Kaleidoscope: The Science and History of Symmetrical Patterns

In 1816, a Scottish physicist named Sir David BREWSTER was experimenting with light and MIRRORS when he stumbled onto something magical. He noticed that when light bounced between angled mirrors, it created repeating, SYMMETRICAL patterns that looked like intricate flowers or snowflakes. Brewster called his invention the KALEIDOSCOPE, combining Greek words meaning 'to see beautiful forms.' He filed a PATENT for his invention in 1817, but it proved difficult to enforce — other manufacturers quickly copied his design, and he earned very little profit from the invention. The kaleidoscope became one of the fastest-selling novelty items in history, with nearly 200,000 sold in London and Paris within just three months of its release.