Lemniscate: a mathematical curve* shaped like a horizontal 8 figure. It was introduced to mathematics by ►John Wallis as a ►symbol of infinity.

The lemniscate resembles a Moebius loop, also called a Moebius strip (named for the 19th-century mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius). The Möbius loop is a slightly twisted, two-dimensional surface. It can be easily reproduced by twisting a long paper strip by 180° and sticking its ends together. Though made of double-sided paper, a Möbius loop characteristically has only one side, as you can easily see by drawing a continuous line on it. ►Escher often made use of Möbius loops in his graphic approaches to infinity:

Escher, Möbius Strip II, 1963**

* The lemniscate equation is   (x² + y²)² - 2a²(x² - y²) = 0.

** All rights for Escher graphics are with M.C. Escher Company B.V., http://www.mcescher.com

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