A shoebox-sized device discovered in 1901 by divers exploring a sunken shipwreck near the Greek island of Antikythera has sparked intrigue and wild claims of alien involvement. The Antikythera mechanism, dating back 2200 years, was found to be a hand-operated mechanical computer used by ancient Greeks to predict the movement of stars and planets with incredible accuracy.
New research by scientists specializing in studying space-time ripples shed light on the mechanism, revealing details about its calendar ring. The Glasgow University researchers found that the ring likely had 354 holes, corresponding to the lunar calendar, rather than 365 holes following the Egyptian calendar.
The device’s complexity inspired the plot of the latest Indiana Jones movie, where it predicts the location of fissures in time. Alien enthusiasts have even suggested it could be evidence of extraterrestrial beings passing on knowledge to ancient civilizations. Professor Graham Woan hopes that their findings will deepen our understanding of this remarkable ancient device.