Antikythera, Greece - The Antikythera Mechanism, unearthed from a first-century B.C. shipwreck in 1901, continues to fascinate researchers. This ancient artifact, often hailed as the world's oldest computer, was believed to predict astronomical events.
A recent study, however, casts doubt on its operational effectiveness. Computer simulations indicate the mechanism's triangular gear teeth may have frequently disengaged. This could have caused the device to jam after only four months of operation, requiring a reset.
Researchers acknowledge that corrosion over two millennia might have altered the gears' original dimensions. This could mean current measurements are inaccurate. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the Antikythera Mechanism's capabilities.