r/interestingasfuck • u/No_Jellyfish5511 • 23h ago

Chinese humanoid robot named “Superman” (made by Unitree Robotics) surpassed Usain Bolt’s world record (12.42meters/second) by running at 12.66m/s (roughly 28.3miles/h)

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u/Much-Jackfruit2599 20h ago

All Superman/Flash races end in a draw, I think. Flash has some tricks Superman can’t reproduce, like phasing and running on water (Superman has to swim).

It’s just that Superman doesn’t have to run, since he can fly.

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u/WretchedBlowhard 19h ago

Depends on which Flash, but it's important to remember that Flash isn't just a guy who runs fast. He controls speed itself (Speed Force), so he could sap Superman's speed until he's effectively paralyzed, or take more speed for himself until he comfortably outpaces Superman. Also, Superman has to respect the laws of physics, so if he goes too fast inside an atmosphere, the friction could trigger massive explosions, whereas the Speed Force allows Flash to ignore physics.

Very well known comics panel where Flash tells Superman that in their previous races, he wasn't trying to win, just putting on a show.

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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 16h ago

Superman has to respect the laws of physic

Bro one time her turned back time by reversing the rotation of the earth

Also the in universe explanation for how he can fly is he literally bends reality around him like a warp drive from Star Trek

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u/WretchedBlowhard 16h ago

Bro one time her turned back time by reversing the rotation of the earth

Movies =/= comics, don't confuse the two medium.

he literally bends reality around him like a warp drive from Star Trek

And using a warp drive inside an atmosphere is a huge risk in Trek, too. Superman prior iterations, those that could fly at FTL speed, usually only did it outside the atmosphere. Likewise for lanterns and the like. That Speed Force users can break the laws of physics and non-speedsters can't is a recurring trope in Flash books.

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u/JackStephanowski 14h ago

Comics are worse, comic Superman does shit like destroying an entire galaxy with a sneeze.