World Records

There are few more spectacular demonstrations of nature's power than a thunderstorm. The World Meteorological Association (WMO) has now confirmed two new records for the biggest lightning bolts in recorded history, measured by duration and distance.

While large 3D-printed objects such as buildings may get a lot of attention, the technology is also used to produce tiny, intricate objects. The latter could soon be whipped up faster and in more detail than ever, thanks to a new printing system.

Mercedes-Benz's squat little Unimog trucks have proven their expeditionary prowess yet again with the announcement that a U 5023 truck has set a new altitude record for wheeled vehicles, reaching 6,694 m (21,962 ft) above sea level.

The extreme performance car business is a brutal one, and records that take companies years to set can fall within months to a determined competitor. Here's eight new and astonishing benchmarks the car world established in 2019.

With its 1,500-horsepower, single-speed direct drive hybrid powertrain, the Regera was built to destroy the 0-400-0 test. And destroy it it did.

In all this Tesla vs. Taycan business that's been making headlines lately, it's easy to forget who is actually making the world's fastest production electric street car.

Volkswagen's barnstorming electric race car has set a new benchmark for the 99 turns leading up to Heaven's Gate in China. With Pikes Peak hero Romain Dumas at the wheel, the ID.R ascended this stunning and treacherous road in 7 minutes, 38.585 seconds.

Porsche unleashes its 590-hp Taycan at Nürburgring and leaves fellow four-door EVs in its wake.

China’s Cyan Racing has taken to the tarmac of Nürburgring and come out the other side as the holder of two new records.

Once a year, the Delsbo Electric contest in Sweden challenges students to create and improve on the world's most energy-efficient vehicles. This year's champ, the Eximus IV, smashed the competition and all previous records with an electric equivalent of 687 MPGe (0.34 l/100km​).

Twice now, Tanner Godfrey has jumped further in a UTV than anyone in history. Since he doesn't have full use of his legs, he's done it by literally poking the gas and brake pedals with a stick. And on Monday, armed with a new stick, he's lining up for the biggest jump of his life. This guy's nuts.

The DSV Limiting Factor submarine has just yo-yoed its way from the surface to the bottom of the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep point four times in eight days, breaking a ton of records and establishing itself as a reliable deep-sea elevator with unmatched exploration capabilities.