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Title: 2,000 Year Old Computer Yields Her Secrets (The Ancient Brass Gear Mystery)
Source:
WIRED
URL Source: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2006/11/2000_year_old_c.html
Published: Nov 30, 2006
Author: staff
Post Date: 2006-11-30 08:00:41 by tom007
Keywords: None
Views: 177
Comments: 8
2,000 Year Old Computer Yields Her Secrets Topic: Innovations _42325395_back_gears203250 An Anglo-Greek team of scientists has revealed what they consider the true workings of the Antikythera mechanism, a 2,000 year-old analog computer recovered from a Mediterranean shipwreck over a century ago. The new model, produced following exhaustive research into new fragments discovered in 2005 on the sea bed near Crete, will be described in the next issue of Nature magazine. The answer: it's a "moon computer," as the BBC put it, used to calculate the astronomical cycles of heavenly bodies. This wasn't unexpected, and confirms currently-prevailing beliefs, but as is always the case with Antikythera, not everyone agrees with the findings. Over the years, the calcified, corroded bronze remains hypnotized generations of scientists, who produced a range of hypothetical models in an attempt to decipher the inner workings of the device. Mentioned in the writings of Roman orator Cicero, the Greek computers were already lost to legend by the time of the 9th century's Book of Ingenious Devices. Suffice to say, I want one. A conference dedicated to this divine machine starts Thursday, and while we won't be there, we'll do our best to report any revelations that come out of it: Read on with our continuing coverage of Decoding The Antikythera Mechanism: Science and Technology in Ancient Greece, a conference in Athens that opens Thursday. In search of lost time [Nature] Ancient Moon 'computer' revisited [BBC]
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 6.
#1. To: tom007, Tauzero, Critter (#0)
cool technology bump
Any sufficiently advanced historical perspective is indistinguishable from superstition.
There are no replies to Comment # 6. End Trace Mode for Comment # 6.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestSuffice to say, I want one. A conference dedicated to this divine machine starts Thursday, and while we won't be there, we'll do our best to report any revelations that come out of it
#6. To: robin, Horse, Axenolith, Starwind (#1)
Replies to Comment # 6.