If you’re unfamiliar with Rube Goldberg machines, it’s essentially a chain reaction-type machine normally designed to perform a simple task in a more complicated way. They could either consist of a seemingly unrelated series of devices or ones that hint at the resolution, with each one triggering the initiation of the next, eventually resulting in a goal of some sort. Read more to see what happens when this idea is combined with one of the most useless machines.
At first glance, the Rube Goldberg Machine you’re about to see appears to be just some clever video editing, but it’s actually just a real optical illusion. Put simply, a thick piece of glass sits next to a mixture of two clear, colorless oils, which is adjusted to match the glass’ refractive index. When this glass is submerged in the oil, it seemingly disappears.
Red Bull, best known for their energy drinks and Formula 1 racing team, is slowly making a name for themselves online as well. This incredible human-powered Rube-Goldberg machine definitely took countless hours (and takes) to put together. Continue reading to see it running perfectly.
The Page Turner could quite possibly be the coolest Rube-Goldberg contraption ever. In the video, you’ll see Joseph Herscher taking a sip of his coffee, pulling a string thereby tipping paintings, then balls roll down paintings, causing a lighting burner to boil water causing books to tip. Lastly, the vase and computer get knocked off the table, releasing tape to open front page of newspaper. Continue reading to watch.
File this under: creative Rube-Goldberg machines. This is a contraption unlike its predecessors, a “multi-room Rube Goldberg machine that takes four minutes doing all sorts of cray stuff, eventually taking a guys portrait.” Video after the break.
[via Dvice]
Google celebrated the 4th of July by creating an animated doodle in the form of a Rube Goldberg machine used to set off fireworks. For those who missed it on Google’s homepage yesterday, continue reading to see it in-action.
Easier to make than ever — thanks to sites like Instructables, Rube Goldberg machines have started popping up all over the world, and even in real-life competitions. We’ve compiled five of the most creative for your viewing enjoyment after the break.
Produced by Shirley Moyers, OK Go’s This Too Shall Pass music video features one of the craziest Rube Goldberg-like contraptions ever. Featuring “dozens of moving parts filling an entire Los Angeles warehouse, and – important to OK Go lead singer Damian Kulash – no computers or other tricks.” Videos after the break.
Shooting the video took two days and more than 60 takes, with most attempts failing at around the thirty second mark. To reset the entire contraption took a team of 30 volunteers close to an hour.
[via Gizmodo]
You’ve more than likely seen a fair share of Rube-Goldberg contraptions over the years, but this one spans the interior of a home. It starts “with an alarm clock and a rolling ball, but then all at once it incorporates golf clubs, a dizzying amount of tubes, darts flying between rooms, and a cellphone setup that.” Video after the break.
[via Dvice]
Taking just 88-hours and $1475 to build, this 10-foot tall breakfast-making Rube Goldberg machine “cooks up omelettes from scratch before toasting bread, which it can butter and add jam to – depending on taste.” Video after the break.
And of course the early morning pick-me up of coffee is also available at no extra effort – as well as freshly squeezed orange juice.