Most advanced biometric security method

A new biometric system, from the Hitachi Company, (Japan), which is able to identify people from the unique pattern of veins inside their fingers, has been introduced into security systems in Europe and Japan. It is the fastest, and most secure, biometric method of identifying people. A near infrared light penetrates the body tissue and is reflected in the haemoglobin of the blood. A special camera captures the vein pattern through the reflected light. Further processing enables this to be compared to a stored image Continue reading →

Most advanced battlefield simulator

The most sophisticated battlefield computer simulator is the Combined Arms Tactical Trainer. Situated at Warminster, UK and Sennelager, Germany, it is capable of training more than 850 military personnel at once in an integrated, realistic combat scenario involving vehicles, aircraft, soldiers and commanders. Simulated combat arenas of more than 10,000 km2 (3,800 miles2) are used. It was constructed for the UK’s Ministry of Defence by Lockheed Martin, and became operational on 1 September 2002.

Most adults reading to children (single location)

The most adults reading to children at a single location was 3,682 adults who read to 4,074 children at an event organised by Changhua county government (Taiwan) in Changhua City, Taiwan, on 24 April 2011. The attempt was organized on this particular date, because it is the “international reading and copy day” in Taiwan.

Most aircraft on a submarine

The three Japanese I-400 Sen Toku class submarines built during the second world war each carried three Aichi M6A1 ‘Sieran’ seaplanes, which were stored folded in a 35 m (115 ft) hangar on the submarines’ decks and launched along the deck by catapult. The subs displaced around 6,000 tonnes (13,228,000 lb) submerged and were 122 m (400 ft) long, making them the largest ever at that time.

Most aircraft flown in parabolas by an individual

The most aircraft flown in parabolas by an individual is nine, by European Space Agency physicist and engineer Dr Ir Vladimir Pletser (Belgium), between March 1986 and May 2010. The flights were conducted over USA, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Austria.The aircraft flown were KC-135/930, KC-135/931, DC-9/30, Ilyushin IL-76 MDK, Caravelle ‘Zero-G’, Airbus A300 ‘Zero-G’, Cessna Citation II, Short Skyvan,and Fouga Magister. A combined total of 5,476 parabolas were flown between March 1986 and May 2010 for research purposes.

Most air rings blown underwater

The most air rings blown underwater was 18 by Nicola Brischigiaro (Italy) on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy, on 25 April 2009. Nicola was 70 cm under the surface of the water and blew air to form rings which would have to reach the surface. Any ring breaking up before reaching the surface was not counted. He had only one breath of air to do as many rings as possible.