Tonight on Nova: Ancient Computer (Antikythera)

[pokerfan]

Ancient Computer
Airing April 3, 2013 on PBS



In 1900, a storm blew a boatload of sponge divers off course and forced them to take shelter by the tiny Mediterranean island of Antikythera. Diving the next day, they discovered a 2,000 year-old Greek shipwreck. Among the ship's cargo they hauled up was an unimpressive green lump of corroded bronze. Rusted remnants of gear wheels could be seen on its surface, suggesting some kind of intricate mechanism. The first X-ray studies confirmed that idea, but how it worked and what it was for puzzled scientists for decades.

Recently, hi-tech imaging has revealed the extraordinary truth: this unique clockwork machine was the world's first computer. An array of 30 intricate bronze gear wheels, originally housed in a shoebox-size wooden case, was designed to predict the dates of lunar and solar eclipses, track the Moon's subtle motions through the sky, and calculate the dates of significant events such as the Olympic Games.

No device of comparable technological sophistication is known from anywhere in the world for at least another 1,000 years. So who was the genius inventor behind it? And what happened to the advanced astronomical and engineering knowledge of its makers? NOVA follows the ingenious sleuthing that finally decoded the truth behind the amazing ancient Greek computer.

Preview:

[drm604]

1. Cool.

I just set my Tivo to record it.

[progressoid]

2. Is this a repeat?

[pokerfan]

4. New, apparently

Original air date: April 3, 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NOVA_episodes#Season_40:_2012.E2.80.932013

[progressoid]

5. Cool.

I've seen some clips online about this. Fascinating.

[pokerfan]

6. Wikipedia has a pretty good entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism

[arcane1]

3. Cool, I hope I remember to watch this!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. To be sued by Apple in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ....

.

[davidwparker]

11. +1

Long time Apple fan, but this was funny.

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. Thanks!

This is an amazing piece of classical technology!

[IrishAyes]

14. At least the earlier adding machines of the twentieth century

could be beaten by an abacus.

[Sherman A1]

9. Thanks for Posting!

I will try to record it for later

[truth2power]

10. I saw that last night. Amazing! And the Arabs helped to preserve that knowledge. eom

[Shankapotomus]

12. I wonder how much David H. Koch

is paying public television not to air any NOVA episodes on Climate Change.

[midnight]

13. Currently watching this... This tool is having us re-think our past... I wonder why they tracked

the moon in relationship to Olympic games...