Mystery of world's oldest computer unlocked
The 2,000 year-old mechanism was discovered on a shipwreck in 1901.
Antikythera mechanism, also known as the world's first analogue computer, found in 1901, from a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Antikythera is believed to be invented by Greek scientists in between 87 to 205 BCE.
The hand-powered device was used to display the motion of the universe in ancient Greece to predict certain astronomical events of the five known planets, phases of the moon and the solar and lunar eclipses using a mathematical equation, reports BBC.
The parts with the help of an analogue equation would align the mechanism's gear wheels in place.
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The hand-powered, 2,000 year-old device displayed the motion of the universe, predicting the movement of the five known planets, the phases of the moon and the solar and lunar eclipses based on a mathematical method described by the ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides.
For more than a century, scientists and researchers were perplexed by the complexity of the device. But they could not figure out what method was used to create such a complex piece.
Only a third of the device split into 82 pieces was found in the shipwreck. It is nearly impossible for scientists to reveal how the mechanism work and what it actually looked like.
The researchers are able to recreate the device using modern technologies such as 3D modelling and Microfocus X-ray Computed Tomography.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) believe that they are one step closer to uncover the mystery of the Antikythera mechanism managed to predict astronomical events with such accuracy.
A paper published in the Scientific Reports showed the gearing system, complex parts and movements of the mechanism.
The paper's lead author, Professor Tony Freeth said, "The Sun, Moon and planets are displayed in an impressive tour de force of ancient Greek brilliance. Ours is the first model that conforms to all the physical evidence and matches the descriptions in the scientific inscriptions engraved on the mechanism itself"
According to another recent study, evidence showed the mechanism's front-dial ring is a 354-day lunar calendar with a movable calendar ring with three Egyptian month names engraved in ancient Greek.
