On September 19, 2008 Professor Stephen Hawking unveiled the Corpus Clock, featuring the Chronophage, a grasshopper that eats time.
Watch a fascinating introduction of this clock by Dr. John C. Taylor of Cambridge University’s Office of External Affairs and Communications.
If you’re like me, you would like to see this clock in real-time, or to say it another way, you’d like to see it up front and in person, as in Face-to-Grasshopper.
Will ingenuity never cease!
It’s a beautiful work of art and also functional, what more could a women want!
38 years ago I worked for an “old fashioned ” clock maker.Through him and his work I have a greater appreaciation of the work that must have gone into this clock.
John Innes is still crafting his trade but enjoying a well deserved retirement too.
I wish he had the internet so I could share this website with him but like an old lantin clock John as not caught up with the times.
Regards,
Sarah
I was fascinated by the intricate precision of the internal workings of the clock. At first, I thought they were using electronics to drive the lights. I was really surprised to discover that it was all purely mechanical.
The Chronophage eating time was a creative touch to drive home the concept of relativity and passing of time. It looked like a cross between a deep sea angler fish (big sharp teeth) and a grasshopper.
There have been many different kinds of clocks made over the years. But this one looks a novel idea. Haven’t come across such an idea earlier.