Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

World Records

Methuselah, the oldest fish living in an aquarium, was transported to California in 1938.

Methuselah, the World’s Oldest Living Aquarium Fish, Could Be More Than 100

Using a new and noninvasive technique, researchers analyzed the DNA of 33 lungfish in institutions across the U.S. and Australia to determine their ages

Peanut eats blueberry yogurt, grapes, bananas and vegetables.

Meet Peanut, the World’s Oldest Living Chicken at 21 Years of Age

Peanut had a rough start to life but ultimately grew up happy and healthy on a 37-acre farm in Chelsea, Michigan

Nebraska's football stadium in Lincoln was so packed that additional seats were added on the field.

Nebraska Volleyball Sets New World Record for Attendance at a Women’s Sporting Event

A total of 92,003 fans packed into the university’s football stadium on Wednesday night

Harila and Tenjin summitted all 14 peaks between April 26 and July 27.

These Climbers Just Set a New Record for Ascending the World’s 14 Highest Peaks

Kristin Harila and Tenjin Sherpa completed the series of climbs in just over three months

Phoenix, Arizona recorded temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit and above for 31 days in a row.

July Was Likely Earth’s Hottest Month on Record

With El Niño and human-caused climate change expected to bring more heat in the future, scientists say July’s extreme temperatures could soon be surpassed

Tupac Shakur designed the gold, ruby and diamond crown ring, which recently sold at auction for a little over $1 million.

Drake Buys the Most Valuable Hip-Hop Artifact Ever Sold: Tupac Shakur’s Ring

Shakur designed the piece himself and wore it during his last public appearance before his death in 1996

A diver swims around a coral reef in Key West, Florida, on July 14, 2023. Coral reefs in the Florida Keys are at risk of bleaching and death because of very hot water temperatures this summer.

Water Temperatures Hit ‘Hot Tub’ Levels in the Florida Keys

A buoy in Manatee Bay recorded 101.1 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday evening, as coral reefs suffer

A researcher holds two White's seahorses before releasing them into Sydney Harbor.

Good News

Scientists Release Record-Breaking Number of Baby Seahorses Into Sydney Harbor

The team installed eight new “seahorse hotels,” which will provide much-needed homes for the endangered animals

The sun sets during a record heat wave in Tempe, Arizona, on July 18, 2023.

From Japan to Louisiana to Rome, Here Are Ten Heat Records Earth Has Broken Since June

As the planet clocks the warmest June ever, here’s a list of temperature marks that fell this summer

Icon of the Seas successfully passed an initial round of sea trials.

The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Is Nearly 1,200 Feet Long

Scheduled to debut in January, the vessel can accommodate 5,600 guests and 2,350 crew members

July 4, 2023 was the Earth's hottest day ever, breaking the record set one day earlier. The heat continued into Wendsday, July 5.

Earth Faces Hottest Day Ever Recorded—Three Days in a Row

Researchers attribute the sweltering heat to a combination of human-caused climate change and El Niño, which has a global warming effect

Beatriz Flamini leaves a cave after spending 500 days underground in total isolation.

Spanish Athlete Emerges After 500 Days Alone in Underground Cave

Beatriz Flamini, 50, returned to the sunlight after more than 16 months of isolation

In Dubai, license plates with fewer characters are typically the most expensive.

This License Plate Just Became the Most Expensive in the World

The vanity plate, which features the characters “P7,” sold for $15 million at an auction in Dubai

A microscopic Robin Hood

You’ll Need a Microscope to See These Miniature Masterpieces

Sometimes painted with a single eyelash, Willard Wigan’s tiny sculptures fit in the eye of a needle

Joseph Dituri is spending 100 days underwater for scientific research.

Meet the Man Spending 100 Days Underwater for Science

Joseph Dituri aims to set a world record, conduct research and inspire students to conserve the oceans

The Codex Sassoon, which measures 12 by 14 inches, dates to the late ninth or early tenth century.

World’s Oldest Near-Complete Hebrew Bible Goes to Auction

The Codex Sassoon could break auction records, becoming the most valuable historical document ever sold

Beyoncé accepts the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album award for Renaissance during the 65th Grammy Awards.

Beyoncé Just Became the Most Awarded Artist in Grammy History

With 32 wins, the superstar has surpassed the record held by conductor Georg Solti

Commuters behind frozen bus windows in Yakutsk, known as the coldest city in the world

Just How Chilly Is the World’s Coldest City?

The temperature in Yakutsk, Russia, dropped to a record-breaking minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit this month

Eric Finkelstein visited 18 Michelin-starred restaurants in one day.

Man Sets World Record by Eating at 18 Michelin-Starred Restaurants in 24 Hours

Eric Finkelstein, a 34-year-old healthcare IT consultant, had been planning the attempt for months

Preet Chandi trains in Chamonix before starting her journey across Antarctica.

‘Polar Preet’ Sets Out to Become the First Woman to Cross Antarctica Solo and Unsupported

After setting a record as the first woman of color to reach the South Pole unsupported last year, Preet Chandi is now tackling a 1,100-mile challenge

Page 5 of 8