Rubik’s Cube Facts
Back in 1974, Hungarian professor of design Ernő Rubik invented a simple cube – the rest as they say is history. Around the same time, architect Denys Lasdun was finishing up his Brutalist Masterpiece – the Institute of Education building at 20 Bedford Way. It was undeniably a good time for all things blocky and brilliantly conceived. To celebrate our affinity with the world’s most popular toy, we have compiled some amazing Rubik’s Cube facts.
Amazing Facts About the Rubik’s Cube
When Ernő Rubik invented his cube in 1974, he didn’t actually know how to solve it.
“Erno Rubik Genius Gala 2014” by Babak Mansouri – licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
With six coloured sides, 21 pieces and 54 outer surfaces, there are over 43 quintillion (that’s 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 to be precise) different possible configurations.
Having said that…
every single position of a Rubik’s Cube can be solved in twenty moves or less.
A 1981 guide to solving the Rubik’s Cube written by a 12-year-old English schoolboy – You Can Do the Cube – sold 1.5 million copies.
The most expensive Rubik’s Cube ever produced is the Masterpiece Cube. Diamond Cutters International created this standard size fully-functioning cube in 1995 which has an estimated value of $1.5 million dollars. It features 22.5 carats of amethyst, 34 carats of rubies and 34 carats of emeralds, all set in 18-carat gold.
More than 350 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold to date.
The world record for restoring a 3 x 3 x 3 cube is 5.25 seconds and was set by Collin Burns in 2015.
The youngest person to ever solve a Rubik’s Cube in a competition was Ruxin Liu from China, who was just 3 years 118 days old when she solved the cube in 1:39.33 at the Weifang Open on 14 April 2013. Here she is…
If you are not yet amazed at the skill and dexterity involved then watch this video of Mats Valk and Feliks Zemdegs going head to head in the last round of the 2013 Rubik’s Cube World Championship. This is ‘Speedcubing’ at its very best and most tense.
Speedcubing Video
Blindfolded Rubik’s Cube World Record
To further push the extremes of Rubik’s Cube, competitors across the globe have been solving the cube blindfolded relying on memory. You are given just 10 seconds to memorise the cube and then must solve it. In December 2014 in Szczecin, Poland, Marcin Kowalczyk broke the world record by completing the cube blindfolded in just 21.17 seconds.
Further Reading on the Rubik’s Cube
This PDF shows you how to solve the Rubik’s Cube.
Article in the Guardian on the Rubik’s Cube and Speedcubing.
The 20 Bedford Way Rubik’s Cube
We decided to celebrate our love of the Rubik’s Cube and honour its 40th Anniversary with our very own unique 20 Bedford Way Rubik’s Cube. We believe that our design is fiendishly tricky as you not only have to match the sides but ensure that the featured text is in the correct orientation.
Why We Love the Rubik’s Cube
1. Like us, it’s blocky and iconic
2. Like us, it’s a child of the seventies
3. Like us, it can be enjoyed by everyone
4. Like us, it holds countless hours of entertainment
5. Like us, it’ll keep you coming back for more once you’ve experienced it
If you want to come and see our state of the art event facilities and even have a go at our fiendishly difficult Rubik’s Cube contact us today on 020 7612 6143.
Header image By Hangsna (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ()], via Wikimedia Commons
