MSU Engineer To Tip Half A Million Objects Saturday In Record Attempt

(UPDATE, Monday, July 20, 4:20 p.m.: Steve Price made his Incredible Science Machine work on Saturday at the Michigan Science Center, but it appears a few sections failed, and the team failed to hit the world record they were attempting. Video coverage from Detroit’s WDIV-TV Channel 4 is at this link, while coverage from the Detroit Free Press is at this link.)

EAST LANSING — Steve Price, a Michigan State University College of Engineering student who has showcased his Rube Goldberg devices on “America’s Got Talent” and the “Rachel Ray Show,” has his biggest event ever planned for this Saturday in Detroit.

At 3 p.m. on July 18, Price and 15 builders from around the world will make an attempt at a Guinness World Record for the Largest Chain Reaction Machine. It is called Zeal Credit Union’s Incredible Science Machine and will take place at the Michigan Science Center in front of a live audience. The event will be filmed for the Discovery Channel show, “Daily Planet.”

Zeal Credit Union’s Incredible Science Machine will feature more than half a million objects, about 200,000 dominoes and thousands of other common items in a single display of the largest Rube Goldberg machine ever. The chain reaction will be sprawled out across a 5,000 square foot space and is expected to take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Price, a mechanical engineering senior from Canton Township, and his team of international builders are currently setting up the Incredible Science Machine at the Michigan Science Center, 5020 John R Street, Detroit, Mich., 48202.

In addition, the Incredible Science Machine builders will share their experiences and passions with MiSci guests in the Toyota Engineering Theater at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 14 through 17, giving attendees the unique chance to meet these experts in person.

Tickets to view the machine’s launch, which will take place on the fourth floor of MiSci, are limited to 200 attendees. More information about this event is available at IncredibleScienceMachine.com.

Currently, the Guinness World Record was set in 2012 by the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers Rube Goldberg Team. Their machine consisted of 300 different steps and lasted just under two minutes.

For more on the Zeal Credit Union, visit: www.zealcreditunion.org

The Michigan Science Center is a hands-on museum that inspires children and their families to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology, engineering and math in a creative, dynamic learning environment. The Science Center features five theaters, including Michigan’s largest screen at the Chrysler Imax Dome Theatre; the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium; the Toyota Engineering Theater; the DTE Energy Sparks Theater; the Chrysler Science Stage; a 9,800 square-foot Traveling Science Hall for special exhibits; hands-on exhibit galleries focusing on space, life and physical science; Kids Town just for pint-size scientists; along with, education and outreach programs.

More at www.Mi-Sci.org.