Teen breaks six maths records in a day

Aaryan Shukla, 14, of Maharashtra, India, set his first Guinness World Record a year ago with the fastest time to mentally add 50 five-digit numbers (in 25.19 seconds) on the set of Italian TV series Lo Sho Dei Record. Shukla was invited to Dubai by Guinness World Records and now has six more titles to his name.

In a single day, Shukla broke the records for the fastest time to mentally add 100 four-digit numbers (30.9 seconds), fastest time to mentally add 200 four-digit numbers (1 minute, 9.68 seconds), fastest time to mentally add 50 five-digit numbers (18.71 seconds), fastest time to mentally divide a 20-digit number by a ten-digit number (5 minutes, 42 seconds), fastest time to mentally multiply two five-digit numbers (51.69 seconds) and fastest time to mentally multiply two eight-digit numbers (2 minutes, 35.41 seconds). Shukla, nicknamed the ‘Human Calculator’ by Guinness World Records, practises math for five to six hours a day.

World’s fastest quadruped robot

Scientists at China’s Zhejiang University have set a new world record for quadruped robots with their Black Panther, reaching a speed of 10 metres per second. Developed since 2018, the robot initially struggled to surpass six metres per second. Researchers overcome these challenges by mimicking animal and human joint structures, adding springs to absorb impact, and implementing advanced control algorithms.

A video shows Black Panther sprinting on a treadmill at its record speed. While nearing elite human running speeds, the robot requires a controlled environment and high energy consumption.

World’s tallest water buffalo

A three-year-old water buffalo in Thailand has been named the tallest in the world, with a height of 6 feet and .8 inches from hoof to withers.

King Kong, a resident of Ninlanee Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima, is nearly 20 inches taller than the average adult water buffalo, Guinness World Records said. Owner Suchart Booncharoen said King Kong’s gargantuan size was apparent from birth, resulting in him being named after the massive movie gorilla.

Farm employee Cherpatt Wutti said that despite the water buffalo’s intimidating size, he’s actually quite friendly and playful.

“He is very obedient. He loves to play around, he loves to be scratched, and running around with people,” she said.

Zoo auctions animal paintings

A New York Zoo offered a sneak preview of some of the artwork that will be available at its upcoming gala auction: creations by animals at the zoo!

The Animal Adventure Park and Preserve in Harpursville announced the Dream Big Gala: Night Out on the Town, will feature a silent auction for works of art created by several species at the zoo. Zookeepers use various methods to encourage the animals to paint as a fun enrichment activity.

The zoo offered some sneak previews on social media, sharing photos of animals including penguins, capybaras, sloths and giraffes painting.

Animal art aficionados who won’t be in attendance at the gala will have the opportunity to place bids online, the zoo said.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 22nd, 2025