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Mystery of Ancient Calculator Finally Cracked

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the Curta-had-nothing-on-the-ancients dept.

jcaruso writes, "It's been more than 100 years since the discovery of the 2,000-year-old Antikythera Mechanism, but researchers are only now figuring out how it works." From the article: "Since its discovery in 1902, the Antikythera Mechanism — with its intricate and baffling system of about 30 geared wheels — has been an enigma... During the last 50 years, researchers have identified various astronomical and calendar functions, including gears that mimic the movement of the sun and moon. But it has taken some of the most advanced technology of the 21st century to decipher during the past year the most advanced technology of the 1st century B.C."

12 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. And the secret message is... by gibbdog · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a bitch!

  2. Actually a very old word fits quite well. by shaitand · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I find that 'shit' is a rather appropriate word.

  3. Re:slownewsday by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It is news to most /. readers, used to fud and lame articles.

  4. Re:slownewsday by dr_labrat · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Yeah, there are tags called slownewsday, fud, notfud and itsatrap. Not to mention the fact that, though it may be new to the editors, its not news.

    --
    The secret of success is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake those, you've got it made. (Marx)
  5. Re:Relative Difficulty by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Of course not. Internet Explorer is difficult to figure out now.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  6. Re:The terrible tapir. by LordLucless · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    When did Jefferson go around lighting tapirs?

    --
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  7. Re:The terrible tapir. by Dahan · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Jefferson "Light my Tapir" guys
    Setting tapirs on fire is really mean :(
  8. Re:The question on everyones lips... by BoberFett · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Don't forget his wife Incontinentia Buttocks.

  9. Re:slownewsday by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Really, we need a new word, for news which isn't functional information, but just amusing/entertaining.

    I believe the word is "infotainment."

    You're welcome.

  10. Re:slownewsday by killerkalamari · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    wheresthebeef

  11. Antithykera Jokes summary... by maroberts · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these!
    Netcraft says Antithykera Mechanisms are dying.....
    Does it have any Y0K rollover problems?
    Is the OS written by Linus?
    Does it run Windows?
    Did the Romans and Greeks do any Case Mods for this?
    Was sinking the boat the first Denial of Service attack?
    Users fail to upgrade to Antithykera 2.0 from Abacus 1.0!
    Antithykera Positioning System receiver fails to replace Astrolabe due to lack of satellite coverage...
    Some (but not all) of these are elsewhere

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

  12. Re:slownewsday by satcomdaddy1 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Really, we need a new word, for news which isn't functional information, but just amusing/entertaining.

    Slashdot.