Question 1: Who discovered the vaccine for polio?
Question 2: Which plant species is known to have the longest lifespan?
The Bristlecone Pine, specifically the Pinus longaeva species, is known to have the longest lifespan of any individual tree, with the oldest known specimen (named Methuselah) being over 4,800 years old.
Question 3: Who is considered the father of modern genetics?
Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance through his work on pea plants. His experiments laid the foundation for the field of genetics.
Question 4: Which British royal served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War?
Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, served as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War in 1982. He flew numerous missions including anti-submarine warfare, casualty evacuation, and transportation duties.
Question 5: What is Australia's largest National Park?
Kakadu National Park is located in Australia's Northern Territory and spans over 7,646 square miles (19,804 square kilometers). It is home to diverse habitats and wildlife, including numerous bird species and Aboriginal rock art sites.
Question 6: What is the name of the winged horse in Greek mythology?
Pegasus is one of the most recognized creatures in Greek mythology. He sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa after she was beheaded by the hero Perseus. Pegasus is often associated with wisdom and poetry and became a symbol of inspiration in art and literature.
Question 7: What is the name of the famous sculpture of a thinker created by Auguste Rodin?
The Thinker is one of Auguste Rodin's most famous works. It was originally created as part of a larger piece, The Gates of Hell, and has since become an independent and iconic symbol of philosophical pondering.
Question 8: What is the world's largest religious population?
According to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity is by far the largest religion in the world with a population estimated to be over 2.4 billion adherents.
Question 9: Who discovered the Tutankhamun tomb in Egypt?
Howard Carter discovered the intact tomb of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, in November 1922, with the backing of his financial sponsor Lord Carnarvon. This was one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the modern era because the tomb was largely undisturbed.
Question 10: Where in the human body would you find the scaphoid bone?
The scaphoid bone is one of the small bones in the carpal bones of the wrist. It is situated between the hand and forearm on the thumb side of the wrist and is notable for its boat-like shape. Scaphoid fractures are the most common type of carpal bone fractures.
Dr. Jonas Salk announced the vaccine for poliomyelitis on April 12, 1955. Unlike the vaccines for other diseases, which utilized weakened versions of the virus, Salk's polio vaccine used killed poliovirus to stimulate immunity. It was an immense breakthrough and significantly reduced the incidence of polio around the world.