Humans are a unique bunch. We walked on the Moon, invented the Internet, and even mapped the human genome. We’ve accomplished some truly remarkable things in our relatively short time on this planet as Homo sapiens. But flip the coin, and you’ll find we have our fair share of weirdest world records.
From the time humans first started walking upright, we’ve been trying to devise new ways to test the limits of our bodies and minds. It’s not always pretty, but it sure is entertaining and has allowed us to evolve in ways other species can only dream of.
Guinness World Records has been around since 1955, and they’ve made it their mission to keep track of the most impressive, extreme, and craziest world records humanity has achieved. They’ve got weird world records for everything, from the longest fingernails to the most tattooed person — and you’ll get plenty of them on our list of the dumbest world records!
Collecting this data requires sharp attention to detail, thorough research, and stringent standards. But sometimes, world record breakers don’t get enough recognition, and we think it’s a good time to bring them back from oblivion. You’ll find that some of the weirdest Guinness World Records are arguably great feats, while others are borderline absurd. May they give you the bravery to break a world record yourself!
#21
Most nails hammered with the head in one minute.
In 2019, Saidalavi K V of India nailed 20 nails using only his head in one minute. Saidalavi K V is a professional martial artist.
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15points
#22
Fastest time to make a modelling balloon dog behind the back.
In 2007, with his arms behind his back, Daniele Bottalico of Italy made a balloon poodle using a single 260Q modelling balloon in a time of 4.54 seconds.
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15points
#23 Guinness Records Gone Wild
Fastest time to push an orange one mile with the nose.
In 2007, USA's Ashrita Furman pushed an orange with his nose for one mile in 22 minutes and 41 seconds.
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15points
#24
Fastest time to type using the nose.
In 2017, Davinder Singh of India typed the prescribed 103 character text on a keyboard using only his nose in 40.19 seconds.
Davinder had to type the following sentence in order to set this record: "Guinness world records have challenged me to type this sentence using my nose in the fastest time."
Davinder had to type the following sentence in order to set this record: "Guinness world records have challenged me to type this sentence using my nose in the fastest time."
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15points
#25
Most pint glasses balanced on the chin.
In 2007, USA's Ashrita Furman managed to balance 81 pint (20 oz) beer glasses on his chin for 12.10 seconds.
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14points
#26
Highest tightrope walk.
In 1989, Frenchman Michael Menin walked a 3,150m (10,335 ft) high tightrope above the French countryside.
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14points
#27
Longest ongoing pilgrimage.
Between December 1969 and 2013 April, Arthur Blessitt of Florida, USA, walked a total of 64,752km (40,235 miles). He has visited all seven continents, including Antarctica, having crossed 321 "nations, island groups and territories" carrying a 3.7-m-tall (12-ft) wooden cross and preaching from the Bible throughout his pilgrimage.
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14points
#28
Longest tattoo session.
In 2022, Giovanni Vassallo of Italy spent 61 hours and 37 minutes tattooing multiple people.
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14points
#29
Most lightning strikes survived.
The only man in the world to be struck by lightning (a single lightning strike is made up of several 100 million volts) seven times was ex-park ranger Roy C. Sullivan, the human lightning conductor of Virginia, USA.
His attraction for lightning began in 1942 (lost big toe nail) and was resumed in 1969 (lost eyebrows), in July 1970 (left shoulder seared) on 16 April 1972 (hair set on fire), on 7 August 1973 (new hair re-fired and legs seared), on 5 June 1976 (ankle injured) and on 25 June 1977 (chest and stomach burns). In September 1983 he died by his own hand, reportedly rejected in love.
His attraction for lightning began in 1942 (lost big toe nail) and was resumed in 1969 (lost eyebrows), in July 1970 (left shoulder seared) on 16 April 1972 (hair set on fire), on 7 August 1973 (new hair re-fired and legs seared), on 5 June 1976 (ankle injured) and on 25 June 1977 (chest and stomach burns). In September 1983 he died by his own hand, reportedly rejected in love.
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14points
#30
Most spoons balanced on the face.
In 2013, Serbias’s Dalibor Jablanovic balanced 31 spoons on his face for 30 seconds.
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14points
#31 The Strangest Things People Actually Did
Longest duration balancing on one foot.
The longest recorded duration for balancing on one foot is 76 hours and 40 minutes by Arulanantham Suresh Joachim (Sri Lanka) at Vihara Maha Devi Park Open Air Stadium, Sri Lanka, from 22-25 May 1997.
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14points
#32
Most people crammed in a Smart car.
In 2011, the Glendale Cheerleading Team (USA) managed to squeeze 20 people in a Smart car.
This record was later equaled by the Comets Cheerleaders (USA) in 2014.
This record was later equaled by the Comets Cheerleaders (USA) in 2014.
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14points
#33
Largest human mattress dominoes.
The largest human mattress dominoes consists of 2,019 people, and was achieved by Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A. and Ortobom (both Brazil) at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 6 August 2019.
The whole record attempt lasted 11 minutes and 13 seconds. After the record attempt, all the 2,019 mattresses were donated to charities.
The whole record attempt lasted 11 minutes and 13 seconds. After the record attempt, all the 2,019 mattresses were donated to charities.
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14points
#34
Longest noodle.
The longest noodle measuresat 3,084 m (10,119 ft 1.92 in) and was put together by Xiangnian Food Co., Ltd. in China, on 28 October 2017.
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14points
#35
Oldest person to 'loop the loop'.
In 1998, Adeline Ablitt of England was a passenger in a glider as it performed a loop over Leicestershire, UK at the age of 95 years and 133 days.
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13points
#36
Most piercings in a lifetime.
Since first receiving a skin piercing in January 1997, Elaine Davidson (Brazil/UK) has been pierced a total of 4,225 times as of 8 June 2006.
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13points
#37
Most knots undone by a dog in three minutes.
In 2010, a good boy named "Ben", who is owned by Claudia Neumann (Germany), at the Vienna Recordia event has undone 14 knots in 3 minutes. Ben is a cross between a Shih Tzu and Japanese Chin aka Japanese Spaniel.
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13points
#38
Largest margarine sculpture.
In 2017, Devwrat Anand Jategaonkar of India finished the largest margarine sculpture weighing at 1506.800 kg (3321.925 lbs). The dimensions of the sculpture were a length of 8 ft 2 in, width 3 ft 8 in and a height of 6 ft 1 in.
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13points
#39
Largest hands ever.
USA's Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever (2.72 m; 8 ft 11.1 in), had hands that measured at 32.3 cm (12.75 in) from the wrist to the tip of his middle finger. He wore a size 25 ring.
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12points
#40
Oldest stripper (male).
Bernie Barker (USA) began his career in 2000 at the age of 60 as a way to get in shape after recovering from prostate cancer. Since leaving his previous job of selling real estate, he has won over 40 contests. Sadly Mr Barker died on 21 March 2007, aged 66 years 233 days.
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12points