Random 1
In Ancient Egypt, what sweet food item was smeared on servants to keep flies away from the Pharoah?
Honey
All British tanks since 1945 have been equipped with supplies to make what drink?
Tea
While Pope Gregory IX was in power, he declared what modern household pet was associated with devil worship?
Cats. He then has them exterminated, and some believe without the cats, the mouse and rat population grew and helped spread the bubonic plague.
True or False: Charlie Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest?
True: he also lost, coming in at 20th place.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar was the shortest in history. How long did it last?
Between 38-45 minutes long.
During the 1800s in the United States, it was considered a cruel and unusual punishment to feed what food to prisoners?
Lobster
True or False: Tug of War used to be an Olympic event?
True! It went on from 1900-1920
What was the first vegetable planted in space?
Potatoes
Which country has the most pigs?
China- the latest count was 434 million. The U.S. has only 75 million
What aquatic animals has the U.S. Navy trained since 1959?
Bottlenose dolphins and sea lions. They are trained to recover lost equipment, intercept intruders in ports, and detect buried sea mines.
Which country has the most tornados annually?
The United States, which averages 1,200 every year.
Which 4 presidents are on Mt. Rushmore?
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln
What is the largest birth weight ever recorded for a human baby?
23lbs! The child was born to the tallest couple ever recorded: Anna Bates (7ft 11 inches) and Martin Van Buran Bates (7ft 9 inches)
What year was the first speeding ticket issued?
1896. The man was pulled over for going 4x the speed limit. Though, the speed limit was only 2mph.
What tropical fruit is known as a natural meat tenderizer?
Pineapple
Who is the only person to win 2 Nobel Prizes in 2 DIFFERENT sciences?
Marie Curie. There have been 5 repeat winners, but Curie, besides being the only woman on the list, is the only one to win two in different specialties.
How long was the largest wedding veil recorded?
22,843 feet and 2.11 inches, or as long as 63.5 football fields.
How many questions does the average small child ask in a day?
300, or 1 every 2 and a half minutes.
Instead of saying "cheese!", what did Victorians say when getting their picture taken?
"Prunes!"
Did dinosaurs live on every continent?
Yes, even Antartica
Was "Typhoid Mary" a real person?
Yes. She was an Irish immigrant named Mary Mallon. Though she had no symptoms of typhoid fever, she carried the bacteria in her blood and could pass it on to other people. Because no doctor could convince her that this was true and she didn't feel sick, she insisted on working as a cook. During her career, she infected at least 51 people, 3 of whom died, before she was put into isolation for the remainder of her life.
Could a tornado cause "fish rain"?
Yes! If a tornado passes through water, and is strong enough, it can pick up the water and whatever is swimming with it. Eventually, what goes up, must come down!
What common farm animal kills more humans yearly than sharks do?
Cows. While sharks may injure more people, fatalities go to the cattle.
Is a tiger's SKIN striped or solid in color?
Striped, just like their coat
The current 50-star U.S. flag was designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft for a school project. What grade did he receive for it?
B-
What is the popular children's toy Barbie's full name?
Barbara Millicent Roberts
Jeanne Louise Calment was the oldest person to have ever lived. What was her age when she died?
122 years old
Why did John Montagu, better known as the Earl of Sandwich, invent sandwiches?
He didn't want to leave his gambling table to eat.
How much does the average elephant's heart weigh?
30lbs! For comparison, the human heart weighs 10 ounces.
What was the measurement for the world's longest fingernails?
32 ft and 3.8 in
Was the most successful pirate in history a man or a woman?
A woman. She was the wife of the captain, and after he died, she took over. She had 300 warships, 1,200 support ships, and anywhere between 40,000-80,000 men, women, and children in her fleet.
Where did pound cake get its name?
The original recipe required a pound each of butter, flour, sugar and eggs.
What is the difference between jam and jelly?
Jam is made from crushed or ground fruit, jelly is made from fruit juice.
Other than being polite, why did the act of shaking hands start?
To show the other person you were unarmed, and that it was a peaceful interaction.
What are the top three most visited countries by tourists?
1. France 2. Spain 3. United States of America
Recorded in Antartica, what is the coldest temperature ever recorded?
-128.6 degrees
Was Chrispher Columbus actually the first European to discover North America?
No. It was actually Vikings 500 years earlier. A group, led by Leif Erickson, eventually settled farther north in what is now Canada.
In English, leaving a party without telling anyone is called a “French Exit.” In French, the phrase translates to what?
"To leave like the English"
Was Elvis Presley born with dark hair?
He was actually blonde. He died in black for an "edgier" look.
Which is the only King in a deck of cards to have no moustache?
A. Spades
B. Hearts
C. Clubs
D. Diamonds
B. King of Hearts
What favorite sandwich spread could be used to create diamonds?
Peanut Butter! It has been done once by a scientist named Dan Frost used extreme pressure, and thanks to the high-carbon make-up of peanut butter, a diamond was formed.
What is a group of hippos called?
A Bloat
Why do students give their teachers apples?
It started around the 16th century, teachers made very little, so students would bring them apples (which was a very common crop at the time) as a gift or "tip."
Do fingernails grow faster on your dominant hand or your non dominant hand?
Dominant hand. This is because it is used more, so they are more susceptible to damage, and your body sends nutrients to that hand to help them grow.
What is the world's largest living "structure"? Hint: The most commonly known one is in Australia.
Coral Reefs
True or False: Marie Curie's belongings are still radioactive?
True. You even have to sign a waiver to study her notebooks
How long did the world's longest traffic jam last?
12 Days!
True or False: Dr. Suess wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" to win a bet with his publisher?
True: The publisher didn't believe that he could finish a book with only 50 words.
What spice is known to cause hallucinations if you ingest too much?
Nutmeg
What fraction of the world's population has never seen snow?
A. 1/4
B. 2/3
C. 1/2
B. 2/3
Who is more likely to be struck by lightning: men or women?
Men are 6x more likely than women are to be struck by lighting
Do identical twins have the same fingerprint? Yes or No?
No
True or False: The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was based on a true event?
True! It is based on a real-life event involving Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, who was born in 1806 on a farm in Sterling, Massachusetts. The rhyme tells the story of Mary’s pet lamb following her to school one day, which causes a disturbance.
What did the famous "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles, CA originally say when it was first built?
What salty food was once used as a "symbol of undying love"?
Pretzels
The grizzly bear is the official state animal of California, but when was the last time a bear was actually seen there?
A. 1987
B. 1924
C. 2012
B. 1924
Which animal has a tail that is generally five times longer than its body?
The howler monkey.
What animal has red sweat?
A hippopotamus. This red pigment provides a natural sunblock and also prevents bacterial growth on their skin.
What is the most amount of money earned in an American game show?
Ken Jennings, who won around $4.5 million between his 74-game Jeopardy! winning streak and his appearances in other Jeopardy! tournament events.
What sour fruit was once believed to cure scurvy?
Limes