Rubik’s Cubes have a combined total of over 43 quintillion different possible configurations. Many people all over the world have taken an interest to the idea of speed cubing, solving different positions of Rubik’s Cubes as fast as possible. The world record is currently 4.90 seconds.

Sophomore Andrea Fox said, “Speed cubing looks very interesting but at the same time very difficult because of how fast they solve the cube and the amount of concentration it takes.”

Although many people find the idea of this difficult, there are many who enjoy spending their time speed cubing. In fact, Mt. Hebron junior Tim Packard has spent over five years participating in various speed-cubing competitions.

Like most “cubers,” Packard did not start out wanting to cube competitively.

“This guy on one of my family vacations knew how to cube,” said Packard. “I just had to pester him enough, and I got him to teach me how to solve it.”

After learning how to solve the cube normally, he quickly discovered the more advanced method. Once he learned it, he then started competing in speed cubing events in seventh grade.

Packard explained the difficulties of solving the Rubik’s Cube.

“As long as you are learning a method to solve the cube and not just trying to brute force your way through to solving it, you should be good to go,” he said.

Packard went on to say that you should spread out the process into small steps and not just try to solve it without a true method.

“I feel like it would take forever to learn just how to solve the cube, but I would totally try to learn,” said sophomore Jeril Varghese.

Packard said his fastest time in competition is 11.5 seconds, which also happens to be within the top 20% of the world. Solving Rubik’s Cubes, even if it is just for fun, has various benefits.

Packard said, “It is a good way to exercise your brain and improve your mental strength.”

Professionals also say that solving a Rubik’s Cube improves many different skills that are needed in our day-to-day lives. For example, it helps improve hand-eye coordination and concentration and helps short-term memory.

“I have been making videos for about four years now,” said Packard.

Along with competing, Packard makes videos for his YouTube channel, TheCubingers. He has over 100 videos of him solving Rubik’s Cubes at multiple different competitions. He also shows various techniques that can be used to solve a Rubik’s Cube.

Packard said that he thinks everyone should try it, even if it is just something to try for fun, because it could turn out to be something you really enjoy or something that you are excellent at.