Evolution of a classic OR Life? Pah! Who needs one of those anyway?

 

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Everyone knows the puzzle classic that is Rubik's Cube. Invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian professor of Architecture, it was licensed for sale by Ideal Toys in 1980 and went on to win the prestigious 'Toy Of The Year' award for that year. Within a year or so, it was a massive, world-wide craze and there were hundreds of similar rip-offs, tacky accessories and unlikely alternatives. There were national and international competitions to see who could solve the cube in the quickest time (according to Wikipedia, the current record is 7.08 seconds by Erik Akkersdijk. How??).

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During the 1990s, however, people apparently decided that they'd had enough of straining their brains and getting nothing but ridicule and "Rubik's wrist" for your efforts.However, the rise of Sudoku and other related puzzles seemed to catch at the collective grey matter and the time seemed right for a resurgence.

Now, what you have to bear in mind that technological skills have improved somewhat over the years. Not only that, but not everyone forgot about that multicoloured cube.

Over time, new versions came along, all sticking to the same basic layout, but using 4x4 cubes, 5x5, 6x6 and even 7x7. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Nothing is really different, you just have to spend a bit(!) longer solving it.

Mind you - this is an interesting variation on the theme...

 

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Finally, somebody got around to wondering if they could make something with more that the standard six sides. Oh yes they could. Fancy a puzzle dodecahedron, anyone? How does 12 sides of multi-coloured brain strain grab you?

 

(as ever, click the pic to enlarge)

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Sadly, the Petaminx isn't available commercially as yet, so you can put your wrist bandages away again.

Or can you? Now, while some folks decided to continue with the idea of using regular solids to create their puzzles, it seems that others wanted to have a twisted take on the classic cube and really mess with our minds. Why bother with one cube, they wondered, why not two or three - or maybe more? And, said the puzzling Drs Frankenstein, how about we stitch them together?

Wait - what?

Take a look at these conjoined triplets:

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If that's not bad enough, you can also buy (yes, buy - unlike the Petaminx, these babies are available right now) this and its siblings over at Dealextreme.

Fancy a five-cube headache anyone?

 

You know, it strikes me that you could create some interesting cubist (sorry) sculptures with this one....