It was 1974, when Hungarian architecture professor Erno Rubik created a prototype of a three-dimensional cube and called it the Magic Cube (“Bűvös kocka"). In the years following, he used it to teach his students about three-dimensional space.
In the next three years the Magic Cube became really popular in Hungary, which in that time lived in its communist-era. It means that exports were tightly controlled by the government, so continued growth for the Magic Cube seemed to be complicated. Erno Rubik realized that the only solution to this problem is international toy fairs.
In 1979 the Magic Cube fascinated toy fairs in London, Paris, New York, and Nuremberg. After the Cube was transferred to Ideal Toy & Novelty Company, it was renamed to the Rubik’s Cube. In 1980 the company began putting it in stores.
Soon puzzlers all over the world wanted to solve the cube. Within two years they bought one hundred million of them, making Rubik’s Cube the title of most popular puzzle in history.
words to learn:
to solve - to find a way of dealing with a problem or difficult situation
prototype (noun) - the first model or example of something new that can be developed or copied in the future
three-dimensional (adj) - having length, depth, and height (трехмерный)
tightly (adverb) - in a way that is very strict and hard to resist, avoid, etc.
fair (n) - an event where people show and sell goods and servicesto fascinate - to attract or interest somebody very much
to fascinate - to attract or interest somebody very much
puzzler (noun) - a person who solves puzzles
puzzle (noun) - a game or toy in which you have to fit separate pieces together
The world faced many bestselling books on how to solve the Cube!) People in most countries were inspired, and now we have a competitive sport that is called speedcubing that fills arenas with teenagers racing to complete the puzzle in the shortest amount of time.
In 1981 the Rubik’s brand launched a new innovative puzzle where users could create unique shapes. That is why we know the Rubik’s snake and other forms.
The popularity of the Rubik’s Cube did not stop growing, and ended in the first-ever Rubik’s Cube World Championship in Budapest, Hungary. The first place won the person who solved the puzzle in 22.95 seconds.
word to learn:
to launch - to start an activity, especially an organized one
WHAT DOES THE CREATOR OF THE CUBE THINK OF ITS WORLDWIDE POPULARITY?
In an interview with Undark Erno Rubik said that the impact of the cube had been “much more interesting than the cube itself”.
Rubik initially believed the cube would appeal to those with science, math, or engineering backgrounds. But then… he writes: “it found its way to people whom nobody would ever have thought might be attracted to it”.
In 1974 E. Rubik invented the Magic Cube, but at that time he had no idea if his cube could even be put back into place. It took him a full month to solve his own puzzle.
So, if you have any difficulties with solving it - do not worry! Even for its creator it was not so easy!) Anyway, you may use the official website that can help you with this puzzle - https://www.rubiks.com/solution-guides.
Shocking facts:
- In 2012 1414 people gathered in London to simultaneously solve the Rubik’s Cube.
- In 2015 Justin Bieber solves the Rubik’s Сube on the Late Late Show with James Corden.
- In 2017 Rubik’s Cube celebrated a record year with retail sales reaching $250 million.
- In 2023 Max Park set a new world record - he solved the Cube in 3.13 seconds!
word to learn:
to appeal (to somebody) - to interest or attract someone
simultaneously (adverb) -happening or being done at exactly the same time
retail (noun) - the activity of selling goods to the public, usually in shops
sale (noun) - an act of exchanging something for money
References for this article:
- 50 years of Rubik’s Cube // The official Rubik’s
- Rubik’s Cube // The strong national museum of play
- A Brief History of the Rubik’s Cube // Smithsonian magazine