Although decorating a house for Christmas decoration can be very straightforward, some of the most intricate and (in our opinion!) best-looking decorations can involve a lot of geometrical and technical know-how… One mathematician actually discovered a new way to make paper loops, of the sort you might use in paper chains. His name was August Moebius* and his idea of a one-sided loop was immortalised by the famous artist Escher, whose never-ending loops and staircases and one-sided squares are quite hypnotising.

	Moebius Strip Paper Chain
	Each link in a paper chain usually has two sides, an inside and an outside. But have you ever tried making a paper chain entirely out of one sided paper? These tricky chains will keep you guessing:
	Take a strip of paper and curve it into a loop. Join the ends and trace your finger along one side. Does it have two sides, an inside and an outside?
	Now take another strip of paper and give it a half twist. Join the ends and again trace your finger along one side. You should find just one side, but one which is twice as long as before.
	The Moebius strip isn’t just a decoration though, it’s been used in a practical way too, to double the lifespan of machinery belts by having one long side to wear out rather than two shorter ones.
	*If you want to read more about Moebius and Escher visit the Cut-The-Knot website.