Watch Cirque de Soleil performer Adrienn Banhegyi demonstrate the skills that have earned her two world records and a few World and European Jump Rope championships.

via Laughing Squid.

The 2012 Japanese Juggling Festival was held in Tokyo in early October, where contact juggler Yanazo wowed the audience with his incredible balance and speed control of just one ball for half the performance.

And then he juggles with two balls… then three. And then he won first prize. 

Interested in trying out a few contact juggling tricks? Check out Yanazo’s well-practiced skills more closely:

Thanks, @farleykj and @laniharmon.

Updated for video link.

Kokichi Sugihara at Meiji University in Kawasaki, Japan, has been using computer software to bring impossible drawings to life. The video above shows some of the objects he has made moving in ways that appear to defy geometry.

When the models are turned around, however, the trick is revealed: the objects are not what they seem. That’s because we constantly make assumptions about perspective and depth in order to move about in a 3D world, and these models take advantage of those assumptions.

Sugihara used computer software to analyse seemingly impossible drawings and come up with solid shapes that might look like the drawing from one perspective, but not from others.

Also be sure to check out this second 2010 video from Sugihara where he appears to make balls roll *up* ramps.

from New Scientist.

How cool would it be if your hot wheels cars were life-sized and could drive on massive looped tracks?! At the 2012 X Games in Los Angeles on Saturday June 30th, Team Hot Wheels professional drivers Tanner Foust and Greg Tracy made hot wheels come to life by driving two specially-designed, 3000lb cars through a six-story (66-foot tall) double vertical loop. At the needed 48-52mph, they each experienced up to 7gs of acceleration. Then they both make jumps!  

Not only did their team use an understanding of physics and engineering to do the stunt successfully and safely, but they set a Guinness World Record. Do not miss Tanner’s interview about jump testing and absolutely watch the behind-the-scenes ESPN Sports Science video that explains exactly how they did it!

h/t Devour. 

From the archives: a 2,000 foot long hot wheels track!

Watch streetball player Pat the Roc (Patrick Robinson) show off some truly excellent ball handling skills in this video for Let’s Go, the first song off the album Lightning by Matt and Kim. And how does Pat the Roc do it? Practice, kiddo. Lots and lots and lots of practice!

via The Curious Brain.