Antikythera Mechanism
In the year 1901, sponge divers embarked on a fateful expedition, culminating in the recovery of an enigmatic relic from an ancient shipwreck nestled beneath the waves off the coastal shores of Antikythera, Greece. This artifact, shrouded in mystery for over a century, held the key to a profound secret that would alter our understanding of the history of astronomy. Finally, modern-day scientists unveiled its true purpose, revealing its remarkable ability to predict solar eclipses. This revelation heralded a paradigm shift, illuminating the ingenious astronomical insights of antiquity.
In a captivating exploration, students embarked on a journey to harness the power of LEGO and collaborative effort, endeavoring to create a fully functional reproduction of one of history’s earliest computers.
On August 21, 2017, Annie (as the finished product is fondly called) fulfilled her destiny and witnessed the North American Solar Eclipse, just as she predicted she would.
“I grew up in Greece and heard about this a very long time ago. I have always wondered what it was and never knew. Thank you. It was even more than I expected.”
Presented at the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children at the University of South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and the Beyond IQ Conference for Highly and Profoundly Gifted Children in Boston, Massachusetts.
A huge thank you to Andrew Carol, who originally conceived of and designed the LEGO reproduction. We would not have been able to complete this project without his generous support.
