A shoebox-sized device discovered in 1901 by divers exploring a sunken shipwreck near the Greek island of Antikythera has sparked wild claims of alien involvement and even inspired the plot of Indiana Jones. Scientists specializing in studying tiny ripples in space-time have shed new light on the 2200-year-old Antikythera mechanism.
The device, dating back to the second century BCE, functioned as a hand-operated mechanical computer, allowing the ancient Greeks to predict the movement of stars and planets with remarkable accuracy. New research from Glasgow University suggests that the mechanism likely contained 354 holes, corresponding to the lunar calendar.
Using Bayesian analysis and techniques to measure spacetime ripples, researchers confirmed the precise positioning of the holes in the mechanism. The Antikythera mechanism also inspired the Archimedes Dial in the Indiana Jones movies, with fictionalized versions suggesting time travel capabilities.
While some alien enthusiasts have made wild claims about extraterrestrial involvement, Professor Graham Woan hopes that these new findings will deepen our understanding of this remarkable ancient device.