Superstrings

Update: Jury 1st Prize winner at the 2011 International Puzzle Design competition

Two open-ended Superstrings with the correct spin can be merged into a super-symmetrical cube.

The idea for this puzzle emerged when I was designing shapes based on two interlocked tetrahedra.  Inspired by ideas from 'string theory' and 'super-symmetry', I began to search for shapes that were both symmetrical and as similar as possible.

Taking the two pieces apart is not too difficult; reassembling them back into a cube can be more challenging. Hold one of the pieces still; move the other piece through the correct sequence of lateral and rotational moves.

Two colour dyed version in a perspex display case available from Etsy.

Reviews of Superstrings by puzzle enthusiasts from around the world.

"Another great little pocket puzzle from Richard Gain" - Allard Walker - Puzzling Times

"I can't really think of any downsides with this one, it was an elegantly designed puzzle that was fun to solve. Well done, Richard!" - Brian Pletcher - Mechanical Puzzles

"An attractive tactile puzzle with a decent challenge but not too awful - a really good addition to my display." - Kevin Sadler - Puzzlemad

"This is a really tough puzzle, and I can see why it won favor with the judges at IPP. Much easier to take apart than it is to put together, Richard can be rightly proud of this one." - Neil Hutchison - Puzzling Parts