Rubik's Cube

Erno Rubik, Hungary, Hungarian patent filed 1975. A puzzle with 43 quintillion positions.

Overview

Budapest architecture professor Erno Rubik built his first cube in 1974 to show students how parts could move independently without the whole falling apart, then needed a month to solve it himself. He filed for a Hungarian patent in 1975, and the Magic Cube went on sale in Hungary in 1977. Ideal Toy licensed it for worldwide release in 1980 as the Rubik's Cube, and it became one of the best-selling toys ever. With about 43 quintillion possible positions, it can always be solved in 20 moves or fewer.