Google Doodle: Who is Rube Goldberg?

Google’s latest surprise that allowed people to use a Rube Goldberg machine on their home page on the 4th of July triggered a lot of interest in the man who gave the name of these ingenious contraptions.

Reuben Lucius Goldberg aka Rube Goldberg, born in 1883 was a cartoonist, sculptor, engineer and inventor whose work inspired many scientists.

He was also known for his political cartooning, that got him a Pulitzer Prize in 1948.

During his career, he created cartoons that satirized machines and gadgets that he considered way too complicated.

That’s why a Rube Goldberg machine will be created from many different pieces that have little in common one with the other and will accomplish a very simple task, like popping a balloon after a complex interaction of all these components.

There are also many Rube Goldberg contests that are being held each year, in which inventors battle for the prize of the most ridiculously complex machine.