Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Rubik’s Cube, a toy that has captivated minds around the globe since its invention by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Ernő Rubik on 19th May 1974.
Originally called the ‘Magic Cube,’ the puzzle was later renamed ‘Rubik’s Cube’ to honor its creator and avoid international patent challenges. Surprisingly, Ernő Rubik himself initially struggled to solve his invention, taking over a month to figure it out.
With six colored sides and 54 outer surfaces, the Rubik’s Cube boasts an astonishing 43 quintillion possible configurations. Despite its complexity, every configuration can be solved in twenty moves or less using memorized algorithms.
The Cube comes in various sizes, from 2x2 to a massive 21x21, with the 3x3 version being the standard. In 1981, a 12-year-old English schoolboy wrote a guide titled ‘You Can Do the Cube,’ which sold 1.5 million copies, helping many to learn the art of solving this intricate puzzle.
One of the largest Rubik's Cubes in the world, measuring 6 ft 7 inches on each side, was created by British puzzle designer Tony Fisher on 18th November 2019. Despite its size, the Cube functions just like the standard version.
The most expensive Rubik’s Cube, known as the ‘Masterpiece Cube,’ was crafted by America’s Diamond Cutters International in 1995. This 3x3 cube features 18-karat yellow gold and over 185 carats of various gemstones, including amethyst, rubies, and emeralds, and is valued at $2.5 million (₹20.7 crore).
Since its release, the Rubik’s Cube has sold over 450 million units worldwide, making it the best-selling puzzle game and toy in history. The World Cube Association has been regulating and hosting Rubik’s Cube competitions globally since 2004, with events in 70 countries.
The world record for solving a 3x3x3 cube is held by America’s Collin Burns, who completed it in just 5.25 seconds in 2015. The youngest competitor to solve the Cube was Ruxin Liu from China, who, at just 3 years and 118 days old, completed it in 1 minute and 39 seconds at the Weifang Open in 2013.
In December 2014, Marcin Kowalczyk of Poland set a record by solving the Cube blindfolded in 21.17 seconds. A robot named Sub1 holds the record for the fastest solve by a machine, completing the puzzle in a mere 0.887 seconds in January 2016.
The Rubik’s Cube continues to be a symbol of intellectual challenge and creativity, inspiring millions to engage with its colorful, complex structure. Have you ever solved the Rubik’s Cube? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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