Toda's record-breaking paper plane was made from one uncut sheet of paper, because he's a pro, and professional origami airplane modelers would never stoop so far as to use scissors. The Telegraph reports that the plane was 10cm long (about four inches), which seems tiny to us, but then, we're not paper aviation experts.

Oddly, Toda wants to launch his specially-designed paper planes from space. Seriously.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced that it would fund a three-year, 90 million yen (£617,000) study into the feasibility of launching paper darts from the International Space Station.

Next up: Testing to see if ants can be trained to sort tiny screws in space. [The Telegraph]

Many of the spots have already been set by endurance legends like current record holder Ashish Sharma of Mathura, India, former 3-time record holder Claudia Wavra of Germany, endurance champion Suresh Joachim—a Canadian of Sri Lankan descent, who holds 32 Guinness World Records and N.Y-based eating champion Crazy Legs Conti. However, Netflix is currently looking for an average Joe or two to round out the lineup. If you think you have what it takes, you must submit a training video via their Facebook page (keyword "Netflix Movie Watching World Championship") by September 22nd. If you do decide to enter I wish you the best of luck—but my money is on Suresh Joachim. He holds records for dancing (100 hours) and radio DJ-ing (120 hours). He actually had to...you know...move to earn those records. [PR Newswire via Electronic House]

A Lego employee group of Lego UK employees built the Clone Trooper army in just six and a half hours to raise money for The National Autistic Society. The National Autistic Society is a British organization dedicated to helping "people with autism and Asperger syndrome live their lives with as much independence as possible."

Using the power generated by a high-pressure CO2 gas system and mechanical ram, Yauner managed to get his toast to pop up about seven feet into the air—which was enough to set the record. However, that figure was restricted by the height of his ceiling, so he will try and re-set the record tomorrow with an attempt conducted outdoors (although I doubt that it will reach heights like those portrayed in the image above). Why build a toaster that pops that high, you ask? According to Yauner, "Everyone loves it when a toaster has a good pop to it, so I thought this was the logical next step, to create a new space in the market." Indeed, you haven't had a good piece of toast until it has picked up a bit of grime from the floor and the ceiling. [Freddie Yauner via Core77)

It's rather reminiscent of a miracle occurring during dinner in the refectory of the Order of the Blue Man Monastery (patron saint Tobias Funcke.)
The record was broken, I hope the stickiness was cleaned up from Place Ladeuzeplein, and the kids got to keep their ponchos.

[Telegraph and MyVideo]

The distinguished group of scientists who created the Pterosaur say it only used a quarter tank of fuel, anticipating more world records to be broken with this plane that has a range of 310 miles. Powered by the hydrogen fuel cell similar to the one inside the HyFish jet wing aircraft we told you about last April, the scientists are emboldened with this record-breaking performance, and say there are even more sophisticated fuel cell power plants for aircraft on the way. [Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies]

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it's now the world's largest LEGO tower, beating that 94.3-foot erection in LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, California. Dozens of plus-shaped modules were stacked up with a cherry picker to complete the huge structure. There's no word on how long that tower will stand. [Toronto 680 News, via Yahoo News]

The retired colonel from the French army reserves last gave it a go in 2003, and was sitting in his insulated capsule just minutes away from take-off when the balloon that was going to take him up to his jump level exploded. Now, with a new, three-ply balloon that is, according to the manager of the Canadian side of operations, Claude-Jean Hurel, "really solid," although it has yet to carry a human being, Michel has a three-week window in which to make the jump. Thank heavens it is always in August, when there is no other news to write about.

Fournier has been training for the free-fall attempt since 1988 when, as a 41-year-old, he was selected to be on the Herm s shuttle, part of the French national space program which was canceled due to budget cuts. Undeterred, Fournier left the military and raised money by selling off all his worldly possessions in order to buy the abandoned equipment from the French government.

Aided and abetted by various aerospace scientists, Fournier has kept rigorously in shape, making over 8,500 parachute drops, spending time in hyperbaric pressure chambers and refrigeration units—even keeping his hands and feet in icy water to get used to the sub-zero conditions he will have to endure. At 40,000 metres, the temperature is around minus 100 centigrade, and the air is so thin, Fournier must inhale pure oxygen for hours beforehand, in order to get rid of the nitrogen in his blood.

Once the balloon has taken his capsule up to the jump height, our intrepid sexagenarian must leap head first out of the receptacle and free-fall for seven minutes. When he hits 1,000 metres, he pulls the chute—if he still can—and enjoy a leisurely descent of eight minutes. Before ripcord time, he will be breaking the sound barrier at speeds up to 932 mph, and enduring temperatures as low as minus 115 C.

Like many young boys, Fournier has always wanted to be an astronaut. "My passion has always been to fly, to jump," he told an interviewer. "My objective is test out a way to save astronauts." Perhaps you should start with yourself, mate. Bonne Chance, Michel, and let's hope you don't run out of puff before you've finished blowing up the balloon. [Canada.com]

A British man has made two phone calls from the summit of Mount Everest in the Himalayas. At 8,848 metres, Rod Baber's two conversations have gone into the record books as the highest phone calls ever made (let me tell you, I've made some when I've been minging off my mong cheeks and they're not pretty). Find out without whom, etc. etc., after the crevasse.

All this was made possible by the Chinese, who installed a base station with a line of sight to the north ridge, and Motorola, who sponsored Rob Baber and his team's expedition. He also sent an SMS message, but we'll let him off for spelling mistakes, as we all know it's murder to text with your gloves on. – Ad Dugdale

Success for Everest mobile effort [BBC News]

If I understand correctly, this guy set a world record for shortest amount of time spent opening up X number of beer bottles with a helicopter. Seriously, folks, can world records get any more specific? I think I want to hold the world record for most oranges peeled with my toes while juggling squirrels in zero gravity. Nevertheless, this helicopter guy is pretty badass. – Travis Hudson

The Amazing Beer-Opening Helicopter [Dethroner]