Mark Rober, the former NASA engineer who brought us a rocket-powered golf club, viral glitter bombs, and an arsenal of wildly imaginative inventions (including the tiniest NERF blaster and the largest Super Soaker), has just achieved his childhood dream: creating a walking slinky record. Yes, you read that right. How, you ask? By building what is essentially an infinite staircase—or, more accurately, an escalator for slinkies.
Rober’s contraption is mounted on a wall and motorized, ensuring the slinky can continue its hypnotic descent indefinitely—provided the motor doesn’t quit and the power stays on. Each step of the staircase is outfitted with a 3D-printed cone to keep the slinky perfectly aligned because even in the world of whimsical engineering, precision matters.
This creation serves no practical purpose other than to conquer what was once impossible: an endlessly walking slinky. And conquer it, he did. Rober’s slinky managed a jaw-dropping 208,000 stairs in 48 hours before he turned it off. Why? Who knows. But honestly, who wouldn’t want to see a slinky living its best life on an infinite staircase? Maybe I’m writing about this because I secretly do, too.
Images: YouTube (Mark Rober).
