The world’s first known scientific instrument plotted the positions of celestial bodies nineteen years into the future — and as an added bonus, it kept track of upcoming Olympics.
“The maker took information about astronomical theories, and made a machine that could predict the future,” said Tony Freeth, co-author of a study to be published in Nature this week. “And it would tell you, as a bit of an add-on, what Olympic games would be in progress at the time.”