Scientists Unveil 2000-Year-Old Astronomical Computer

From ClickToNews

[edit] Abstract

Scientists from Britain, Greece and the US discover unknown ancient mechanical remains found on a shipwreck 100 years ago was once a state-of-the-art astronomical computer, about 2000 years ago, that could accurately track and predict the orbits of the sun, moon and possibly some of the planets.

[edit] Details

In 1901 the remains of a strange mechanical device were recovered from a Roman shipwreck. Composed of wood and bronze, the remains were partially embedded in rock and somewhat resembled the remains of a clock.

Now, a team of scientists using x-rays and other high tech tools have concluded that the mysterious remains are actually those of an ancient Roman astronomical computer capable of tracking the orbits of the moon, sun, and possibly some planets. They believed the device was created sometime betweeen 150 and 100 BC. It used 37 gear wheels, was hand cranked, and cased in wood.

Using high tech imaging technology, scientists were able to see instructions writting on the ancient remains of the wooden case. Anothing amazing discovery was the device's use of a differential gear - amazing as the next oldest device known to use a differential gear was built in the 17th century.

At the very least, this discovery should give historians of science something to talk about for years to come.