The following explores some of the lesser known facts and aspects of time, clocks, and the way the world works. After reading this piece, your mind will explode with a wealth of timekeeping trivia that will allow you to master any relevant Jeopardy category, as well as amaze your horology inclined friends.
1. A "doomsday clock" is maintained by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Depending on how chaotic and warlike world events are, the clock moves closer to or farther away from midnight, which represents the end of the world. The last change was made Jan. 17, 2007, when the clock was moved ahead by two minutes, which means it is now five minutes to midnight.
2. Pierre Curie was the first to observe that quartz crystals could be used to produce stable vibrations, which made them suitable for use in clocks.
3. When you see a clock advertised, they almost always have their time set to 10:10. This is done because it places the clock hands in an almost "smiling" position while keeping the usual locations for brand markings free.
4. A left handed clock has hands that go in the opposite, counter clockwise, direction. This makes time appear to go backwards. While you might think this would be hard to get used to, the manufacturers of the clock claim that it is relatively easy.
5. All of the clock models which appear in the 1986 movie "The Labyrinth" have 13 hours instead of 12.
6. The very first mechanical alarm clock was built by Levi Hutchins of New Hampshire
As you can see there is a wealth of information and lore about clocks that you might never have imagined could exist. You just have to do a little bit of research to find out a whole world of time exists beyond the ticking hands of the mantel piece.
1. A "doomsday clock" is maintained by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Depending on how chaotic and warlike world events are, the clock moves closer to or farther away from midnight, which represents the end of the world. The last change was made Jan. 17, 2007, when the clock was moved ahead by two minutes, which means it is now five minutes to midnight.
2. Pierre Curie was the first to observe that quartz crystals could be used to produce stable vibrations, which made them suitable for use in clocks.
3. When you see a clock advertised, they almost always have their time set to 10:10. This is done because it places the clock hands in an almost "smiling" position while keeping the usual locations for brand markings free.
4. A left handed clock has hands that go in the opposite, counter clockwise, direction. This makes time appear to go backwards. While you might think this would be hard to get used to, the manufacturers of the clock claim that it is relatively easy.
5. All of the clock models which appear in the 1986 movie "The Labyrinth" have 13 hours instead of 12.
6. The very first mechanical alarm clock was built by Levi Hutchins of New Hampshire
As you can see there is a wealth of information and lore about clocks that you might never have imagined could exist. You just have to do a little bit of research to find out a whole world of time exists beyond the ticking hands of the mantel piece.
About the Author:
Jim Slate is a time enthusiast as well as a designer of unique stone wall clocks. Each of these mountain born beauty is made entirely unique by the rich natural features which occur in the surface of the stone.
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