Architect Invents Toy Based On Scientific Riddle
Mark Burginger expects most children’s eyes to glaze over when they hear terms like “nanotechnology” and “quantum mechanics.” A toy he invented aims to change that.
Burginger, a self-employed architect, invented Qubits, an educational toy meant to teach children about myriad science and math concepts, including tetrahedrons, which are among the main building blocks of nature. The toy is a modular element based on a triangle, Burginger said, which means it is something that can easily be reproduced and used to make much larger structures.
Qubits stands for quantum bits, Burginger says, which are a unit of measurement in the realm of science that includes the development of semiconductors used to make the technology of cell phones or computers.
“Qubits are based on the geometry of the snowflake,” Burginger said, seated next to what will become a 5-foot-wide snowflake made of gray Qubits. “That has been a riddle to scientists for hundreds of years.”
The soft, plastic pieces can be used like Legos or Lincoln Logs to build bridges, snowflakes, globes and other geometrical structures.
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Photo by Melissa Jansson.
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