One rarely, if ever, would think a small vacuum could make its way into the the Guinness World Records. But that just happened earlier this week because of the ingenious design of a 23-year-old named Tapala Nadamuni. The young architecture student from India’s National Institute of Technology Patna created the world’s smallest vacuum cleaner—for the second time. The innovator began developing gadgets during childhood, and now, as a college student, has transformed the typical 10–18 inch vacuum into a tiny yet fully functional cleaning appliance. Nadamuni first broke the record in 2022 with a vacuum measuring 1.76 cm. Despite two unsuccessful submissions in subsequent years, he returned this year with a new personal and global best. His ingenious design has been further slimmed by 0.2 centimeters, now measuring just 0.65 centimeters—the width of a shoelace or smartphone case.
The Guinness World Records annually presents facts and achievements that captivate its global audience. Founded in 1955, the competition highlights quirky and extraordinary records across various fields. In this competitive era of shock value, spontaneity, and rapid technological advancements, boundaries are continuously pushed as anyone becomes eligible to challenge the world record holder—even if it’s their own. With its often humorous and random statistics, Guinness never fails to uncover odd and ingenious inventions. As products across all industries become increasingly refined, individuals and brands race to develop the most evolved, minimal, and efficient innovations.
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Guinness defines a vacuum cleaner as an electrical appliance designed to remove dirt and debris, primarily from floors. Much like full-size vacuums, Nadamuni’s tiny invention plugs into a power source, produces a buzzing sound, and collects dust that can be emptied. The vacuum’s body is constructed from a refillable ballpoint pen and a small rotating fan, with suction generated by a four-volt vibration motor.
