The Rubik's Cube is one of the most iconic and popular puzzle toys in the
world, with more than 350 million sold as of 2018¹. But how did this
simple-looking cube become such a sensation? In this blog post, we will
explore the origins, evolution and impact of the Rubik's Cube, from its
humble invention in 1974 to its current status as a cultural icon and a
competitive sport.
The Rubik's Cube was invented by Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian sculptor and
professor of architecture, who wanted to create a three-dimensional model to
demonstrate spatial relationships and movement to his students². He spent
months experimenting with blocks of cubes made from wood and paper, held
together by rubber bands, glue and paper clips, until he finally created a
working prototype that he called the "Bűvös kocka", or Magic Cube³.
The Magic Cube consisted of six faces, each with nine stickers of one of six
colors: white, yellow, green, blue, orange and red. The cube had an internal
pivot mechanism that enabled each face to turn independently, thus mixing up
the colors. The goal was to restore the cube to its original state, where each
face had only one color. However, this was not an easy task, as the cube had
more than 43 quintillion possible configurations⁴.
Rubik himself took a month to solve his own invention for the first time. He
realized that his cube was not only a useful teaching tool, but also a
challenging and fascinating puzzle that could appeal to a wider audience. He
applied for a patent for his invention in January 1975 and received it in
1977.
The Rise of the Cube.
In 1979, Rubik partnered with Ideal Toy Company to market his cube
internationally. The cube was renamed the Rubik's Cube and was first
introduced at toy fairs in London, Paris, Nuremberg and New York in early
1980. The cube soon became a hit among children and adults alike, who were
captivated by its simple design and complex challenge.
The cube also attracted the attention of scientists, mathematicians and
artists, who saw it as a way to explore various concepts such as group theory,
symmetry, algorithms and aesthetics. In March 1981, the cube appeared on the
cover of Scientific American magazine, where Douglas Hofstadter wrote an
article about its mathematical beauty and paradoxes. The cube also inspired
numerous books, articles, artworks and films that explored its cultural and
creative significance.
The cube also spawned a competitive sport called speedcubing, where people try
to solve the cube as fast as possible using various methods and techniques.
The first official world championship was held in Budapest in 1982, where Minh
Thai from the United States won with a time of 22.95 seconds. Since then,
speedcubing has grown into a global phenomenon, with thousands of competitions
held every year under the auspices of the World Cube Association (WCA), which
was founded in 2003. The current world record for solving a 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube
is 3.47 seconds, set by Yusheng Du from China in 2018.
The Evolution of the Cube.
Over the years, the Rubik’s Cube has undergone several changes and
variations, both in its design and its size. Some of the most notable ones
are:
In 1981, Ideal Toy Company released a version of the cube with plastic
panels instead of stickers, to prevent peeling and fading.
In 1982, Rubik invented a larger version of the cube, called the Rubik’s
Revenge, which had four cubes per edge instead of three, resulting in a
4x4x4 cube with 7.4 quattuordecillion possible configurations.
In 1983, Udo Krell invented a bigger version of the cube, called the
Professor’s Cube, which had five cubes per edge instead of four, resulting
in a 5x5x5 cube with 282 trevigintillion possible configurations.
In 1988, the arrangement of colors on the cube was standardized with white
opposite yellow, blue opposite green, and orange opposite red, and the
red, white and blue arranged clockwise in that order. This is now known as
the Western color scheme. There is also an Eastern color scheme, where
green is opposite yellow and blue is opposite white.
In 1995, Tony Fisher created the world’s largest Rubik’s Cube, which
measured 1.57 meters on each edge and weighed 100 kilograms.
In 2006, Panagiotis Verdes patented a mechanism that allowed for the
creation of larger cubes with more than six faces. He released a series of
cubes called V-Cubes, ranging from 2x2x2 to 10x10x10.
In 2011, Oskar van Deventer created the world’s smallest Rubik’s Cube,
which measured 10 millimeters on each edge and weighed 1.2 grams.
In 2014, Matt Parker and Laura Taalman designed a cube with twelve faces
and twenty colors, called the Dodecahedron Optimal Colorings with
Antipodal Resolution (DOCTOR) Cube.
In 2018, Greg Pfennig created a cube with 33 cubes per edge instead of
three, resulting in a 33x33x33 cube with more than 6.68 duovigintillion
possible configurations.
These are just some examples of the many variations and innovations that
have been made on the original Rubik’s Cube. There are also cubes with
different shapes, such as pyramids, spheres and cylinders; cubes with
different mechanisms, such as magnets and gears; cubes with different
themes, such as animals, fruits and superheroes; and cubes with different
challenges, such as mirror cubes, void cubes and ghost cubes.
The Future of the Cube.
The Rubik’s Cube has come a long way since its invention in 1974. It has
become more than just a toy, but a symbol of creativity, intelligence and
perseverance. It has inspired generations of people to explore the mysteries
of mathematics, physics and art. It has also fostered a global community of
enthusiasts who share their passion and skills for solving the cube.
What lies ahead for the Rubik’s Cube? Will there be new versions, new
challenges, new records? Will there be new ways to use the cube for
education, entertainment or social good? Will there be new discoveries and
insights that can be derived from the cube? The possibilities are endless,
as long as there are people who are curious and willing to twist and turn
the cube.
The Rubik’s Cube is not just a puzzle, but a puzzle of us all. It reflects
our diversity, our complexity and our potential. It challenges us to think
outside the box and to find order in chaos. It invites us to play, to learn
and to grow. It reminds us that no matter how scrambled things may seem,
there is always a solution.
The Rubik’s Cube is more than a cube. It is a cube of wonder.
Source:
(1) A Brief History of the Rubik’s Cube - Smithsonian Magazine.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/brief-history-rubiks-cube-180975911/.