Domino is a game in which players place tiles in lines, with each subsequent tile pushing over the one beneath it until the line reaches the end. The first player to complete his or her dominoes wins the game. There are many different games of domino, and the basic rules vary between them. Some are simple and require no scoring while others involve counting or other elements to determine a winner. There are also a number of different materials used to make dominoes, including ivory, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl), bone, or a dark hardwood such as ebony; and some sets are designed to look like playing cards or dice.
In a 1983 study, University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead demonstrated the true power of dominoes, showing that the first domino in a sequence can knock down items about one-and-a-half times its size, and each subsequent domino can knock over items about double its own weight. This was the beginning of the domino effect, which is the physics principle that each item in a chain is affected by the preceding items and influences them, and that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Like the small stones used in traditional domino games, dominoes come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are typically made of ivory, mother-of-pearl, or a dark wood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white dots (pips) on their face. Historically, some dominoes were even made of natural materials such as stone (including marble, granite, or soapstone), silver, or pewter.
While dominoes are often thought of as a game for children, adults can also find them mesmerizing. The joy of watching one small movement cause the whole line to fall is a satisfying feeling, and it can be used as a lesson in leadership and teamwork.
Domino’s real name is Neena Thurman, and she was the daughter of an African-American mother and a Caucasian father. Her parents were a part of the Weapon X program at the NSA, where Domino was trained.
After leaving the NSA, Domino became a mercenary. She joined the Wild Pack, later renamed Six Pack, led by mutant soldier Cable. Later, she was possessed by the undying alien Aentaeros and forced to fight against the nefarious mutant assassin Marcus Tsung. She joined X-Force again, but left when Pete Wisdom tried to turn the group into a proactive black ops organization.
Domino has also been a writer for the home and lifestyle publication Domino, which features articles about design and fashion. It has been published since 2007 and has expanded into several verticals, including Travel, Wellness, and Weddings. Domino’s second book, Domino: The Art of a Well-Designed Home, was a New York Times bestseller. In 2020, the magazine launches its first-ever furniture collaboration and a podcast, Design Time. Its digital editions feature candid conversations with designers such as Bobby Berk, Ayesha Curry, and Justina Blakeney. The site also hosts a series of live events in partnership with retailers and brands.