Maths genius lives on $40 a month

Wei Dongyi, a brilliant 33-year-old mathematician from China, has gone viral for his genius and humble lifestyle.

Despite earning a professor’s salary at Peking University, he reportedly lives on just 300 yuan ($40) a month. Known for scoring perfectly at two International Mathematical Olympiads and joining Peking University without the gaokao exam, Wei stunned many with his modest appearance, steamed bun diet, and refusal to take money for solving complex equations — once accepting only a renewed transport card.

He recently joined social media platforms Douyin and RedNote, gaining 23 million followers in five days, yet remains uninterested in fame, driven solely by his love for maths.

World’s narrowest drivable car

Italian mechanic and YouTuber And­rea Mara­zzi has transformed a 1993 Fiat Panda into the world’s narrowest drivable car — just 50 cm wide.

Dubbed the Flat Fiat, the fully electric car uses 99% of the original parts, including all four wheels, but accommodates only a single driver and features one headlight.

Standing 145 cm tall, 340 cm long, and weighing just 264 kg, the vehicle has a top speed of 15 km/h and a battery range of 25 km. Though not road-legal, Marazzi spent a year building the car to showcase his creativity and promote his junkyard business. He now plans to apply for a Guinness World Record for his unique creation.

Viral Pygmy hippo Moo Deng turns one

Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo who became a TikTok sensation in 2024, celebrated her first birthday at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo with a four-day party and a 44-pound cake.

“Moo Deng brought joy during tough times,” said Molly Swindall, a devoted fan from New York visiting her for the third time. “Fame hasn’t changed her — she’s still the same lovable hippo.”

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Tian Rui, a Chinese man nicknamed the ‘Card Architect’, broke four Guinness World Records within days thanks to his impressive stacking skills. He reclaimed the title for the tallest house of cards built in one hour with a 32-layer tower, and also built a 62-layer tower to win the eight-hour version of the title.

Switching to Jenga, Rui stacked 3,149 blocks on a single vertical one, setting a new record. He then did the same with Giant Jenga blocks, stacking 918 to claim another title. Rui said his years of practice have made him an expert stacker.

“It’s like second nature now,” he told Guinness World Records, “I just flow through it.”

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 26th, 2025