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A Lego Replica of the Antikythera Mechanism

Posted by timothy on from the hard-to-get-enough-antikythera dept.

vbraga writes "The Antikythera Mechanism is the oldest known scientific computer, built in Greece at around 100 BCE. Lost for 2000 years, it was recovered from a shipwreck in 1901. But not until a century later was its purpose understood: an astronomical clock that determines the positions of celestial bodies with extraordinary precision. In 2010, a fully-functional replica out of Lego (YouTube video) was built."

4 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So... by neokushan · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, you idiot, that's obviously not how it works. If you find a bug in this, you cause the entire celestial system to collapse in on itself, killing us all!

    --
    +1 IDisagreeSoHeMustBeATrollOrAnAstroturferOrAShill
  2. Re:my scientific observation by jcr · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think I understand how an oxy-acetylene torch works, but I don't think I could duplicate its function with legos...

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  3. 2012 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Maybe the original device was built by ancient aliens. Does the lego model tell us anything interesting about 2012?

  4. Re:my scientific observation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think I understand how an oxy-acetylene torch works, but I don't think I could duplicate its function with legos...

    Well, you can duplicate its function with bacon. That also counts.