On uniquely homogeneous spaces, I (Q455011)

A space \(X\) is \textit{uniquely homogeneous} if for all \(x,y\in X\) there is a unique homeomorphism of \(X\) onto itself such that \(f(x)=y\). Burgess introduced the concept in 1955 and asked whether there exists a non-trivial uniquely homogeneous continuum. Later, it was proved that there are no such metrizable continua. On the other hand, van Mill constructed a non-trivial uniquely homogeneous Baire topological group of countable weight, and furthermore uniquely homogeneous spaces that do not admit the structure of a topological group. The question came up whether there exists a nonmetrizable uniquely homogeneous compactum. Though it is still unanswered, in this paper, the authors obtain some results which imply that a non-trivial uniquely homogeneous space is connected, does not admit the structure of a topological group if it is compact, and is not linearly orderable. Along the way, they consider the following properties of homogeneous spaces: skew-2-flexibility and 2-flexibility. They prove that every locally compact homogeneous metrizable space is both skew-2-flexible and 2-flexible, and also give an example of homogeneous Polish space that is skew-2-flexible but not 2-flexible.