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You put on your shoes, tie them as firmly as possible, but soon after the laces come undone.
Now scientists think they know what causes one of life's knotty problems.
[...] The researchers say an understanding of shoelaces can be applied to other structures, such as DNA.
[...] They found that when running, your foot strikes the ground at seven times the force of gravity.
Responding to that force, the knot stretches and then relaxes.
As the knot loosens, the swinging leg applies an inertial force on the free ends of the laces, leading to rapid unravelling in as little as two strides.
related stories:
Untangling the Mechanics of Knots
Useful Dead Technologies Redux
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If little else, the brain is an educational toy.
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(Score: 3, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 13 2017, @06:45PM (3 children)
I've arbitrarily decided the only people who use anything but small spoons to dig holes in the ground are the mentally disabled.
If you don't want to waste your time with unnecessary nonsense that society has arbitrarily demanded that you do, then clearly you're insane.
They are hideous, and always look like cheap shit shoes that you bought at Walmart.
It's just something to protect your feet. I literally don't care how ugly or cheap they look; only deeply shallow people care about such things.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 13 2017, @07:56PM
I normally dislike snarky AC comebacks at people's comments but you sir, I salute you! I don't even like velcro shoes but philosophically you've hit the nail on the head!
(Score: 2) by Snow on Thursday April 13 2017, @09:26PM (1 child)
I literally don't care how ugly or cheap they look; only deeply shallow people care about such things.
I understand where you are coming from, and I partially agree, but some of us like to get laid occasionally and with Velcro shoes that ain't going to happen.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @02:00AM
These Velcro hiking boots are very comfy. Seem to have no correlation (+ or -) with getting laid.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/164037863/85d-ll-bean-grey-hightop-velcro-hiking [etsy.com] (page down to original listing)