Sound waves used to put out fires

A company called Sonic Fire Tech is developing a new way to fight fires using low-frequency sound waves instead of water or chemicals. Co-founded by former NASA engineer Geoff Bruder, the system works by disrupting the fire’s chemical reaction.

Fires need heat, fuel and oxygen to burn. This technology uses infrasound to push oxygen away, effectively stopping the flame. The sound waves are below 20Hz, making them inaudible but powerful enough to control small fires.

The system has already been tested by a fire department and can be installed in homes, where sensors detect and stop fires without water damage.

However, the method currently works only on small fires and is not suitable for large-scale incidents like wildfires.

Man solves Rubik’s cube mid-skydiving

A 23-year-old German YouTuber, Tom Kopke (known as Tooleko), has set a new Guinness World Record by solving a Rubik’s cube while skydiving.

He completed the puzzle in 23.333 seconds during freefall over Mossel Bay, South Africa, breaking the previous record of 28.25 seconds set in 2023.

Kopke said he had planned the challenge since he was 18 and later learned skydiving to make it possible. He also trained to avoid dropping the cube mid-air, calling the handover during the jump the most difficult part.

Egg-sized watermelons developed

A mother-daughter team in Northern Virginia has developed miniature watermelons about the size of chicken eggs. Despite their small size, the fruits reportedly keep the same sweetness and flavour as regular watermelons.

They used a non-GMO chemical mutation method to reduce fruit size without changing key traits, aiming to make watermelon suitable for greenhouse and vertical farming systems. The smaller size also helps reduce waste and supports single-portion use.

The breeders say the seeds are smaller than normal, though other details are still unclear.

An unusual 17.3 mph speed limit sign

A recycling centre in Appleton, Wisconsin, installed a speed limit sign reading 17.3 mph, surprising many visitors with its unusual precision.

Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste said the specific number was chosen to make drivers pause and stay more alert, especially in busy areas.

The goal is to break “autopilot driving” and improve safety on-site.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 23rd, 2026