Rubik’s Cube Inventor Says The World Has Got Worse Over the Last 50 Years

In the nearly half century since the Rubik’s Cube was created, the world has changed for the worse in many ways, plagued by climate change, overpopulation and waste, said its Hungarian inventor, Erno Rubik, 78.

The multicolored 3x3x3 puzzle, which has become one of Hungary’s most prominent innovations, is still popular with young and old alike, with hundreds of millions sold worldwide.

Rubik, an avid gardener growing succulents in his state-of-the-art home in a suburb of Budapest, said that while technological advances have improved the world, the overall balance of change has been negative — meaning education to combat challenges and a connection to the world. physical world are vital.

“Nature has systems that can restore balance if dislodged,” he told Reuters on a terrace of his home dominated by square features, also designed by Rubik, an architect.

“We upset that balance drastically,” he said. “The most painful thing for me is that it seems we no longer know what it means to be humble or thrifty.”

Rubik, whose most famous creation is based on focus, problem solving and a hands-on approach, said the role of education is paramount in preparing younger generations to face the consequences.

“Much more must be invested, not just money, but attention, energy and intellectual effort so that future generations are better prepared to deal with our mistakes,” he said.

Rubik also warned against children’s excessive use of games and digital devices, saying it reduces the scope of their learning opportunities in the physical world.

“If I only see reality through a virtual lens, it dramatically diminishes the experience,” he said. “It’s as if you’re not reading a book by yourself, but have someone summarizing the contents of the book for you.

“We’re starting to lose our connection to the real world,” he said.