The Möbius band is a fascinating object. You can make a simple model of it by joining the ends of a long, narrow strip of paper after giving one end a 180-degree twist. The result is a one-sided, one-edged surface in the form a single closed continuous curve with a twist.
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![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/3453.gif?resize=300%2C185&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/3454.gif?resize=150%2C111&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/3455.gif?resize=150%2C71&ssl=1)
Ever since its discovery in 1858 in a purely mathematical context, the Möbius band has played a role not only in mathematics but also in science, engineering, literature, art, music, dance, crafts, playthings, puzzles, and magic tricks.