This Object Should've Been Impossible to Make

Adam takes up the challenge of building a museum-style housing for an impossible object: a glass-blown representation of the Boy's Surface mathematical concept. Created by master glass blower Lucas Clarke, this feat of fabrication was made as a gift to mathematician Cliff Stoll--one of Adam's heroes and the purveyor of Klein Bottles. Adam invites Lucas and Cliff to the cave to receive the build and learn what makes this object so mathematically delicious!
Find Cliff Stoll's Klein Bottles here: www.kleinbottle.com/
The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll: amzn.to/449kJGJ
Lucas Clarke's glassblowing: www.lucasclarke.glass/
Base Material: www.richlite.com/
Watch the finale of this video with Cliff Stoll UNCUT -- exclusive to Tested Premium and Patron members -- here: • UNCUT Boy's Surface Fi...
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Shot by Adam Savage and edited by Josh Self
Music by Jinglepunks
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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!
#adamsavage #onedaybuilds #mathematics

[@dannythedabbler]

I love your art, Adam, but watching you handle a valuable glass piece for an hour with your high enthusiastic energy is one of the most anxiety inducing things I've ever experienced, lol.

[@mr.fizzac3957]

Lol when he dropped it my heart stopped for second 😆

[@tiestofalljays]

I’m sure he knows what that glass could handle but man…even scraping/sliding it around on that table would have been impossible for me to do lol. I’d’ve put a little tea towel under it or something haha

[@riccaregio]

Glad it wasn't just me....I cringed more than once when he was constantly spinning it and putting it down to hard surfaces 😅

[@SteveAtUSF]

The look on his face is just the *pinnacle* of "boy did I just almost fuck up."

[@doktorrobingram]

Even after he dropped it, I cringed just hearing his wedding ring clank against it. I never realized how hyperactive he is until now.

[@Lintary]

The reaction and explanation at the end really made this all worth it, amazing to see the sheer childlike enthusiasm for this object and what it represents.

[@Joliie]

I want that wonder and excitement when I am in my 70s for sure.

[@nikonshooter71]

An I the only one that got a Back to the Future warm and fuzziness at the end 😊

[@randdmoore1]

Was waiting to hear "Great Scott"

[@malorum]

This guy needs his own channel!

[@davidioanhedges]

The utter enthusiasm is contagious A Klein bottle is a 4 dimensional object, the compromise in 3 dimensions is it self intersects once ... In some computer games if you go off the edge of the world you find your self on the other side of the map ... in all directions - this is the real projective plane - it cannot exist in 3 dimensions - but the 3 dimensional compromise is Boy's surface - which has as a compromise 3 self intersections

[@ChrisEllorris]

I absolutely adore how excited Doc Brown and Marty are at the end of this!

[@joeq3838]

Hah! Some 20 years ago Cliff Stoll sent a klein bottle that I ordered here to Portugal so I could give it to my dad for his 50th birthday. His attempt at writing in Portuguese "empty glass vase" in the side of the box became the incredible "an emptiness in glass" and I found it so poetic, the box became part of the gift

[@LunaireTD]

The atmosphere of witnessing 3 masters of their respective crafts coming together and talking about something that involves all of them is beautiful.

[@sIDsleeper]

Very well put!

[@chaselenz1265]

Adam handling the pieces was the most anxiety inducing experience I have ever felt. Just as I had convinced myself that due to its fragility and impossibility he would be extra careful, 9:45 happened. A non-zero number of years was taken off my lifespan!!!

[@j.p.1214]

seriously... he's awfully rough with the pieces. like, damn dude, less coffee maybe?

[@cosmicbilly]

Thats the most anxiety you've ever felt? Wow arnt you lucky? Go outside. Touch some grass.

[@jonathanrobertson7059]

I watch videos like these sped up which only made it worse lol

[@CosmicAnteater]

@@cosmicbilly Have you never heard of hyperbole? Using the term "touch grass" really makes your comment feel like projection honestly. No need to be a douche to others for no reason.

[@0osk]

​@@cosmicbilly DO NOT LOOK UP EXAGGERATION OR HYPERBOLE OR YOUR HEAD WILL EXPLODE

[@Nick-rs5if]

Cliff's reaction and enthusiasm for this project is unreal. The man is an international treasure!

[@MaxFromSydney1]

Part of Adam’s genius is his world champion ability to handle huge numbers of beautifully crafted fragile objects with seemingly minimum care but without breaking them. Don’t try this at home, folks… :D

[@gafailgaligoudo]

almost an anti-Linus in terms of fragility holding

[@littlebubbleguy]

Linos TechTip ​@@gafailgaligoudo

[@josho4228]

“It’s mathematically… delicious!” is an amazing quote

[@Eta_Hoyimi]

Nothing more heartwarming than seeing someone show their passion like this. Loved it.

[@WanderingLostMC]

I hear it to the tune of lucky charms

[@henrikhendrickson2375]

Cliff's effusive praise for Lucas at the end, and the intense nerding-out, warmed my soul.

[@hcrawford]

Always great to see Cliff Stoll.

[@bigdawghoss9871]

I want someone to make a supercut of Adam running back and forth around his shop like a madman from all the videos. It always makes me laugh

[@eedesign878]

I would have perfect music for that to mix.

[@KlodFather]

@@eedesign878 - And I was going to say a good dance track for it... And maybe put Adam on a screen or in some kind of crazy disco scene with his lab in the middle LOL Maybe even the aliens tuning in on him ha ha

[@KAMIKAZE-dk8xd]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 this should be the director's cut

[@SpydersByte]

58:30 that "youre brilliant" was so heartwarming

[@patrickextensis2065]

His comments at the end literally made me cry. Being validated by someone like that must be a pinnacle of your life's work. Incredible.

[@tested]

It meant everything to Adam. Truly.

[@ErizotDread]

Same here...the sheer joy and admiration that effused his voice at the end just gave me chills and brought tears. Loved it!

[@SophiaAphrodite]

So cool to see 2 people who are experts in their field while not really understanding the field of the other person have such a productive and brilliant interaction.

[@stickoutofthemud]

Why did I have to watch the ending twice!! 😅

[@Mizuna752]

The story is so cool and credit to Lucas. The sign of a true Master of his craft is to be told “It’s impossible don’t even bother trying” and instead of a warning to hear a challenge being issued.

[@cristian_prundeanu]

Their collective joy at the end, and the realization that three giants in their fields have come together for this, just fills my heart. Thank you!

[@WokeUpScreaming]

I was wincing the whole time you were rushing around with it and being heavy-handed, and the "stable state" moment gave me a bloody heart attack!

[@ohnhai]

I screamed out loud in the middle of the office !!! There were looks !!!!

[@geirmyrvagnes8718]

Wince-fest!

[@ianstarcroft]

Made me jump and inhale sharply for sure 😆

[@HighPeakVideo]

The number of times that thing clinked the inside and outside of the cloche it's a wonder it survived. As a research chemist there is a trick when dropping glassware of intercepting it with your foot - also handy in the kitchen.

[@wolfreicherter748]

@@geirmyrvagnes8718 totally

[@nobodyyouknow6998]

The shock of Cliff at the end when Lucas was like " It's only harder" and then proceeded to explain how he could get it to work, was just wonderful.

[@kawikamyers7320]

The Mathematician calculates what it should look like in real life, but the Artist knows the technique to fake it in real life. Just beautiful. I love when collabs like these happen.

[@WizardOfDocs]

Lucas is absolutely the best.

[@bavettesAstartes]

I wish my father would speak as highly of me as Cliff did of Lucas there. It was really heartwarming.

[@MushookieMan]

I didn't understand what they were describing

[@WizardOfDocs]

@@kawikamyers7320 honestly, it's more like "if you tell Lucas Clarke that something is impossible, he'll take it as a challenge."

[@Eliwood407]

Hearing that "You're brilliant" at the very end must have felt so good. Amazing!

[@Mtlmshr]

The analogy of the photograph absolutely explains (to me) what this all about….genius!

[@Numbnuts007]

This is actually amazing, no TV producer in their right mind would have ever wanted to green light this, but the fact that we have the internet and the fact that we have creators like yourself who want to do these things and document them, our world is better as a result, I hope you and everyone realizes the gravity of that. Have a great day Adam Savage this was a lovely video.

[@freddykoopmans6985]

no tv producer wanted to leave it for what it is......they wanted to make a show of it and they would huge over should the point that matters. liked it like Adam did bring the final and did enjoy watching it.

[@turkeyfootkid]

What lol

[@Dropmurphy]

​@@freddykoopmans6985Ehhh...???

[@miguel5652]

@@freddykoopmans6985

[@iambear.6526]

*No TV network. A TV Producer could definitely want to green light something like this, but the network would not.

[@sergib920]

"I've achieved something of a stable state" 🤣The comic timing of that statement and what followed... Any other channel and I would have thought that was staged. After all these years and so many accidents and close calls he still doesn't try and pre-empt the glass from sliding out of his early-stage holder. This is why I love Adam, incredible talent and skill and yet at times, the naivety of an apprentice. True entertainment and education in every way and I'll never be bored of him.

[@Birckin]

Wow, those are two invaluable guests there. I searched what a Boy's surface was and I didn't deeply understand it, even some videos were vague or too technical about it. But here comes a mathematician called Cliff Stoll and he explains it with so much clarity, emotivity and passion that it was a pleasure hearing the explanation from him. I feel I could listen to him hours, and even how he expressed himself with his whole body and arms, amazing and mesmerizing. And the technical skills and ingenuity of Lucas Clarke was also marvelous. I really enjoyed their contribution to this video.

[@gregvondare]

Adam, some random thoughts: this object is deeply related to knot theory and has a connection to the way the strong force binds those three quarks inside a proton. Even the greatest physicist would not have mentioned that the shape also relates to biology ('bones of my inner ear') because they didn't go there. This is your unique genius. When you dropped the construct, suddenly Newton showed up and reminded us all that he was still part of the game. You have spent many years bringing the intricacies of science to ordinary people and elevating them. This episode is one of your best and most profound. Huzzah!

[@mmoncur]

I love how Cliff spends a few minutes explaining 4-dimensional topology and then patiently listens with enthusiasm while Lucas schools him on glassblowing!

[@ridethecurve55]

Dude is too caffeinated for my eyeballs to follow. Settle down and stop the ADHD thing!

[@n1ck_kc1n]

@@ridethecurve55 yikes, if that's what you took out of the experience I am desperately sorry for you.

[@goncalovazpinto6261]

@@n1ck_kc1n Agreed. It's a pleasure witnessing restless minds in each other's company!

[@Verdictus13]

@@ridethecurve55 That's excitement, you may want to look into hobbies.

[@helplmchoking]

​@@ridethecurve55you never seen someone truly excited about something that's a genuine passion for them? We all used to get that excited as kids, gotta hang on to that kinda joy my friend

[@tjtobin86]

The way Cliff and Lucas talked together at the end made the whole thing worth while. Such respect for each other!

[@wesley8599]

Just got to it, and the table grip said it all. Two experts truly seeing each other eye to eye, and each praise and raised point really seemed to hit each one of them. I had to watch a second time

[@MatheusJacomelli95]

A great teacher is always a good learner

[@georgehubbs1747]

Absolutely wonderful! The way that everyone responded to each-other at the end was wholesome and heartwarming. You could see the mutual love and respect that confounded words and defied description. What a great project and God bless you for sharing this!!

[@kartzgo9938]

This by far shows how important it really is for mathmaticians, scientists, theorists in those arts; and different architectualists to communicate between eachother to develop what is to be thought the impossible, possible.

[@altioar]

Damn, that conversation at the end made me shed a tear. Watching a role model/father figure express that much praise and how proud they are of you and what you've accomplished is simply beautiful. I don't know how to better describe it.

[@RJJFavorites]

It’s a completely lovely moment. It hits a little differently when the closed captions are on though.

[@SkippyDa]

@@RJJFavorites The closed captioning also things the band saw applauses!

[@MorpheousXO]

@@RJJFavorites Welp, I went back an rewatched the last bit with the CC on. Yup. That hits different alright!

[@umachan9286]

Cliff Stole is exactly the kind of professor I loved to have in University. He's that oddball kind of guy, dressed like a hobo, had wild hair and looked like he just woke up and stumbled in but knows everything about the subject and is able to explain it in ways that make it entertaining.

[@superdave8808]

It's always great when they're so passionate about their subject that you become passionate by osmosis.

[@BassMaster.454]

I like the way he was explaining it. I would love to have a professor like that.

[@johnrogers1251]

I wish I had Cliff Stoll for a physics prof. His antics alone would keep the class entertained, and, oh yeah, you'd learn a thing or two by virtue of his ability to explain the subject matter! Maybe someday I will get to meet him. Another fun fact about Cliff : In a presentation he gave to high-school physics professors, he uses a slide rule to solve a problem, and the audience applauds wildly! Well done, Cliff Stoll!

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

@@superdave8808 Whenever I am passionate about a subject people look at me in a weird way.

[@emilyrln]

@@paulmichaelfreedman8334 I feel bad for people who can't understand other people's enthusiasm. The world must be so much less interesting than it is for those of us who discover a new depth and dimension to topics we hadn't previously been keen on.

[@kilianalexander2736]

I loved the way Cliff explained things. Didn't understand more than a third of it, but I never took math of any kind after 11th grade. If I'd ever had a math teacher with his way of explaining things and level of enthusiasm, maybe I wouldn't have hated it so much lmao. His enthusiasm is enthralling

[@docfarl]

9:44 got me jolted and screaming involuntarily, as if I was holding the piece when it dropped! Lol.

[@Fiery25123]

Cliff Stole is the perfect image of a math genius. Holy moly, he's right out of the best cartoons. I mean that in the most heartfelt way. He's amazing.

[@iamfuturetrunks]

Reminds me of Dr. Emit Brown from back to the future. Being very excited/enthusiastic about stuff and being so enthralled with it everything else around them fades away.

[@Fiery25123]

@@iamfuturetrunks YESS!!! He's a perfect Doc Brown!!

[@xafierah]

The Numberphile videos that he is in really benefit from his energy. He's so much fun to watch (and they're so interesting, too).

[@Fiery25123]

@@xafierah Ooooh, I gotta check those out! Thank you!!

[@Okurka.]

@@iamfuturetrunks There wasn't a Dr. Emit Brown in BTTF.

[@dahveedperez4987]

That ending reaction and explanation from Cliff really highlights how great of a teacher and thinker he is. I understood way more about translating 4d objects into 3d space in 2 minuets then anything else I've ever read. The pure joy he remarks with is infectious.

[@space1217]

You could have made the 3 studs out of some clear resistant material that can proyect and expand light, hollow, and put the light in each of them from under the base so in that way have a more defused effect of light on the glass object.

[@ryanjones7851]

It’s crazy to think I watched you as a kid, now I’m watching you while I work my 10 hour shift at a machine shop. Love it

[@alls0p69]

The last 10 minutes of this is the best way I can describe Art and Science coming together. It is a beautiful conversation.

[@reetlad]

I could have watched a 4 hour video of them just chatting haha

[@adrian.956]

I remember buying a Klein bottle from Cliff back in 2018. It was the best buying experience I ever had. He not only signed it, but also took pictures with it around his garden and gave me a little personalized message. I was probably one of thousands buying from him, but it felt like I was his number one customer. Truly an awesome guy.

[@quietkilljoy]

I had the exact same experience! In 2017 ordered the smallest size and I asked if he would still be able to initial or sign it and I said something silly like “I’m so zazzed!” Which doesn’t really mean anything but I was just excited and didn’t expect a personalized response. Anyway, he used a tiny pen to sign it and took a picture. In his response he said “I’ve never heard the word ‘zazzed’ before!”. It was so sweet

[@GRAPHMOZOID]

I used to build custom lab equipment for all kinds of applications for many very well known institutions for many fields of science (Wave tech more specifically), and have had to design and commission glassware to be blown. The process is incredibly touchy, and can go wrong in a heart beat, and does go wrong quite often! The people who can make one offs of not only complex but even pretty freaking accurate glassware have mind blowing skill. If you ever need accurate custom lab glass, be ready to wait a few months, and pay a high price! Also: If you break it, you get to do it all over again! Always order 2 or three and charge for them, as "Must have accessories", as even if you don't break it, the end user will sooner or later, and more often sooner, than later.

[@rp71]

I think the brass holder could be done if the cups were curved around the glass, rather than being symmetrical. You would need the stem to be in 3 pieces rather than two with opposite threads, so you could twist the middle segment to expand or shrink the cup around the glass (since the cup wouldn't be able to rotate on the glass).

[@JohnHoggard_aka_DaddyHoggy]

The interaction between Lucas and Cliff at the end of this video was just magical - everything I ever loved about being a scientist (when I was a scientist).

[@ArnoNymus]

Turn on subtitles and have a different sort of fun xD

[@rinsedmate5791]

@@ArnoNymus For me it was Machop, Machoke and Machamp

[@mikeo759]

@@ArnoNymus Last line was "You're pregnant" LOL! I can't figure out what he actually said

[@BOTYgaming]

@@mikeo759 I think it was "You're brilliant"!

[@bloodthorne77]

I need a shop like Adams. I need a frizzy haired old man wandering around it that knows more math than I ever will, and yet is so genuinely entertained by things in that shop that he can just entertain himself by explaining why it's so entertaining to him with such vigor even more!

[@gruntopolouski5919]

With a box marked “Raptor Eyes”?

[@Zappygunshot]

Honestly, so many of us need that. It's why I wholly believe there should be more public workspaces available where you can just bring your materials and use their tools to make whatever you like. Being able to use tools you could never afford yourself, in a space with lots of other creative people, to make something marvelous gives you so many more avenues for artistic expression, functional engineering and quality production you'd never be able to achieve on your own.

[@xger21]

Oh this is fascinating. I honestly considering studying math after I finished my undergrad math degree. Theoretical geometry is utterly fascinating to me!

[@tonyhallen1062]

Ideas--put switch on power cord instead of base, include a dimmer for more subtle lighting. Adam's decision to not use brass was best--the brass distracted from the form of the Boy's Surface.

[@LordMoku]

I swear to god no other channel gives me anxiety like watching your videos. I had no idea that eccentric geniuses like Cliff Stoll actually existed outside of movies, but oh my god what a character! I love him! He deserves *all* the glass immersed mobius strips!

[@techman2553]

I couldn't take it anymore while watching the first part of the video, and decided to skip ahead .... right to the scene where he dropped it.

[@LordMoku]

@@techman2553 I simply closed my eyes when it happened, because I knew it was coming from the moment he started touching the glass like it was a christmas bauble, and not the priceless modern artefact it is. (Frankly I thought the case was extremely underwhelming too.)

[@firedale2002]

Cliff is quite a character. I've seen him on a lot of Numberphile videos; he is quite excited and exciting to watch if you find it easy to get sucked into someone else's enthusiasm.

[@kevinsmith954]

Eccentric geniuses like Cliff Stoll are quite common in the autism community.

[@polelot5824]

Cliff is brilliant. Highly recommend all the numberphile videos he's in

[@CC-gg4oj]

The world needs these two in more videos together! Loved it Adam!

[@aboriani]

As other said, never felt so anxious watching Adam flailing his hands around all those rare pieces of glass... And when he dropped it, twice, well, I felt like Jaime a little! But in the end all was well. And that 4th dimension explanation at the end felt like dessert! It kinda remembered me when I used to help/work with my father in his shop and after a couple of hard days working non stop, we sat around whatever we just finished building, admiring it, talking about it as we felt the stress finally leaving our minds and bodies.

[@annihull6373]

What fun! Thank you for including the presentation at the end of the video. It was such a joy to listen to the guys talk about the object oh, the role they played in how the end result was completed, excetera. Witnessing their shared joy and laughter brought joy to me.. Blessings.

[@bobbymelehes732]

To anyone who knows, Adam being able to drill a blind hole in plastic with a heavy cordless drill without breaking through shows his level of hand tool mastery.

[@markrichards9646]

Adam, when you placed the thing on your workbench and then rotated it, it’s symmetry became instantly apparent. As you turned it, it kept presenting the same shape every 120°. I think you should mount it on a turntable and perhaps make some shaped divots in the turntable, for each of the contact areas to rest in.

[@megadrakex]

Yes! Adam I think your brass knobs were a very good idea. You could then pivot the brass ring and rotate it in a 3-D periodic motion, which I think was the way you wanted to tell its story. Maybe rubber washers could help conform the brass knob edges more securely against the glass surface?

[@Mk101T]

@@megadrakex Some clear poster putty would work I think. But yes rotating , or a trio of different colored lights rotating .

[@jodypascoe5812]

I was thinking submerge it in water where it floats, but tethered to the bottom to keep it in place. A motor can turn the tether to give an all around view. A boys surface Bouy 😆

[@Mk101T]

@@jodypascoe5812 Can it hold air ? 1/3rd of each 1/3rd ?

[@oxyLuna]

@@megadrakex He explained why the rubber washers wouldn't work. It would still move over time. 12:15

[@chrisweaver41]

End result is awesome, when you started I was thinking the way you were turning and exploring it would end up as a dynamic display that would rotate to allow viewing from multiple angles. It also seemed that if the cups were form fitting saddles it would have held up but I certainly wasn’t there and the complex geometry may not have worked out.

[@EagleMacCassady]

Adam, you could use the brass ring by putting suction cup holders inside the brass cups, even design the holder to have a spring (ink pen spring) that would push the suction cup out with minimum force, also you could make the inside (inside the glass dome) base rotatable, those were the first two Ideas (lit with LED is a must) that popped into my head as soon as I saw the Boy's Surface at the start of the video.

[@dgrimescomedy]

The entire segment with Lucas and Cliff brought me back to learning about physics, math, and engineering with my father as a child. (My father is a mechanical engineer specializing in fluid dynamics.) Cliff has exactly my Dad's energy, mannerisms, and fashion sense.

[@MrGrimsmith]

Oddly enough, I thought a similar thing (well, not the dress sense as shirt, tie and blazer are my father's normal) but the energy. And yes, he too is a mechanical (although more specifically aeronautical) engineer specialising in, you guessed it, fluid dynamics :D

[@AxGryndr]

Perhaps Adam should consider a dense rubber floor mat for the cave. Dense rubber mats relieve stress on the joints, reduce damaged to dropped tools and helps prevent some breakable objects from shattering when dropped.

[@twiz66]

Nearly had a heart attack when that happened... ...THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

[@subn0rma1]

@@bad_financial_move9169 he's definitely giving off some rubber room energy in this video

[@emorphien]

Adam should have taken that as a sign to just go home for the day

[@DavidLindes]

@@emorphienright? Especially since he’d already been saying it was time. Yikes. 😂

[@Scottie_S]

Yes! Oh God Yes!

[@grayjo]

I'm really a bit shocked that the solution to the display of this object, that Jamie demonstrated that makes you want to pick it up and look at it from all angles, wasn't some kind of contraption that rotates it around on all axes.

[@ifly65]

You are either extremely confident w your hands, like a musician...or extremely lucky. 11 minutes in and its my guess that cool artwork will be shattered on the floor. You rock Adam!

[@Ajswindowshelper]

There is something truly magical about watching 3 people with seemingly different interests come together to explain what are abstract concepts to each other in such a beautiful way. I could watch it all day.

[@Uradamus]

That ending was so good; it brought a tear to my eye. The joy that Lucas was experiencing from Cliff's praise of his accomplishment was palpable!

[@BigDaddyMacc]

Same!

[@jordanwharton5286]

@@BigDaddyMacc I was going to say the exact same thing! Cliff was over the moon, and Lucas and Cliff connecting like that, and Lucas telling him that he, in fact, COULD do it 100% properly was also fantastic. Thanks again Adam for sharing this wonderful experience!

[@Orphioux]

Mmmmmm, Cliff bar.

[@KlodFather]

That young man is scary smart we need more young people like him with bright minds. Cliff reminds me of the learned mentors I had who taught us about so many things in science and mathematics. God bless those old men who shared their wisdom before passing. Cliff is a treasure as a mentor. Thank you to Adam for sharing this great video and moment at the end. I cannot emphasize enough how good this is.

[@majorhayze]

Cliff’s energy is astounding! Lucas’s work was incredible, and the stand really does let the article speak for itself. :D

[@BusStopWilly]

So wonderful when intelligent people from different areas of knowledge learn from each other. Imagine a society where there was no gatekeeping of information and education was freely available to anyone for life.

[@elite_digger]

I don't understand half of what they are talking about, but the sheer enthusiasm, excitement and PASSION for the things each of them do, brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

[@owenjenkinsofficial]

I loved seeing Cliff's reaction at the end, his and everyones excitement, demonstrating how perfect of a gift this was for him. The math and technicality fascinates me although it is beyond my understanding at the moment, but Cliff's exposition about its nature was just thrilling! Love love love collaborations like this!

[@cbarker002]

Dr. Stoll's reaction, he's utter love and enthusiasm brought tears to my eyes. Outstanding is really an understatement.

[@OneSkiWonder]

Watching a master of their craft work at their craft and listening to them talk about it is possibly the most beautiful pass time possible.

[@GodsGanja]

Use the ring but with one of the suction cups on the bottom so it's actually holding it up instead and not with the item floating between the other two unstable suction cups, so in other words rotate your ring either clockwise or counterclockwise and position/orient your suction cup to functionally support directly at the bottom

[@Doppeljot]

Cliff Stoll has been a hero of mine since his days as a regular science commentator on The Site back in the 90s. Great to see he's still going strong 🙂

[@alexhuxley3355]

Lets hope Adam's hair get's that good when he's a few years older

[@Hacker-at-Large]

Cliff Stoll’s _The Cuckoo’s Egg_ is probably responsible for getting a generation into computer security. Still worth reading after all these years.

[@HairyBottom]

Was the “The Site” a tv show or a website?

[@ambulocetusnatans]

Me too. I saw a lecture of his, then found his website. It was one of my first bookmarks from the early internet..

[@ShuffleSharding]

@@HairyBottom Both! tv show with Soledad O'Brien, and an accompanying website too. Cliff would present a personal commentary segment, seemingly from his yard, or a yard at least. This made more sense in the 90s.

[@Bedgie01]

I loved the comment made by Lucas when Cliff pointed out the slight flaw with it, "Thanks you just made it easier." and Cliffs reaction to that.

[@sparkleflair]

This video just thrilled me! The excitement of Cliff Stoll and the discussion between you three was just awesome, thanks for filming and sharing it!

[@timothysanderson4250]

That last 8 minutes or so with the maker and the math guy was the best part of the video. Passion is cool to see and math guy had it.

[@j76148]

Watching the interaction between you three is possibly the most entertaining thing ever captured on camera. All three of you are quirky and energetic people and it’s awesome.

[@KomradeKD]

I have never gasped, while watching a piece of media, as loudly as I did during your "stable state" segment. That ending though was *chef's kiss* absolutely perfect. The way his eyes lit up, he was as "giddy as a schoolboy" as they say in The Last Crusade. I am genuinely happy to have gotten to see that moment.

[@buto6882]

Physicists and mathemeticians have these gems like Cliff of folks who are so very passionate about their craft it’s beautiful i had a physics teacher in highschool who was very similar

[@mattjohnson9419]

Nice! When I saw Cliff spinning the base with it plugged in, it gave me the thought that it would have been really cool if you could make it spin like a lazy susan while being plugged into the wall. Great job!

[@Josstrigaming]

My heart stopped when he dropped it. Im so glad it survived that fall, its a beautiful sculpture

[@roycarlson0517]

😂😂😂😂 laugh cry that it didn't break . I would 😢😢😢 sad cry if it actually broke. ❤

[@sunderark]

I think he actually caught it. That's pretty swift of Adam.

[@Josstrigaming]

@@sunderark I don't know about that, it sounded like a clink on the ground to me

[@sunderark]

@@Josstrigaming brass ring hitting glass.

[@dfmayes]

Adam's guardian angel somehow prevented the thing from shattering.

[@mads-emiljensen9734]

Cliff Stolls enthusiasm for mathematical glassware is always exciting, thanks for the video Adam!

[@Shit_I_Missed.]

Cliff Stoll's enthusiasm for ANYTHING is always exciting! The man is absolutely brilliant and has an infectious enthusiasm :D

[@user-tt2ns8un7w]

Great project I agree with your initial thoughts: a brass ring with three points. A few refinements come to mind: Add semi circular brass clamps lined with gorilla tape to snugly hold the tubular shapes permanently attached and safe. You could also use neoprene as mentioned. Just limit the holding pressure so as to not crack the glass. Add a second ring to create a gimbal system so you can view the item with out breaking it. Add a led lighting system varying colors from below and the back with mirrors on three sides to highlight the dimensionality of the item. It’s a beautiful piece.

[@MrScotttomo82]

I love Adams videos. His enthusiasm and passion for everything he does, is truly enamouring. I sometimes wince at his tool shop practices though. I often wonder how he hasn't been seriously injured more often 😅

[@MrMessy69]

My initial thought was a motorised stand coming out of the centre of the base, with the object balanced on a mount with a light inside and the dome over it. Then it would turn slowly to be viewed from all angles and lit internally.

[@HavocHounds1988]

Yep, I was thinking about the same. I feel the mount setup he came up with along with the light and a motor to make it spin slowly would really help show off the symmetry.

[@furbyfubar]

I had the same thought, but while also mounting it on a diagonal plane so that you could see it from more angles as it spun. (As opposed from the same angle for all 3 symmetrical parts.)

[@last808]

I'd like a cube instead of a dome for contrast between shapes.

[@Chumppi]

You could've even made it a mechanical winding turntable like a musical box. That way it wouldn't even need electricity.

[@j.f.c]

Those guys at the end are epic, such a great ending to your build. The uniqueness of the object inspired a couple ideas. 1. Build the arms to cradle the entry points accentuating the form of the glass. 2. Transfer light through the arms with thick gauge fiber optic cable inside the tubing

[@resoljmessman541]

I agree with you @j.f.c... I absolutely love Adam. I'm amazed by his abilities and yet driven into high levels of anxiety by his antics. I think he produced a good display of the Boy's Surface, but felt he gave up too easily on his first iteration of holding the object. Putting the Boy's Surface into a suspension frame with the lighting coming from within the framework would have put this on par with the actual object itself. Thank you, Adam for sharing with us this treasure and taking us on this journey.

[@Bruno-cb5gk]

@@resoljmessman541 I think he should have made some 3d printed protypes to test various methods of holding it. I also liked his initial idea of having it not be perfectly flat, which he could have still done by raising the contact points by varying amounts.

[@NorbertHajduNorb]

I was thinking the exact same thing, elevate the glass object as well, and run the lighting through the tubes to illuminate in those 3 places.

[@MrSchism]

Understanding the fourth dimensionality of a klein bottle (or, in any projection of a 4d object in 3d space) is to think of a measurement noun (eg: width, height, length). I usually go by depth, but lets use something not easily confused with height and make up one: outth. Like, how far out it goes. So tracking something, it could go (w,x,y,z): 0,1,1,1 0,1,2,1 0,2,2,1 Then move on the outth axis and get 1,2,2,1. This doesn't have to change the position of where it is in the normal 3 dimensions, but it moves in the 4th on the w axis.

[@killhour]

Cliff Stoll is an absolute treasure to the world and I'm proud to have one of his Klein bottles in my collection. It was fantastic to see his excitement in the video.

[@scottgriz]

Wasn't the purchase process and his response half the fun of buying it? He takes so much care and joy to make the process fun. I ordered one for a friend and was so enthralled by the interaction that I had to get one of my own.

[@saphcal]

seeing cliff compliment Lucas there at the end is so heartwarming. Cliff is clearly incredibly smart and seeing him wowed by some of what Lucas explains it just so cool.

[@ernestnorrman2824]

When you said "OH COME ON" gave a feeling that even a master builder like yourself can get frustrated too. I needed that.

[@firefighter3b]

Use a -U- shaped holder out of 1/8” dia clear acrylic and heat it and form it to the radius of the glass and attach them to your brass circle at each tang and spring load them to keep mild pressure on glass.

[@blind3897]

Well then, i didn't except this to get me emotional by the end, knowing absolutely nothing about the subject going in. But that is the beauty of Adam Savage's content. I think 80% of the videos i click on are about subjects i know nothing about but i still get extremely entertained and on top of that my limited knowledge grows. Much love Adam, you are a treasure.

[@b25mitchel]

Adam, could you put an anti-reflective coating on the bell jar? That would allow the jar to be a protective cover without introducing its own complex reflections.

[@Tunkkis]

It's interesting how easy it is to overlook such simple, yet meaningful details.

[@__WJK__]

Totally agree and since we're spit-balling improvement options, I would have explored adding a mini DC jewelry turntable to further show-off the Klein bottle's 3D/4D visual intricacies. Also would have totally gone with rechargeable batteries (ie/eg 18650s, etc...) so the unit could be displayed anywhere vs being dependant on a wall-wart and a 110v outlet. Other than that, the display turned out great, well done A.S. !!

[@relishgargler]

I think I also would have added extra lights, probably independently RGB programmable, shining up through the carbon tubes. They look like they’re just about right for a 5mm LED.

[@Always_LaggginTTV]

The noise of the drill turning on has Stanley become one of my favorite sounds and i almost wanna say it was used in the mythbusters intro

[@kevin60718]

I love the sound of your shop floor. I've always loved your excitement on teaching or showing us something amazing ever since I was a teenager. I hoe I get a chance to meet you in person some day soon and or even see a full video tour of the shop and the history behind it.

[@jessicaeddins6550]

My favorite part was the reaction and then dive into explanations and theories at the end, It was almost sweet in a way how he kept telling him how proud the original theorist would have been of his creation.

[@tuxedokazooie]

it was incredibly sweet how he kept telling him that. i got the warm fuzzies specifically when he said that.

[@Frequincy100]

Cliff Stole is a joy to listen to. He's been in a number of numberphile (pun intended lol) videos and every-time he exudes joy and passion for mathematical surfaces.

[@michaelbauers8800]

It's still weird, seeing him in video, because I read a book of his way back in the 80s I think it was.

[@johnrogers1251]

@@michaelbauers8800 The book you speak of is "The Cuckoo's Egg". Excellent read, I could not put it down. I finished it in two or three days as I recall.

[@nickihuber-smith2329]

The end is beautiful! Three mad scientists so absolutely chuffed with the artistry and science of a little object most people wouldn't begin to understand

[@raycomas]

I think I can give you a more intuitive understanding of a Boy's Surface. Start with a moebius strip, and notice that the boundary, or edge, of the strip is one continuous curve - a somewhat convoluted circle. A disc also has a circular boundary, so we can "glue" a disc to a moebius strip along their edges. We can't do this in 3D - if you try, you'll notice that things want to pass through themselves. We need an extra dimension to properly do this gluing without anything intersecting itself. This is analogous to a Klein Bottle: a "real" Klein Bottle does not intersect itself, but we need an extra dimension to make that happen. If you somehow shine a light on a 4D Klein bottle and let it cast a 3D shadow, the glass Klein Bottle on your work bench would be that shadow. Similarly, the 3D shadow of a 4D Boy's Surface is the glass Boy's Surface that you have.

[@odqstr2]

Well of course Adam is friends with Cliff Stoll. Cliff is a treasure. His enthusiasm for a subject just does not diminish. First encountered him on a NOVA episode in the 80's about an ARPANET hacker/spy which became the subject of a book, "The Coocoo's Egg". Cliff was called to speak before congress about network security and if you can find a video it's well worth the watch.

[@T..C..M]

Adam is like the father I always wanted to have, ever since 2003. Jamie was the stern quiet uncle that surprises you with his humor once a week. So glad to live in this time 😊

[@JonazDrumBrain]

I would have loved to see the standoffs be on a sort of a motorized lazy susan, so that your perspective of it continues to change. (The dream of course being that it could somehow rotate in all orientations, but that would be nigh impossible to do without somehow putting it into a gyroscope or something like that). Seeing how excited Cliff was to see this however is of just witnessing pure happiness and joy. So happy it turned out this well for all involved.

[@Findmylimit]

just found ya buddy, same way you found me all those years ago as a young boy curious on the couch you taught me that thinking was cool and creativity was naturally curious. thank you adam. i wish well to the rest of the gang as well.

[@KyleBrinkerhoff]

Adam, you should get your hands 3D scanned in a shape that naturally holds that, then print that on your resin 3d printer , would look really cool painted in matte black or even you could flock it to look like a black velvet, then in the base you could use an led ring light with a warmer temperature light with a diffuser ring over that . This thing is super cool, almost a forbidden object for our dimension

[@IndianaDipper194]

resin 3d printers are terrible for archival purposes like this and can be sensitive to UV. it probably wouldnt hold up over the years.

[@fredjones5698]

@@IndianaDipper194 some resin printers can print in jewlers wax. maybe he could do that then cast his hand in bronze.

[@chaos.corner]

There's no need to use a 3d printer. You can make a mold of your hands in agar and then cast them in hydrocal then paint as needed.

[@Jarthy86]

It was an honour and a joy to witness Cliff's praise and enthusiasm at the end. Thank you for keeping the camera rolling!

[@tetchypoo]

That whole ending was unexpected and absolutely amazing. The contact jot that I got from that is palpable.

[@BugVoodoo]

The most watched part of this video is the collective joy at the end, and that brings me a lot of hope, remembering that humans love seeing other humans experiencing joy.

[@andrewh.8403]

MORE OF THIS PLEASE. I grew up around people like Adam, Cliff and Lucas. As a kid I'd get carried along on the tide of conversation not knowing where it would go. Often, I would come away with a little learning that would be included in my own swag of knowledge. Every time, I'd come away thrilled to have been a part of it. I sincerely miss those times. The enthusiasm, passion of discovery through interaction. MORE OF THIS PLEASE.