Time Eater

Dr. John Taylor unveiled The Corpus Clock last month in Cambridge with the help of Stephen Hawking. The mechanical clock is a new take on the grasshopper escapement invented by John Harrison in 1725; the escape wheel is modeled after a chronophage, or time eater, that appears to devour the seconds shown on the LED illuminated disks. The inscription echoes the clock's reminder that tme is relative: "The world is passing away, with its desire." (Vulgate 1 John 2:17).

Creative Commons image:  "Corpus Clock Reflections" by Slideshow Bob on Flickr.