The weekly weird

Published March 28, 2015

World’s smallest working drill

DRILLS are always large and heavy tools exclusively used by big, muscular men, but New Zealand-based engineer Lance Abernethy has created the world’s smallest working drill which measures just 17mm in height, is 7.5mm wide and 13mm long.

The tiny drill is completely capable of drilling through soft objects like marshmallows and sponge… and Jelly Babies.

Abernethy told: “I was with my work colleagues and was talking about mythical stories about one country making a twist drill and sending it to another. The other country returned it with a hole through the middle. Things like this easily challenge me and my idea was born. It took me three hours to solder and try and squeeze all the parts in,” he added. “The wires kept breaking off when I was trying to connect them and it was a nightmare trying to hold the in place.”

Wonder what’s next in this miniature-obsessed engineer’s mind?


enter image description here
enter image description here

Blue lava for real!

THE picture is not a computer trick or a work of Photoshop – this lava is genuinely blue!

An engineer managed to capture this phenomenon spewing from the Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia. This lava is actually produced by sulphur burning off the lava. How? Well, the electric blue glow occurs in unique and rare conditions when volcanic environments release both lava and sulphur simultaneously.

If this was to be viewed in daylight, the lava would have the orange glow we all know, however, the dark surroundings made the perfect settings for amateur photographer Martin Rietze, to capture the mesmerising sight.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...
Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...