Ancient computer found in shipwreck decoded by scientists

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Today, if you want to know when the next solar eclipse is going to be, you turn to Google. If you lived in ancient Greece, though, you might have used a device known as the Antikythera mechanism.

Considered the world’s first analog computer, this marvel of ancient engineering used dozens of bronze gears to predict the positions of the Moon, Sun, and five planets, as well as the timing of eclipses.

Researchers have been trying to understand how the Antikythera mechanism worked ever since—and now, a team from University College London (UCL) may have finally cracked its code.

“Ours is the first model that conforms to all the physical evidence and matches the descriptions in the scientific inscriptions engraved on the mechanism itself,” researcher Tony Freeth said in a press release. “The Sun, Moon, and planets are displayed in an impressive tour de force of ancient Greek brilliance.”

“Solving this complex 3D puzzle reveals a creation of genius—combining cycles from Babylonian astronomy, mathematics from Plato’s Academy, and ancient Greek astronomical theories,” the authors wrote in their study.

Source - https://bigthink.com/the-past/antikythera-mechanism/

[bionic 50,111]

I guess 'computer' is a technical term different to how we would use it in the modern day... I wonder if you can play Tetris on it

[Neroneau 1,017]

15 minutes ago, bionic said:

I guess 'computer' is a technical term different to how we would use it in the modern day... I wonder if you can play Tetris on it

I think … it means a device that calculates accurately, and the verb for that I suppose is ‘to compute’ so this is a computer 

I coudl be wrong tho 

[Ouranos 1,011]

47 minutes ago, bionic said:

I guess 'computer' is a technical term different to how we would use it in the modern day... I wonder if you can play Tetris on it

Idk but you could probably run doom on it and give it a few years and Bethesda will re-re-re-re release Skyrim on it

[bionic 50,111]

25 minutes ago, Ouranos said:

Idk but you could probably run doom on it and give it a few years and Bethesda will re-re-re-re release Skyrim on it

Minecraft (Antikythera Edition)

[A MESS 3,938]

saw a video about the reconstruction of the pieces via x-ray, that's really fascinating how intricate this was!

[weed 79,284]

Ancient technology is so amazing, what blows my mind is their (somewhat) development of a steam engine... like so crazy, imagine if they took it further

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4 hours ago, bionic said:

I guess 'computer' is a technical term different to how we would use it in the modern day... I wonder if you can play Tetris on it

Nowadays is used mostly a synonym to digital computer, but the first computers were analogue ones.