The amazing Antikythera Mechanism - the world's first computer (and a #Lego version)

http://www.computus.org/journal/?p=155

This lump of rock-encrusted metalwork was found in a shipwreck back in 1900, but has been dated back more than 2000 years to the early Greeks - to about 70BC. It would be another 1000 years before mechanics of such complexity could be matched anywhere in the world.

In more recent times, curator Michael Wright has managed to construct a replica of the workings of what turned out to be the world's first computer.

And what it does is compute eclipses, planet positions, dates, lunar and solar cycles. Oh - and the four-year Olympiad cycle!

Truly incredible...

This video shows a virtual reconstruction of the device - you'll get a true idea of the amazing complexity that is squashed into one tiny box:



In this clip, Michael Wright himself explains the workings:



And to really make you wonder at the brilliance of its designers (and for fun), here's a version of the device built in Lego:



As one commenter on the Lego clip asks: "why isn't this available from Lego as a kit?"

For more information, visit the official research project website.