Some of the most bizarre machines ever designed and built throughout human history, from the oldest computer of the Greeks to Leonardo da Vinci’s flying wing.
1. The Antikythera Mechanism
One of the most ancient and perplexing machines is the “Antikythera Mechanism,” discovered in 1901 in a Roman-era shipwreck by sponge divers near the island of Antikythera, according to Interesting Engineering. This device dates from 87 to 205 BC, and the exact purpose of its creators continues to baffle scientists.
The Antikythera Mechanism is considered the oldest computer in the world. (Photo: Wikimedia).
Some plausible explanations for the mechanism suggest that it is a computational tool for astronomy or a mechanical model of the solar system, used to track the cycles of celestial bodies like the moon and earth, as well as other planets. The Antikythera Mechanism has also been described as the oldest analog computer, used for astronomical predictions such as the timing of future eclipses.
When found, the device was housed in a wooden box. Preservation efforts identified 82 distinct fragments of the mechanism, with the largest gear measuring 13 cm in diameter and originally containing 223 gears. The front of the mechanism features a fixed circular disk that simulates the flat disk of the Earth orbiting the sun and 12 zodiac signs, arranged at 30-degree intervals. The outer edge of the disk has another rotating circle, marking the days and months according to the Egyptian calendar. When rotated, the Egyptian calendar circle can align with the zodiac signs. The mechanism operates via a small hand crank connected to the largest gear through a gear ring. This can move the day pointer on the front disk. Regardless of its original purpose, the Antikythera Mechanism was the most complex machine of its time.
2. Tesla’s Earthquake Machine
The genius inventor Nikola Tesla created numerous designs and machines. Originally, he developed an oscillator to generate electricity. Later, a version of the machine could even produce earthquakes. The original oscillator invented by Tesla used steam. Steam introduced into the oscillator escaped through ports while pushing a piston up and down. The piston was connected to the rotor part of an electric motor, causing it to vibrate at high speeds and produce electricity.
Tesla created various versions of the device, seeking to replace steam engines that were inefficient in generating electricity. However, at a party in 1935, the inventor claimed that a version of the oscillator could produce intense vibrations, even causing earthquakes in downtown New York. According to news reports at the time, the machine caused tremors near Tesla’s laboratory in Manhattan, leading to the arrival of police and emergency responders.
Tesla shared that while he experimented with the vibrations, the machine combined with the vibrations of the building, producing “strange cracking sounds.” In the chaos, Tesla grabbed a hammer and struck the machine. He claimed this device could bring down the Empire State Building if attached to a beam.
3. Dynasphere
The Dynasphere unicycle. (Photo: iStock).
The Dynasphere is an invention by British electrical engineer John Archibald Purves. Patented in 1930, the vehicle was inspired by a sketch from Leonardo da Vinci. The wheel has a cabin inside its circumference, providing space for a driver and one passenger. The June 1932 issue of “Modern Mechanics” detailed its internal mechanism. Both inner sides of the wheel have grooves that can run in any direction. A motor connected to the gearbox helps move the wheel. The vehicle does not tip over due to its low center of gravity.
The Dynasphere can reach speeds of 48 km/h. Interestingly, a ride on the Dynasphere certainly offers a unique view. After creating two prototypes of the vehicle, Purves developed a bus version that could carry more people but was not feasible due to difficulties in steering and braking.
5. Ornithopter
The ornithopter is an unusual machine that allows humans to fly like birds or insects. The vehicle stays airborne by flapping its wings. Some ornithopters are piloted and powered by engines, but the small-scale version is designed for one person. The history of ornithopter design dates back at least 1,000 years, with the Andalusian poet, engineer, astronomer, and inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas experimenting with powered flight in the 9th century. Leonardo da Vinci also designed an ornithopter based on studying how birds fly, sketching the machine with a passenger lying prone while controlling a pair of large wings using hand levers, foot pedals, and pulleys.
