Purdue Claims World Record Goldberg Machine

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By Sean Michael Ragan
Posted 2011/04/20 @ 9:00 am
Category Education, Fun & Games, Science

Steve Rousseau writes for Popular Mechanics:

It starts with the Big Bang, re-creates the extinction of the dinosaurs, holds a jousting competition, flips over an album, and simulates World War II, a shuttle launch, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and even the alleged apocalypse in 2012. In its precisely executed review of history, “The Time Machine,” a Rube Goldberg contraption built by members of the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, incorporates a record-breaking 244 steps—all to water a single flower

Reportedly, the previous world-record holder, Katsumi Takahashi and co-workers at Ferris State University, had 230 steps. [via Boing Boing]

More:
Top 10: Rube Goldberg Machines

BY Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I write for MAKE, serve as Technical Editor for MAKE magazine, and develop original DIY content for Make: Projects.

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10 Responses to Purdue Claims World Record Goldberg Machine

Nathanael Phillips on April 20th, 2011 at 4:29 pm said:

That’s pretty impressive. I wish the video was a little clearer, as it feels like it’s just a disjointed series of mini-goldberg machines, as if each one runs independently. I don’t doubt, however, that it’s exactly as they say it is.

The apocalypse portion is brilliant. That alone made my day.

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KurtRoedeger on April 20th, 2011 at 4:30 pm said:

Well, now I have a goal for this weekend: 245 steps.

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Anonymous on April 20th, 2011 at 4:41 pm said:

Well now that I know how it all ends I can relax and enjoy the rest of my time here …

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Arno Brosi on April 20th, 2011 at 4:47 pm said:

Very nice,but they went straight from the medieval age to WW II?What about the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution?

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Anonymous on April 20th, 2011 at 4:59 pm said:

We need (nay demand) a precise, and overly legalistic, definition of a Rube-Goldbergian “step”.

e.g.: “Whereas a agent (monkey) prolapsing upon a sub-agent (toaster) is accounted as a full step, said agent (monkey) becoming engaged in the playing of cymbals as a consequence maybe not be accredited as a full independent step insomuch as the cymbals (secondary-agent) shall not promote the advancement of a concomitant nor consequence series of steps viz. ibid. cf:2.7.666″

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- Sean Michael Ragan on April 26th, 2011 at 4:57 pm said:
  
  That is pretty brilliant, really. My L was actually OL. Thanks for it.
  
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Anonymous on April 20th, 2011 at 7:01 pm said:

I saw that one in the prelims. Great machine.

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Gregg on April 20th, 2011 at 7:28 pm said:

Interesting.
But there will not be an “alleged apocalypse” then. We need to keep going until First Contact happens in 2063. Besides the only reason why something plans on happening then is because that calendar ends.

A group of characters insists something will happen next month followed by an “alleged apocalypse” happening a few months later. The group knows they are wrong, but that can not disappoint their followers.

What does that have to do with that machine? Nothing. It just shows why people do the things they do.

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Franking Machine on September 17th, 2011 at 1:03 pm said:

It starts with the Big Bang, re-creates the extinction of the dinosaurs.This is a good information.I like this one.This is a great article.I appreciate to this post.Thanks to share this great blog.Keep sharing.

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Franking Machine on September 17th, 2011 at 1:03 pm said:

It starts with the Big Bang, re-creates the extinction of the dinosaurs.This is a good information.I like this one.This is a great article.I appreciate to this post.Thanks to share this great blog.Keep sharing.

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