Don’t Blink! – Bedtime Math (2024)

FAQs

What is the world record for the longest stare? ›

The world record for staring — not blinking once — is 57 minutes and 24 seconds, set by a Chinese naval serviceman in 2015. That is no easy feat! The clear outer dome of the eye, or cornea, is the most sensitive part of the human body. When the cornea is exposed to the elements, it triggers the blink reflex.

Haridas, 37, secured the record for spending the longest time (1 hour 31 minutes) without blinking his eyes. His feat has been recognized by India Book of Records and he received the medal and certificate in July.

A couple of years ago, “Stare Master” Stagg and “Eyesore” Fleming stared at each other to see who could last longer without blinking. Stare Master won, holding his eyes open for an unbelievable 40 minutes 59 seconds.

Mehmet Ozyurek, the Guinness World Record (GWR) holder for the longest nose, died at the age of 75. GWR announced the news on its website, saying it's "saddened" by Mr Ozyurek's death. The Turkish man's nose measured 3.46 inches and the record was confirmed by GWR in November 2021.

Professional breath hold diver Budimir Šobat's world record of 24 minutes and 37 seconds holding his breath underwater. During a breath hold, the level of blood CO2 rises, and the O2 declines. The initial increase in the urge to breathe — let's say 30 seconds into the breath hold — primarily comes from the rising CO2.

According to Guinness World Records, the longest sneezing fit is 976 days. Briton Donna Griffiths started sneezing on 13 January 1981 and surpassed the previous duration record on 26 July 1981. She sneezed an estimated million times in the first 365 days and achieved her first sneeze-free day on 16 September 1983.

Kenta Adachi of Japan has broken the record for the most pull ups in 24 hours (male) by performing an astonishing 8,940 of them.

But if you don't blink, the lack of oxygen can lead to corneal swelling. In fact, your cornea even swells a little bit when you sleep, but goes back to normal soon after you wake up. Your eyes won't get the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Your eyes can dry out, because your tear film isn't being replenished.

In one study conducted at a science museum, psychologists recently tried to establish the preferred length of eye contact. They concluded that, on average, it is three seconds long (and no one preferred gazes that lasted longer than nine seconds).

Staring is also sometimes used as a technique of flirting with an object of affection. However, being stared at, especially for a prolonged amount of time or very frequently by one person in particular, can cause discomfort to those subjected to it.

Is staring a bad habit? ›

However, excessive staring can be uncomfortable, or even threatening for the person on the receiving end of the gaze. This is especially true if you're staring at strangers, or if you find yourself compulsively staring at inappropriate areas.

They concluded that, on average, it is three seconds long (and no one preferred gazes that lasted longer than nine seconds). Another documented effect of mutual gaze may help explain why that moment of eye contact across a room can sometimes feel so compelling.

In 1959, UK hypnotist Peter Powers put himself under a hypnotic sleep for eight straight days.

Sidney de Carvalho Mesquita (Brazil), also known as Tio Chico, impressed everyone with his eye-popping talent. According to a press release by Guinness World Records, Mr Chico's eyes can pop out to a protrusion of 18.2 mm (0.71 in) beyond his eye sockets.

Guinness World Records | Farthest eyeball pop (male) 👀 18.2 mm (0.71 in) by Sidney de Carvalho Mesquita 🇧🇷 AKA @tiochicobrasil #eyes #eyeballs #eyepoppi... Instagram.