From a 10-kilo carrot to a 9-centimeter dog: a compilation of some of the most curious Guinness World Records

In 1951, after a hunting trip, Sir Hugh Beaver and his friends got into a heated discussion about which game bird was the fastest. They couldn't reach a definitive conclusion because there was no book compiling an official list of this feat. As it happens, Beaver was the managing director of the Guinness brewery, and that discussion in a Wexford County pub led him to commission a book of facts and figures, initially intended as a promotional campaign for Guinness beer.

The book written by Norris and Ross McWhirter, twin brothers and researchers, was a massive bestseller. It confirmed the (Irish and worldwide) fondness for lists and feats. Guinness Superlatives was established on November 30, 1954, with an office in a converted gymnasium in London. Today, Guinness World Records is a global brand, with offices in London, New York, Beijing, Tokyo, and Dubai, brand ambassadors, and on-the-ground judges around the world. Every year, they receive applications from thousands of people who claim to have achieved or documented an extraordinary feat. They verify these claims and, if confirmed, add them to their list, which is now virtual and constantly evolving.

From that game bird (it seems to have been the medium sawbill), we've moved on to impossible records, such as the world's longest noodle, the largest number of people hugging trees, and other feats that, in some cases, border on the absurd. But even today they're an absolute ratings success. Appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records is the ultimate seal of approval. The pinnacle of pinnacles.

Some of the most curious records

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