Universal point sets for planar graphs ★★★

Author(s): Mohar

We say that a set $ P \subseteq {\mathbb R}^2 $ is $ n $-universal if every $ n $ vertex planar graph can be drawn in the plane so that each vertex maps to a distinct point in $ P $, and all edges are (non-intersecting) straight line segments.

Question   Does there exist an $ n $-universal set of size $ O(n) $?

Keywords: geometric graph; planar graph; universal set

Antichains in the cycle continuous order ★★

Author(s): DeVos

If $ G $,$ H $ are graphs, a function $ f : E(G) \rightarrow E(H) $ is called cycle-continuous if the pre-image of every element of the (binary) cycle space of $ H $ is a member of the cycle space of $ G $.

Problem   Does there exist an infinite set of graphs $ \{G_1,G_2,\ldots \} $ so that there is no cycle continuous mapping between $ G_i $ and $ G_j $ whenever $ i \neq j $ ?

Keywords: antichain; cycle; poset

Drawing disconnected graphs on surfaces ★★

Author(s): DeVos; Mohar; Samal

Conjecture   Let $ G $ be the disjoint union of the graphs $ G_1 $ and $ G_2 $ and let $ \Sigma $ be a surface. Is it true that every optimal drawing of $ G $ on $ \Sigma $ has the property that $ G_1 $ and $ G_2 $ are disjoint?

Keywords: crossing number; surface