2011 April

Archive for April, 2011

John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut, the Longest Tennis Match in the World

April 29th, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in sports

The match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in the Wimbledon 2010 is the longest tennis match in the world and in the history of tennis. The game laster 11 hours and 5 minutes. The whole games occurred in June 22, 23 and 24 in the year 2010. The final score was 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68 for a total of 183 games.

John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut – Longest Tennis Match in the world. Image via

After their three days game, both players broke numerous Wimbledon and tennis records, including each serving over 100 aces, with the match being referred to as ‘the endless match’.

John Isner and Nicolas Mahut pose at the scoreboard. Image via

The tennis match began at 17:13 UTC on Tuesday 22 June 2010. Due to fading light, the play was suspended at two sets all at 9:07 pm. After resuming on Wednesday 23 June at 2:05 pm, the record for longest match was broken at 5:45 pm. The play was suspended again at 9:10 pm due to fading light, with the final set tied at 59 games all. Play resumed at 3:43 pm on Thursday 24 June, and Isner won at 4:48 pm, the final set having lasted 8 hours, 11 minutes.

Sperm Whale, the Loudest Animal in the World

April 22nd, 2011 by admin | 8 Comments | Filed in animal, world record

Sperm whales do not only have the largest brain of any animals, these giants are also the loudest animals in the world. Using a structure called monkey lips inside it’s massive head, it can create clicks that can reach more that 230 decibles.

Sperm whale in the deep blue sea. Image via

Sperm whales can grow to 67 feet long and weigh up to 57,000 kilograms. Aside from the world record sound that they can produce, they are also the largest toothed whale, has the biggest brain of up to 8 kilograms and the deepest diving of all mammals. In search of squid and fish, they can dive as deep as 3 kilometers.

Whole body of a sperm whale. Image via

Inside a sperm whales’ disproportion head is structure called monkey lips. Through it, it blows air that creates the loudest sound produce by any living animal today – more than 230 decibels. Scientists predict that they use this sound to stun it’s main prey, the deep-sea squids.

Palm Sunday Gospel, the Longest Gospel of the Year

April 18th, 2011 by admin | 3 Comments | Filed in religion

If you are a Christian (particularly Catholic) and you went to church today, you may have noticed the unusually long gospel reading. That is because today is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and today’s reading is the longest gospel of the year.

Palm Sunday, the day Jesus enters Jerusalem. Image via

For non-Christians, Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that always falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned by all four Canonical Gospels – Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.

Painting showing a crowd gathering as Jesus is entering Jerusalem. Image via

The Palm Sunday gospel which was taken from Luke 22:14 to 23:56, relates the story of Jesus starting from the last supper all the way to His death on the cross. It includes the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, the mock trials, the carrying of the cross and his crucifixion.

Einstein, the Smallest Horse in the World

April 17th, 2011 by admin | 1 Comment | Filed in animal, world record

Born on April 2, 2010, Einstein is now considered the smallest horse in the world. He is just 14 inches tall and weighed around 6 pounds. This half pinto stallion was born in Barnstead, New Hampshire in the Tiz A Miniature Horse Farm which is own by Judy Smith.

Einstein enjoying attention from a boy. Image via

When he was born, his owner feared the he would not live for long because of his size. But now the fear subsided as Einstein appears healthy and enjoys running around in the fields.

Einstein compared to a full grown stallion. Image via

Einstein doesn’t suffer any form of dwarfism. He is just really born small. His size is more apparently small when put beside a full grown stallion.

−89.2 °C, the Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth

April 15th, 2011 by admin | 3 Comments | Filed in natural phenomenon, nature, places, science, world record

The coldest temperature ever recorded on the surface of the Earth took place in Russian Vostok Station in Vastok, Antarctica. Researchers were able to measure a chilling −89.2 °C or −128.6 °F on July 21, 1983.

Panoramic view of Russian Vostok Station in Antarctica. Image via

Located at 1,300 km from the South Pole, Vostok Station is one of the coldest uninhabited places on Earth. It is the most remote of all the Antarctic research stations and with elevation of 3,488 meters above sea level. During winter season, the temperature averages at -65°C or -85°F. The warmest temperature ever recorded was 12.2°C or 10°F – still below freezing.

Russian Vostok Station Researchers with their drilled ice cores. Image via

During the summer, the station typically is manned by 25 scientists and engineers and goes down to 13 during the winter. The cold is not just the challenge in this place but other factors such as, the humidity which is almost zero, strong wind which sometimes blows at 60 mph, low oxygen due to its elevation, and the polar night which lasts several months.

Paul Anderson, the Strongest Man in the World

April 14th, 2011 by admin | 4 Comments | Filed in people, sports, world record

Born on October 17, 1932 in Toccoa, Georgia in the US, Paul Anderson is still to this day considered the strongest man in the world – who ever lived. He died on August 15, 1994 – two months shy of his 62 birthday. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Record as the man who backlifted a 6,270 pound weight. This record is still unbroken to this day.

Paul Anderson doing a clean and press. Image via

At 5 feet and 11 inches tall and constantly weighing 350 to 375 pounds, Anderson became famous because of his amazing strength. He began weight training during his teens on his own within his family’s backyard to gain size and strength so he would be able to play in his high school football team. He later attended Furman University for one year on a football scholarship, before moving to Elizabethton, Tennessee with his parents. In Elizabethton, he first met weightlifter Bob Peoples, who would greatly influence him in squat training and introduce him around weightlifting circles.

Paul Anderson lifting two girls sitting on barrels. Image via

Anderson joined the American team for the 1957 Melbourne Olympics and won the gold medal for Men’s weightlifting. During his competing year, he broke 18 American records, 8 world records, and retired unbeaten and unchallenged.

His best lifts of his career include an 1206 pound squat, a 627 pound bench press, a 380 pound one arm press, a 600 pound push press, and a 575 pound jerk press.

Paul Anderson historic marker in his hometown of Vidalia, Georgia. Image via

Krakatoa’s 1883 Eruption, the Loudest Sound Ever Heard in Modern History

April 13th, 2011 by admin | 10 Comments | Filed in natural phenomenon, nature, world record

The August 27, 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa is to this day the loudest sound ever heard in the world in modern history. This volcanic island is located in the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. That explosion killed more than 40,000 people, although some estimates put the death toll to be at more than 120,000. The 1883 eruption was so loud that the sound can be heart 3,000 miles from source. It was said that if one was within ten miles, they would go deaf.

Mount Krakatoa eruption on February 2008. Image via

Before the 1883 “big bang”, Krakatoa has been erupting for almost a month. Then at 10:20 am, Krakatoa let out it loudest eruption. Reports says that the sound was heard around the world. The sound was estimated to be around 180 decibels. People living in Perth, Australia, around 2,200 miles away, heard the explosion almost instantly. The resulting shockwave traveled around the world 7 times and registered on barographs around the world up to 5 days after the explosion.

Fishermen sail in front of erupting Mount Krakatoa. Image via

Mount Krakatoa is still an active volcano. It’s latest eruption happened in November 2010 and was recorded in the video below. Let’s just hope the 1883 eruption was already the loudest.

Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, the Longest Bridge in the World

April 12th, 2011 by admin | 27 Comments | Filed in structure, world record

Located in Qingdao City in East China’s Shandong province, the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge is the Longest Bridge in the World. It has a length of 164,800 meters (164.8 kilometers) and a span of 260 feet. The bridge was completed in 2010 after four years of construction and opened in 2011. The total cost of construction is around $8.5 billion dollars and has employed 10,000 workers. The bridge’s primary purpose is for railway traffic.

World’s longest bridge – Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge. Image via

The Qingdao Haiwan Road Bridge, which is part of the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, also hold the record as the longest bridge over water. This makes China as the country with the most longest bridge. In fact, three of the world’s longest bridges are from China: the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, Tianjin Grand Bridge at 113,700 kilometers and Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge at 79,732 kilometers.

The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge – longest bridger over water. Image via

Chihuahua, the Smallest Dog Breed in the World

April 9th, 2011 by admin | Comments Off | Filed in animal, world record

Wind Up, the Smallest Street Legal Car in the World

April 8th, 2011 by admin | 3 Comments | Filed in invention, world record

Measuring at just 41 inches high, 51 inches long and 26 inches wide, the Wind Up is the smallest street legal car in the world. It was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010. This mini-car was made by Perry Watkins, a British Inventor who has made other odd-size cars, including the Flatmobile – the world’s lowest street legal car.

Wind Up – the world’s smallest street legal car. Image via

The car’s body is made from a repainted coin-operated children’s ride. It’s chassis is from a Shanghai Shenke quad bike. The rear tires and wheels are from a Honda Monkey motorcycle, and front wheels were custom-made to fit tires from a 1939 Brockhouse Corgi paratrooper’s mini motorcycle. To give it a wind-up toy car look, Watkins add a revolving key in the back of the car.

Wind Up has a cargo volume index of 31.1 cubic feet. To give you an idea how small it is, a Honda Civic ranges from 100 to 109 cubic feet. It can hit a top speed of 40 miles per hour, has a seatbelt and a whopping 70 miles per gallon fuel consumption. And yeah, only one man fits inside it.

Here’s the specs of this mini-car:

Donor body: Postman Pat coin operated kiddie ride
Rolling chassis: Shanghai shenke quad bike
Engine: Shanghai 150cc auto cvt
Rear wheels and tyres: Honda Monkey bike
Front wheels: Machined from billet aluminium to accept 8″ tyres from a 1939 Brockhouse Corgi paratroopers mini motorcycle.
Top speed: 40mph
Fuel consumption: 70mpg
Dimensions: 41″ high 26″ wide, 51″ long. (31.4 c.ft)

See a video of it: