Perpetual motion is probably the singularly most revolutionary energy source that could hit the world at this point – machines that run themselves ceaselessly with no power source? Yes please!

Although this has been a long-sought after scientific discovery, many scientists claim it simply cannot physically exist because it violates the first and second laws of thermodynamics. This has, of course, not hindered the creative geniuses among us from trying, though.

The most infamous of history’s hopefuls was Johann Bessler, an 18th-century German clockmaker who convinced a bunch of people—Russian Tsar Peter the Great—that he’d created a wheel-shaped machine that was capable of constant motion and could perform heavy lifting and drain water.

Although Bressler’s designs and many of his drawings died with him, there are several clues that were left behind for modern day inventors to unravel. John Collins, a 69-year-old retired engineer from Warwickshire, England, claims he has cracked the code and his design could rival Bressler’s.

Although he doesn’t give any details away, he does tell Vice that the key is to realise that gravity can be a source of power. While John says the concept is actually very simple, the lever mechanism is genius!

The final model is currently under construction so we will soon see if this hopeful has indeed revolutionised the way we think about energy.

Then again, if he really has discovered how to source free clean energy, it will probably get bought out and buried by some oil tycoon.

Read the full interview with Vice