Levitating Graphene Is Fastest-Spinning Object

techbeat writes "A flake of exotic carbon a few atoms thick has claimed a record: the speck has been spun faster than any other object, at a clip of 60 million rotations per minute. Previously, micrometre-sized crystals have been spun at up to 30,000 rpm using an optical trap. It is thanks to graphene's amazing strength that the flakes are not pulled apart by the much higher spinning rate, says Bruce Kane at the University of Maryland in College Park. Spinning could be a way to probe the properties of graphene, or manipulate it in new ways."

Re:uhm, 30 000RPM?

[nedlohs]

A brushless motor is not a crystal being spun in an optical trap.

The world record for the 100m dash is 9.58 seconds. That an F16 could do it faster is irrelevant to that claim.

Of course why they chose to mention that, given it isn't using the same technique, is a mystery. But they never claimed that was some kind of general spinning speed record.

Re:Reminds me ...

[BenFenner]

x2 this not being funny. It is 100% informative. This is exactly how you need to learn to operate a manual transmission. You don't use the throttle until you are good and smooth with the clutch. The engine's idle control will keep the engine running and the revs high enough to get the car started from a roll in 1st gear. The idle control valve will apply the "throttle" for you. Just enough. If you can get the car going using no throttle (entirely possible and very easy once you've learned to be smooth and mindful with your left foot) then you will be in much better shape to work the clutch when you are finally allowed by your mentor to use the throttle.