Question 1: Who is credited with the development of the first successful polio vaccine?
Question 2: Which legendary English outlaw is known for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor?
While there is no conclusive evidence that Robin Hood actually existed, stories about him have been popular since the 15th century. He is typically depicted as a skilled archer and swordsman.
Question 3: Who painted the famous artwork known as "The Starry Night"?
"The Starry Night" is an oil-on-canvas painting created by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh in 1889. The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village.
Question 4: What popular TV show featured a fictional coffee shop called Central Perk?
Central Perk was the go-to hangout spot for the six main characters on the sitcom Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. The iconic orange couch in Central Perk is now on display at the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Hollywood.
Question 5: In which sport would you perform the Fosbury Flop?
The Fosbury Flop, named after American athlete Dick Fosbury, is a back-first technique used in the high jump event. Fosbury popularized this technique, which revolutionized the sport, when he used it to win the gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games.
Question 6: In what year did the first animal go into space?
In 1947, fruit flies were launched into space aboard a U.S. V-2 rocket to study the effects of radiation exposure at high altitudes. Later animal spaceflights included a rhesus monkey named Albert II in 1949 and the famous dog Laika in 1957.
Question 7: Why did Prince change his name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993?
Prince adopted the "Love Symbol" as his stage name from 1993 to 2000 during a dispute with Warner Bros over ownership of his music. The media referred to him as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince" during this time.
Question 8: Why is deforestation a major environmental concern?
Deforestation is responsible for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It also destroys the habitats of countless species and disrupts vital ecosystem services provided by forests.
Question 9: What is the official national bird of the United States?
The bald eagle was chosen as the national emblem of the United States in 1782 because of its majestic appearance and representation of freedom, courage and strength. Despite the name, the bald eagle is not actually bald, but has white feathers on its head.
Question 10: Why is the Earth's core hot?
The Earth's core is believed to have a temperature similar to the surface of the Sun, about 5,400°C (9,800°F). This heat is mainly a result of residual heat from the planet's formation about 4.5 billion years ago, as well as heat generated by the radioactive decay of elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium in the Earth's interior.
Jonas Salk developed the first successful polio vaccine in 1952. The vaccine was made publicly available in 1955, and by 1961, the incidence of polio had decreased by over 95% in the United States.