Rubik’s Cube

In May 1980, a new toy hit U.S. markets and set off a worldwide craze.

It was a cube-shaped puzzle that had been designed in 1974 by the Hungarian architect and professor Erno Rubik. It was sold in his country as Magic Cube.

Professor Erno Rubik, right, in 2014 at an exhibit honoring the 40th anniversary of his invention.  Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Within two years of expanding beyond the Hungarian market as Rubik’s Cube, millions had been purchased worldwide.

The puzzle’s initial popularity fizzled. Then came the internet.

By the early 2000s, devoted cubers began to connect through online forums and YouTube to share the steps toward getting each of the nine “cubies” on all six faces to display the same color. The sport of speedcubing took off.

Among the Rubik’s Cube competitions now governed by the World Cube Association are solving cubes for the fastest times with a single hand (6.88 seconds), blindfolded (16.22 seconds) and, to some cubers’ dismay, with feet(16.96 seconds).