Rubik's Cube
A three-dimensional combination puzzle made of 26 small cubes arranged in a 3x3x3 grid, each face able to rotate independently.
Injection-molded plastic cubies with an internal spring-and-axis mechanism, colored stickers or plastic panels
Players twist the cube's rows and layers to scramble its six colored faces, then work to twist it back until each face shows a single solid color again.
Hungarian architecture professor Ern\u0151 Rubik built the first working prototype in his mother's Budapest flat in 1974 using wood, rubber bands, and paper clips, originally intending it as a teaching tool to demonstrate 3D movement to his design students. It reportedly took him about a month to solve his own puzzle. He patented the design in Hungary in 1975, and international toy company Seven Towns brought it to global markets from 1980.
Became the world's best-selling puzzle toy and a lasting symbol of logical problem-solving, spawning international speed-solving competitions and a dedicated "cubing" subculture.
Over 450 million cubes have been sold since its release, and competitive "speedcubers" now solve it in under 5 seconds using specially engineered versions of the original design.
Liberty Science Center, New Jersey, USA, has hosted the touring exhibition "Beyond Rubik's Cube."
Smithsonian Institution Lemelson Center archives; official Rubik's Cube historical materials.