Guinness World Records officiates smallest Rubik's Cube, slightly shorter than a grain of rice

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Toymaker MegaHouse has taken a classic puzzle and shrunk it to a size so small, you will need a pair of tweezers to solve it. Officially recognized by the Guinness World Records on August 23, in Taito, Tokyo, the Japanese company has designed the world’s smallest rotating puzzle cube (or a Rubik’s Cube). This tiny invention is only 4.90 mm wide, 4.92 mm tall, and 4.99 mm long, weighing a feather-light 0.33 grams. Despite its minuscule size, it’s fully operational, offering the same twisting challenges as the original—with an added challenge for those with fat thumbs, of course.

 

For context, the average grain of rice is about five to seven millimeters long, making this Rubik’s Cube slightly shorter. Some common species of ants also measure around five millimeters, making the cube about the same size as these tiny insects.

 

 

What makes this miniature puzzle even more remarkable is its construction from aluminum, adding durability without weighing it down. Crafting a cube this small took nearly two years of meticulous design and development. Each piece had to be cut and assembled with painstaking precision to ensure that it could still rotate smoothly, just like its larger counterpart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This pint-sized puzzle has been launched in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Rubik’s Cube, adding a nostalgic twist to its release.

 

 

However, owning this micro marvel won’t come cheap. Priced at 777,777 yen (around US$5,200), the cube comes with a stand and a certificate of authenticity, confirming its status as the smallest Rubik’s Cube ever made.

 

The idea for the tiny cube was first conceived four years ago, with production kicking off in 2022. According to Kiyokazu Saito, president of Iriso Precision, the company responsible for its precision cutting, creating a 5-millimeter cube was a labor of love. It was the result of precise machinery, high-tech cutting tools, and the dedication of the team behind the project.

 

 

• https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/10/afbbddbaeb4c-japanese-toymaker-unveils-worlds-smallest-rubiks-cube.html 
• https://nypost.com/2024/10/04/lifestyle/worlds-smallest-rubiks-cube-has-been-unveiled/ 
• https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/04/style/japan-worlds-smallest-rubik-cube-intl-hnk/index.html 

 

Images: PR TIMES and MegaHouse