Domino is the name of a popular game, but it also refers to a type of pizza. This Wonder of the Day explores how these two related objects are connected.
In a dominoes game, the player begins by placing one domino on top of another. Then, they continue to place more and more dominoes on top of each other until all of the bones are arranged in some way on the table. The first domino that is played is called an opening double. After that, the rest of the bones are arranged on top of the opening domino in a pattern that is determined by the rules of the game.
Hevesh creates her mind-blowing domino installations using a version of the engineering-design process. First, she considers the theme or purpose of her design. Then she brainstorms images or words that might be associated with the theme. From there, she creates flat arrangements of dominoes that are connected by lines of dominoes. She tests each section of her design before putting it all together. Filming the tests in slow motion gives her a good idea of what is going right or wrong.
The power of the domino effect is often discussed in terms of how one small change can lead to a chain reaction that eventually affects our entire lives. For example, if you start to make your bed each morning, you may begin to do other small things in your home that reflect this new habit. This domino effect is also seen in the way our beliefs about ourselves can change, as we build identity-based habits.
Like dominoes, stories must be paced correctly if they are to work. A story that moves too slowly will lose reader interest, while a story that has too many plot points or character developments can feel like a lot of work with little payoff. A well-paced story is like a row of dominoes that fall in unison and smoothly.
When the first domino falls, much of its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy—the energy of motion. This energy travels to the next domino and provides the push it needs to knock it over. And so on, until the last domino falls. The process is a bit more complicated in real life, but the principle is still the same: a small nudge can lead to a big change.