Believe it or not, this odd spaceship-like object is actually a bicycle. But of course, it’s not just any bicycle – it is the machine that the University of Liverpool team want to use to smash the current bicycle land speed record. The current record, set in 2013 by a Dutch team, is 83.13 MPH. The Liverpool team thinks they can get this odd machine, called Arion1, up to 90 MPH.

The incredibly aerodynamic design of the machine is only the beginning. Inside of the shell will be a single biker sitting just five inches above the floor of the capsule. Before participating in the event, the rider will have to undergo nearly a year and a half of training for the grueling ride. The rider’s legs pumping will produce more than 700 W of power – enough to light the average UK home. A beefed-up transmission will then transfer the power to the wheels and possibly move the University of Liverpool Velocipede Team past the current world record speed.

Rather than a traditional windshield, the Arion1 will use a camera and monitor system to let the driver see where he or she is going. This setup reduced drag and lets the driver’s head stay in the perfect position. The bike is still in its concept stages and will be built according to the physical specifications of the driver, optimizing its speed. It will weigh in at just a bit less than 55 pounds, and the team hopes to have it ready to compete by May of 2015.

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Attempting to break land speed records is a true adrenaline junkie’s hobby. Fittingly, a Dutch cyclist set the world land speed record for bicycles a few months ago. Hopefully the 83 MPH he hit was enough to get his fix.

Student Sebastiaan Bowier was part of a team from Delft University of Technology and VU Amsterdam. Sponsored by PostNL, the Netherlands’ national mail carrier, the group developed a recumbent bike that tore through the Nevada desert. “This is not only an achievement by the students and cyclists, but also the many businesses that supported us…who have backed us since the very first team to emphasize that the Netherlands is a top cycling country,” said team leader Wouter Lion.

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Wind power and wind-resistant technology aren’t the first things you would think of when designing a cargo ship. But a Norwegian firm has unveiled one with a hull so big it acts as an aeronautical sail.

Designed by Lade AS, The Vindskip has a hull that’s like a massive airfoil. Its design allows it to be powered by the wind, creating a force similar to lift to carry it through the sea.

The Vindskip’s aeronautical qualities allow a 60 per cent decrease in fuel usage and a whopping 80 per cent decrease in harmful emissions. Lade says it could eventually be used on cruise ships and plans to license the design in the future.

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