Pasan Nanayakkara
The world is full of surprises, and some of the most mind-blowing ones come in the form of the tiniest objects known to man. From the smallest living things on Earth to the world’s tiniest adult and even the smallest police station, these minuscule items are sure to leave you in awe.
#1 Nanobes: The Tiniest Living Things on Earth
The smallest living things on Earth are called nanobes. These tiny organisms are only visible through sophisticated microscopes, with a length of 20 to 150 nanometers. This makes them 1000 times smaller than body cells. The discovery of nanobes was made by Dr. Phillipa Uwins of Queensland University, who found them while drilling for oil underwater. As the tiniest living things in existence, nanobes top the list of the world’s smallest objects.
#2 Smallest Adult Human: Chandra Bahadur Dangi
According to Guinness World Records, Chandra Bahadur Dangi from Nepal holds the title of the world’s smallest adult. He held this record until 2015, with a weight of 15kg and a height of 54.6 cm (1 foot 9.5 inches). Dangi’s goal was to use his world record to bring attention to his country.
#3 Smallest Police Station: Carrabelle, Florida
Police stations are often imagined as large, multi-department buildings, but the smallest police station in the world is located in Carrabelle, Florida. In the 1960s, a call box at the intersection of U.S. Parkway 98 and Tallahassee Street served as the city’s police station. The small station was a solution to the problem of unauthorized calls to the police phone.
#4 Smallest Jet Airplane: BD-5J
In the 1970s, aircraft designer Jim Bede created and produced the BD-5J, a kit for the world’s smallest jet airplane. Despite the kit only weighing 350 pounds, Bede was able to sell more than 5,000 of them. However, only a small number of the kits were actually constructed before the company went bankrupt. With a 20-foot wingspan and a top speed of 483 kilometers per hour, the BD-5J remains the world’s smallest power jet.
#5 Smallest Born Child: Amillia Taylor
The average length and weight of a newborn infant is 20 inches and 96 ounces, but in 2006, Amillia Taylor became the tiniest preterm infant ever born in the world. Born at just 22 weeks, she weighed only 10 ounces and measured 9.5 inches.
#6 Smallest Camera: Microcamera
A team of researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have created a revolutionary new camera, the size of a grain of salt. The Microcamera is able to capture photographs inside the human body, making it a game-changer in medical technology.
#7 The Smallest Artificial Heart
In 2012, a 16-month-old infant was in need of a heart transplant. With no urgent donor available, physicians were forced to turn to an innovative solution: the smallest artificial heart in the world. Developed by Dr. Robert Jarvik, the battery-sized heart weighs just 11 grams and is an implanted pump that had only been tested on animals before.
The device runs outside of the body and is connected by tubes to prevent infections. In this case, the medical professionals withdrew the infant’s heart and replaced it with Jarvik’s invention. The infant was able to survive for 13 days with the artificial heart until a donor was found.
While the procedure ultimately proved successful, it also opened up new possibilities for the treatment of heart disorders. The development of the smallest artificial heart in the world is a testament to the constant advancements in medical technology and the potential for life-saving innovations.
#8 The Smallest Gun
When it comes to guns, size doesn’t always equal power. The Swiss Minigun, also known as the SwissMiniGun, is a prime example of this. Measuring just 0.7 ounces and slightly over two inches long, this double-action revolver packs a punch despite its tiny size. With a caliber of 9 and the ability to shoot tiny bullets at speeds of over 270 mph, the Swiss Minigun is the smallest gun in existence.
#9 The Smallest Teapot
When it comes to tea, size doesn’t always matter either. The smallest teapot in the world was crafted by 73-year-old Chinese master potter Wu Ruishen. This tiny clay teapot is only 1.4 grams in weight and is so small it can fit on your fingertip or even your fingernail. While it may be too small to hold and pour tea, this little teapot is still an impressive display piece that showcases the meticulous craftsmanship of Wu Ruishen.
#10 The Smallest Teddy Bear
Teddy bears are a childhood staple and often associated with being big and fluffy. However, German artist Bettina Kaminski has created a teddy bear that defies this norm. Measuring just 5mm tall, this tiny teddy bear is the second-smallest item in the world and a testament to the artist’s skill and attention to detail.
In conclusion, the world is full of surprises, and some of the most mind-blowing ones come in the form of the tiniest objects known to man. From nanobes, the smallest living things on Earth, to the world’s smallest police station, these minuscule items are sure to leave you in awe.
