Buzz
Most people have a fascination with speed. The desire to outrun everyone else has driven humankind, sparking everything from iconic drag racing scenes in movies to the controversial use of steroids in the quest to become the 'World’s Fastest Human.' While I was already familiar with some of the 'fastest things' on the list—the fastest animal and bird—many others were unexpected. During research for an entirely different project, I came across the M1-J10, the world's fastest tank. The discovery was so surprising that I decided to dive into other fast-moving entities. This list is the result of that exploration.
15. Fastest Human
Usain St. Leo Bolt C.D (born 21 August 1986) is a renowned Jamaican sprinter. Bolt holds the Olympic and world records for the 100 meters at 9.69 seconds, the 200 meters at 19.30 seconds, and, alongside his teammates, the 4×100 meters relay at 37.10 seconds, all achieved at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He became the first athlete in history to win all three events in a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984 and the first to set world records in all three during one Olympic Games. Bolt’s lightning-fast performances earned him the nickname 'Lightning Bolt.' At the 2009 Berlin World Championships on Sunday, August 16, he set a new world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m final.
14. Fastest Production Vehicle
The Bugatti Veyron might not hold the title of the world’s fastest car anymore. Shelby SuperCars, based in North America, has crafted a stunning supercar that is brimming with cutting-edge automotive technology. In October 2020, on a seven-mile stretch of road in Nevada, the SSC Tuatara reached an astonishing 331mph—or over 530km/h. Unfortunately, for those dreaming of zooming through city streets at such speeds, this car is not street-legal due to its use of a camera system instead of mirrors for steering. With 1750 horsepower, a custom-built 5.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 motor, and a price tag of $1.9M, the SSC Tuatara didn’t necessarily need a speed record to stand out—it certainly doesn’t hurt, though.
The SSC Tuatara accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (0 to 60mph) in just 2.5 seconds.
13. Fastest Terrestrial Creature
The cheetah, the fastest land animal, is an evolutionary masterpiece. It can reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, with its long, slender body designed for rapid movement. Its spotted fur, small head and ears, and the iconic “tear stripes” running from the corners of its eyes down to its nose, make the cheetah easily recognizable among the large cats of Africa.
12. Fastest Supercomputer
Fugaku, named after an alternative title for Mount Fuji, is an exascale supercomputer located at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Japan. In June 2020, it achieved an incredible 1.42 exaFLOPS (fp16 with fp64 precision) on the HPL-AI benchmark, becoming the first supercomputer to surpass 1 exaFLOPS. As of April 2021, Fugaku holds the title of the world’s fastest supercomputer. Its performance outpaced the combined total of the next four supercomputers on the top500 list by a 45% margin and also led all the top-10 supercomputers in the HPCG benchmark. The project, as reported by Nikkei in 2018, cost around ¥130 billion (approximately US$1 billion).
11. Fastest Marine Creature
Sailfish are two species within the Istiophorus genus, found in the warmer waters of the world’s oceans. They are typically blue or grey and possess a distinctive erectile dorsal fin, known as a sail, which stretches the entire length of their back. Another defining feature is their long, sword-like bill, similar to that of the swordfish and other marlins. Sailfish are capable of reaching speeds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph), making them the fastest fish ever recorded. If this species could move on land, it would easily outrun a car on a typical highway. (Imagine the destruction if one of these collided... *stab*)
10. Fastest Rail System
In Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, a demonstration line showcases the JR-Maglev MLX01 test trains, which have reached an impressive speed of 581 km/h (367 mph), slightly surpassing the record of any wheeled trains (the current TGV speed record is 574.8 km/h, or 357.0 mph). These trains are equipped with superconducting magnets that create a larger gap and employ repulsive-type electrodynamic suspension (EDS). In contrast, Transrapid uses conventional electromagnets and an attractive-type electromagnetic suspension (EMS). These 'Superconducting Maglev Shinkansen,' developed by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, currently hold the record as the fastest trains in the world, achieving 581 km/h on December 2, 2003. Residents of Yamanashi Prefecture, including government officials, can sign up for a free ride, with over 100,000 people already having experienced it.
9. Fastest Water Slide
The Insano holds the title of the tallest water slide in the world, standing at a height of 41 meters (135 feet), a record listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Its height is comparable to a 14-story building. Thanks to its steep slope, the Insano provides a rapid descent, taking only four to five seconds to reach the bottom, reaching a speed of 105 km/h (65 mph). With these extreme features, the Insano is regarded as the most intense water slide in existence. At the end of the ride, it offers a refreshing plunge into a swimming pool.
8. Fastest Underwater Vehicle
K-222, originally known as K-162, holds the distinction of being the only submarine built in the Soviet Union's Anchar class, also referred to as the 'Papa' class by the West. The submarine was launched on December 28, 1963, and officially commissioned on December 31, 1969, in Severodvinsk. Throughout its service, it was part of the Soviet Northern Fleet. K-222 became famous for being the fastest submarine in the world, achieving an astonishing speed of 44.7 knots during trials. However, this incredible speed came at the cost of high construction expenses, significant noise, and substantial damage to its hull during operational use.
7. The Fastest Manned Aircraft
The North American X-15, a rocket-powered aircraft, was a key part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, developed for the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and the U.S. Navy. In the early 1960s, it set numerous speed and altitude records, including reaching the edge of outer space and providing valuable data that helped shape both aircraft and spacecraft designs. The X-15 still holds the world record for the fastest speed ever attained by a manned aircraft. During the program, 13 flights, piloted by eight different individuals, qualified under the U.S. Air Force's spaceflight criteria by surpassing the altitude of 50 miles (80.47 km, or 264,000 feet), granting those pilots astronaut status. Some even received NASA astronaut wings. The highest speed ever recorded was 4,519 mph (7,273 km/h), achieved with pilot Pete Knight at the helm.
6. The Fastest Helicopter
The Sikorsky X2 currently holds the title of the fastest helicopter ever. Initially, it set an unofficial record in 2010 when a demonstrator model reached 287 mph. Since then, subsequent versions have surpassed this speed. The X2 is unique in that it features two rotors instead of the typical single rotor, is piloted by one person, and operates more quietly, with the added advantage of making sharper turns than most helicopters. The combination of twin rotors and a pusher propeller produces enough power to enable the X2 to fly at altitudes exceeding 10,000 feet.
5. The Fastest Wind Speed Recorded
On May 3, 1999, while Oklahoma was being battered by tornadoes, scientists recorded the highest wind speed ever documented. At approximately 7:00 p.m., near Moore, Oklahoma, a tornado reached an astounding wind speed of 318 mph, resulting in the loss of four lives and the destruction of 250 homes. Prior to this, the fastest wind speed recorded was 286 mph, observed on April 26, 1991, near Red Rock, Oklahoma. The 318 mph reading placed the tornado just 1 mph below the F6 level on the Fujita scale, a category which has never been officially assigned to any tornado.
4. The Fastest Bird
The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also referred to as simply the Peregrine, or historically the 'Duck Hawk' in North America, is a widely distributed bird of prey in the Falconidae family. This large falcon, about the size of a crow, has a blue-gray back, white underparts with dark barring, and a black head with a characteristic 'mustache' marking. During a dive, it can reach speeds exceeding 322 km/h (200 mph), making it the fastest animal on the planet.
3. Superluminosity
Tachyons are hypothetical particles that are theorized to travel faster than light. The concept of tachyons was first introduced by physicist Arnold Sommerfeld, and the term was coined by Gerald Feinberg. The name 'tachyon' comes from the Greek word 'tachus,' meaning 'speedy.' Tachyons have a unique property: as they lose energy, their speed increases, and conversely, when they gain energy, they slow down. The lowest speed that tachyons can achieve is the speed of light.
2. The Fastest Thing Ever Recorded
In modern physics, light is considered the fastest entity in the universe, with its speed in a vacuum being a fundamental constant of nature. The speed of light in empty space is precisely defined as 299,792,458 meters per second (approximately 186,282.397 miles per second). This speed is the fastest phenomenon that humanity has encountered to date. If you were to travel at the speed of light around the Earth's equator, you would complete the journey 7.4 times in just about one second. While no faster speeds have been observed, the idea of superluminal particles has sparked speculation—leading us to the top item on this list:
1. The Fastest Spacecraft
No human-made object has ever surpassed the speed of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, a small spacecraft roughly the size of a car, designed to withstand extreme heat as it gets close to the Sun. Launched in August 2018, its mission is to study the Sun by getting closer to it than any other spacecraft before. Using Venus as a gravitational slingshot, the Parker Solar Probe reached speeds that are hard to fathom. On April 29, 2021, during its closest pass of the Sun (perihelion), the probe was traveling at an incredible 330,000 mph (532,000 km/h)—fast enough to circle the Earth 13 times in just one hour.
