Um, what's the big deal? Am I missing something? I looks cool I guess, but why would it fry anyones brain?

Banach-Tarski

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banach%E2%80%93Tarski_paradox

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=411043

Just kidding :)

I'm sorry, what's so special about this?

It's a series of half-rectangular prisms (basically non-equilateral 3-sided pyramids) sticking out of a surface, folding onto one another. 2 of these sheets == 2 star thingies. Unfold + press together == rectangular cubes.

Big deal? I think not... Slow news day I guess, what with it being New Years Day and all.

In case anybody's interested in making one:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Crazy-Star-Cube-!/

Looks to be an hour long project tops, requiring just starched paper and sellotape.

Jesus christ! they finally did it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banach%E2%80%93Tarski_paradox

this would've made a great Christmas gift; now I got to get one- so awesome - anyone know how long this has been around

About 20 years? I remember these from way back. They are less mystifying when you see them up close, but still fun to mess with.

give the man whatever he wants, i don't want to be banished to the negative zone.

Perhaps the sunken city of R'yleh sports these sorts of cubes.