The natural world + Science
What color is the Sun?
White –
The reason that the Sun looks yellow to us is because the Earth's atmosphere scatters colours with a longer wavelength, like red, orange, and yellow, less easily. These wavelengths are what we see, which is why the Sun appears yellow. However, the real colour of the sun is white.
Where is the oldest known boomerang from?
Poland (1987) –
We all associate boomerangs with Australia. However, they were used in almost all continents in ancient times, and an Iron Age wooden boomerang was recently found in Holland. In fact, the world's oldest boomerang, made from the tusk of a mammoth, was found in a cave in Poland, in 1987.
What was the first sport to have a World Championship?
Billiards –
Not football or rugby, but billiards. Billiards was so popular in the USA that during the American Civil War, billiards results received wider coverage than war news.
The first World Championship was held in 1869.
Is ice cream a solid, liquid, or gas?
All three states of matter –
Ice cream was first developed into something resembling its current form by the Italian Giambattista della Porta in the 16th century. It is one of the most complex food products that you will ever consume, a thermodynamic miracle that contains all three states of matter, solid, liquid, and gas at the same time.
When was the last time elephants were used in wartime?
1987, the Iran/Iraq war –
No, it wasn't Hannibal. Elephants played a critical role in several key battles in antiquity, and continued to be used in combat up till the 19th century in Thailand and Vietnam.
The last recorded use of elephants in war occurred in 1987, when Iraq is alleged to have used them to transport heavy weapons during the Iran / Iraq war.
At the first modern Olympics, what were the medals for winners made of?
Silver –
The 1896 Summer Olympics, the first of the modern era, were held in Athens, with 14 participating nations. Winners were given a silver medal, because gold was considered too expensive, while runners-up received a copper one, and there was no medal for third place. This changed in the 1904 Olympics, in St Louis, USA, to the current gold, silver, and bronze.
What kind of bears cause the most fatal injuries?
Teddy bears –
In the last 90 years, 82 Americans have been killed in bear attacks. However, teddy bears, along with other toys, have been responsible for an average of 22 deaths each year. Teddy bears are particularly dangerous because of their small parts, like glass eyes, which can cause choking, making them much more deadly than any species of real bear.
Where is the highest mountain on British soil?
Antarctic –
In the UK itself, the highest mountain is Ben Nevis, in Scotland, which is 1,345 metres high. But part of the Antarctic is a British territory, and its highest mountain, Mount Hope, measures 3,239 metres, making Ben
Nevis seem like a mere hill.
Who designed the Eiffel Tower?
Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier –
Although it is named after Gustav Eiffel, he didn't design it himself. He owned an engineering company, and was inspired to build the tower after visiting the Latting Observatory in New York. But the tower was actually designed by two of his senior engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier.
Of all the dog breeds, which is the most genetically similar to wolves?
Pekingese –
Not Alsatians (German Shepherds) or Wolfhounds, which physically resemble wolves. Recent DNA analysis has confirmed that Pekingese, whose name comes from Peking, the former name for Beijing, are one of the oldest dog breeds, and the most genetically similar to wolves.
Which is the wettest – London, Rome, or Barcelona?
Rome –
In many people's minds, in London, it is permanently raining. However, other European cities primarily associated with sunshine have significantly higher annual rainfall than London, including Barcelona and also Rome, which is the wettest of these three cities.
In what job are people most likely to suffer injuries at work?
Hairdressers and beauticians –
According to a recent survey, hairdressers and beauticians have the most injury-prone jobs in Britain. The most common injury involved people cutting themselves. They are closely followed by electricians, plumbers, and police officers.