1060

Fastest animal (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 months ago by corvus@lemmy.ml to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

46 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Squorlple@lemmy.world 134 points 3 months ago

The correct answer is an unlucky sentient manhole cover, that incidentally was thinking “Oh no, not again”.

[-] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 25 points 3 months ago

Love the HH reference, but you're the second person to mention a manhole cover. What's the story there?

[-] sicarius@lemmy.world 64 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If I recall correctly the fastest object ever was a manhole cover after an explosion. If it was sentient then it would be the fastest creature.
BRB, going to look up the incedent.
Edit: Here you go

[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 65 points 3 months ago

During the Pascal-B nuclear test of August 1957, a 900-kilogram (2,000 lb) iron lid was welded over the borehole to contain the nuclear blast, despite Brownlee predicting that it would not work. When Pascal-B was detonated, the blast went straight up the test shaft, launching the cap into the atmosphere at a speed of more than 66 km/s (41 mi/s; 240,000 km/h; 150,000 mph). The plate was never found. Scientists believe compression heating caused the cap to vaporize as it sped through the atmosphere.

A one ton iron vent cap (sewer plate) moved so fast it vaporized. Iron into gas, just add velocity in atmo. That's so fucking cool.