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posted by mrpg on Thursday April 13 2017, @01:15PM   Printer-friendly
from the string-theory dept.

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.

BBC News

related stories:
Untangling the Mechanics of Knots
Useful Dead Technologies Redux


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  • (Score: 2) by Snow on Thursday April 13 2017, @09:26PM (1 child)

    by Snow (1601) on Thursday April 13 2017, @09:26PM (#493636) Journal

    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.

    Starting Score:    1  point
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @02:00AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @02:00AM (#493771)

    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)