamagazine.org)
33 points by defrost 3 days ago
latexr 2 hours ago
Their use of “QR Code” 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 “knot codes” 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 19 minutes ago
latexr an hour 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 “looks kinda like a QR Code”.
I very much doubt you could show one of these to someone, ask them what they are, and that they would answer “QR Code”. 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 40 minutes ago
this was so confusing at first not going to lie
ButlerianJihad 23 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]
larodi 3 hours ago
Love them knots! The sudoku of the universe :)
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.