Homogeneous continua in 2-manifolds (Q1060734)

This paper answers several longstanding questions from plane topology. In particular, \textit{R. H. Bing} [Can. J. Math. 12, 209-230 (1960; Zbl 0091.362)] showed in 1960 that a simple closed curve is the only homogeneous bounded plane continuum that contains an arc. Bing also asked if every 1- dimensional homogeneous continuum that contains an arc and lies on a 2- manifold is also necessarily a simple closed curve. The answer, according to this paper, is yes. The techniques involve a generalization of R. L. Moore's paper on triodic continua in the plane and the use of several results of F. B. Jones and H. C. Wiser. The paper also includes a brief appendix outlining a proof of results usually considerd part of ''folklore'' concerning the possible number of nonbounding simple closed curves in a compact connected 2-manifold with nonnegative Euler characteristic.