SortStack #578 — 2028-01-08
By duration · Order from shortest to longest.
- A camera speedlight flash firing at full power 1 ms
At low power settings, flash bursts get even shorter — down to around 1/30,000 of a second, fast enough to freeze a bursting balloon mid-pop.
- A chameleon's tongue reaching its insect prey 72 ms
Small chameleons have the fastest tongues, accelerating at hundreds of g — proportionally the most powerful movement of any reptile, bird, or mammal.
- A Venus flytrap snapping shut on a fly 102 ms
The plant can count: it only snaps after two trigger-hair touches within about 20 seconds, which keeps it from wasting energy on raindrops.
- The Battle of Leipzig, Napoleon's 'Battle of the Nations' 4 days
With around 600,000 soldiers from over a dozen nations, the 1813 clash was Europe's largest battle until the First World War.
- Randy Gardner's world record for staying awake 11 days
The 17-year-old's 1964 science-fair stunt of 11 sleepless days still stands — Guinness stopped certifying attempts as too dangerous.
- The Islamic holy month of Ramadan 29.5 days
Because it follows the lunar calendar, Ramadan drifts about 11 days earlier each year — cycling through every season over 33 years.