Get ready to meet the smarty-pants and brainiacs that hold our smartest records. 🤓
Of course, smartness can be measured in lots of ways, and we weren’t able to include them all here.
We’ve selected just a few examples of our brainy record holders; including math-magicians, child geniuses and a human calculator...
Youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion
Whilst his classmates were playing video games or sports after school, Jackson Oswalt (USA) was busy working on his nuclear fusor. 👨🔬 ☢️
Just hours before he turned 13, he became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion.
Nuclear fusion happens when two atoms hit each other really fast, producing energy.
Atoms are teeny tiny units of matter, invisible to the human eye. They are the building blocks for all solids, liquids and gasses. Think of them like the universe's LEGO® bricks.
Jackson combined two deuterium atoms together in his fusor to produce electricity. ⚡️
"Building a fusor is a very dangerous process, mostly because of the high electricity that’s used in the reactor. The temperature in my fusor varies but it’s approximately 100 million degrees." - Jackson Oswalt
Before he could begin, he had to convince his mum that everything was safe. Even genius scientists need their parents’ permission!
Jackson hopes nuclear fusion will become a great source of energy that can stop climate change. 🌎
Most times to fold a piece of paper
How many times can you fold a piece of paper in half?
It's a common belief that a piece of paper can't be folded in half more than 8 times.
However, this myth was busted in 2002 by high school student Britney Gallivan (USA). She folded a single piece of paper in half 9, 10, 11, and 12 times, earning her the record title for most times to fold a piece of paper.
The tissue paper used was 4,000 ft long. 🤯
She used maths to calculate the length, width and thickness of the paper needed, as well as the number of possible folds that could be made. Britney explains the equations in the above video and in her book How to Fold Paper in Half Twelve Times.
Besides the tricky maths, she also had to overcome the challenge of finding a huge piece of paper and a huge room to put it in!
Highest score achieved on Times Tables Rock Stars in one minute
Do you know all your times tables? ✍
The highest score achieved on Times Tables Rock Stars in one minute is 202, and was achieved by Nadub Gill (Pakistan) in Long Eaton, UK, on 7 March 2021.
Times Tables Rock Stars is a game designed to test your multiplication skills. Nadub got more than 3 correct answers per second!
Nadub showed off his quick fingers as well as his quick maths. He was tapping the keyboard like a pro gamer! 🎮
“My friends used to call me ‘The Robot’ and they really appreciate my speed when they watch me play.” - Nadub Gill
Nadub practises for at least 1 hour every day. It took a lot of hard work to reach his current speed.
Fastest human calculator
Scott Flansburg (USA) never needed a calculator for his maths tests. That’s because he IS a calculator!
In April 2000, Scott earned the record title of fastest human calculator on the set of a TV show.
Scott was given a two-digit number (38) and added it to itself over and over as fast as he could in 15 seconds. He was racing a mathematician who used a real calculator.
Scott did 36 additions before the time was up. ➕😲
"You guys are slow" Scott joked after he finished, as he waited for the mathematicians to calculate how far behind they were.
His numerical knowledge doesn’t end there though. Scott can also instantly divide any two numbers, as well as work out what day of the week you were born.
Fastest time to arrange all elements of the periodic table
Aadhya Amin (USA) was in her element when she achieved the fastest time to arrange all elements of the periodic table. 🧪
She stayed molecule as a cucumber as she placed all the elements in their correct positions. 😎
Aadhya recorded a time of 1 min 25 sec, shaving 18 seconds off the previous record time. 🕒
Aadhya loves challenges and was excited to attempt this record, as well as inspire other children to participate in competitive activities.
Most Pi places memorised
Do you ever lose track of numbers whilst counting in your head? Rajveer doesn’t.
The most Pi places memorised is 70,000, and was achieved by Rajveer Meena (India) at the VIT University, Vellore, India, on 21 March 2015.
Pi is a number with an infinite amount of digits. It’s the number that just keeps on going, and going, and going… 😵
Rajveer wore a blindfold throughout the entire attempt, which took nearly 10 hours. 😩
He probably could have kept going, but he had class the next day!