Question 1: Who was the ruler of the Maurya Empire at its zenith?
Question 2: Where was the first electronic digital computer built?
The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was built at the University of Pennsylvania between 1943 and 1945. It weighed over 30 tons and contained more than 17,000 vacuum tubes.
Question 3: Where is the wettest place on Earth?
Mawsynram receives an average of 467 inches (11,872 mm) of rainfall per year. Cherrapunji, also located in India, held the record for the wettest place on Earth until recent years when Mawsynram surpassed it.
Question 4: Why did Henry Ford choose the letter "T" for his famous Model T automobile?
Henry Ford produced a series of automobiles, each one designated by a letter, starting with Model A in 1903, and progressing through Model S in 1908 before launching the famous Model T in 1908. The Model T went on to become one of the best-selling vehicles of all time.
Question 5: If you were to order Vegemite in Australia, what type of spread would you expect to receive?
Vegemite is a thick, dark brown Australian food spread made from leftover brewer's yeast extract. It is typically spread on toast or sandwiches and has a unique, salty taste.
Question 6: In which organism was the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool first discovered?
CRISPR-Cas9 was initially discovered as a part of the bacterial immune system, where it functions to protect bacteria against viruses. Scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 for the development of a method for genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9.
Question 7: Where is the fictional town of Hawkins, the main setting of the Netflix series 'Stranger Things', located?
The fictional town of Hawkins, where the events of 'Stranger Things' take place, is set in the state of Indiana. The series creators, the Duffer Brothers, have said they chose Indiana as it's where they grew up and they wanted to pay homage to their childhood in the Midwest.
Question 8: In which year was the United Nations founded?
The United Nations was founded on October 24, 1945 after World War II, with the aim of preventing future wars and ensuring international peace and security.
Question 9: What is the term for an organism that can live in very high-temperature environments?
Thermophiles are organisms that thrive at relatively high temperatures, between 41 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit (5 and 50 degrees Celsius). Many thermophiles are archaea, a type of single-celled organism distinct from bacteria. Some well-known thermophiles include those found in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park.
Question 10: Where is the legendary city of El Dorado believed to have been located?
El Dorado was a legendary city of gold and wealth that caught the attention of European explorers in the 16th century. The myth led many to explore the northern parts of South America, particularly Colombia, where the legend is believed to have originated.
Ashoka the Great ruled from circa 268 to 232 BCE and is remembered for his role in spreading Buddhism across ancient Asia after his conversion, which was influenced by the aftermath of the Kalinga War. His edicts on pillars and rocks are some of the oldest preserved historical documents on the Indian Subcontinent.