A domino is a small rectangular block, typically made of clay or wood, with an arrangement of spots, like the dots on a die, on one side. Its other face is blank or identically patterned. It is connected to other dominoes by lines or ridges and can be used to play games of skill, chance, or strategy. Dominoes are sometimes used to create art, such as 3-D structures and towers. Some artists compete in domino shows, where their displays of precision and ingenuity are awe-inspiring.
Dominoes have inertia, meaning they resist motion unless something pushes or pulls on them. But when a tiny nudge causes the first domino to fall, it unleashes energy that is released into the rest of the lineup. That potential energy can knock over things about a third of their size, such as buildings or other large blocks. In a famous 1983 experiment, University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead set up 13 dominoes to show this effect. He placed the largest domino on a table, then pushed a smaller one next to it. The second domino knocked over the smaller one, and so on. Hevesh makes test versions of each section of an installation before she assembles them. These tests allow her to tweak the layout until everything works perfectly.
When Hevesh is ready to build, she will usually start by arranging the biggest 3-D sections of the display, then add flat arrangements and finally the dominoes that connect them all together. She uses a domino design tool, which is similar to a blueprint, to plan out her creations. The tool allows her to see how the different pieces fit together and determine how many dominoes she will need for each section.
Domino’s domino art ranges from straight lines to curved shapes, grids that form pictures when they fall, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. She also designs and builds giant sculptural installations for exhibitions and special events.
Aside from its use in artistic displays, dominoes are also popular for a number of casual and competitive games. The most common games are tic-tac-toe, double six, and dominoes with alternating numbers of dots. Some people also use them to play solitaire and trick-taking games.
When Domino joined X-Force, she clashed with Donald Pierce and Lady Deathstrike over their attempts to download Milo Thurman’s mind to a computer. She later left the team when Pete Wisdom attempted to turn it into a proactive black ops unit, then reappeared later possessed by the Undying alien Aentaeros and ordered to kill Randall Shire. She eventually rejoined X-Force and reformed the mercenary Six Pack, but she went back to freelance work soon after.