Question 1: How old was Queen Elizabeth II when she ascended to the British throne?
Question 2: What is the only bird known to fly backwards?
Hummingbirds are agile fliers and the only birds that can fly backwards. This ability is due to their unique wing structure, which allows them to rotate their wings in a full circle.
Question 3: What is the term for the random movement of particles suspended in a fluid, resulting from their collision with quick atoms or molecules in the gas or liquid?
Brownian motion is named after the botanist Robert Brown who first observed this phenomenon under the microscope in 1827 while looking at pollen grains in water. This random motion is caused by the collision of particles with molecules of the fluid in which they are suspended.
Question 4: What is the term for a number that is divisible by exactly two distinct positive integers: itself and one?
A prime number is a number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. The first prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc. The number 2 is unique in being the only even prime number.
Question 5: When did the Hubble Space Telescope launch into orbit?
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into low Earth orbit on April 24, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31). It has since provided some of the most detailed images of distant galaxies, contributing significantly to the advancement of astrophysics.
Question 6: Who is known as the "Merc with a Mouth"?
Deadpool is an anti-hero from the Marvel comics, well known for his talkative nature and tendency to break the fourth wall. His real name is Wade Wilson.
Question 7: Where did the domestication of maize (corn) most likely originate?
Maize was domesticated from wild grasses in Southern Mexico around 9,000 years ago. Its ancestor is believed to be the teosinte plant. The domestication process allowed maize to become a staple food in cultures around the world.
Question 8: Where would you find the world's most extensive system of coral reefs?
The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, and is the largest coral reef system in the world, comprising over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles). It can be seen from outer space and is one of the seven wonders of the natural world.
Question 9: What is the largest internal organ of the human body?
The liver is not only the largest internal organ but also the heaviest. It performs over 500 vital functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and the production of digestive chemicals.
Question 10: Which supervillain is known as the "Clown Prince of Crime"?
The Joker is a fictional supervillain created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson. He first appeared in the debut issue of the comic book Batman published by DC Comics in April 1940. The character's origin is that he fell into a vat of chemicals which bleached his skin white and turned his hair green, contributing to his maniacal clown-like appearance.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. She was born on April 21, 1926, making her 25 years old at the time of her accession. She was crowned on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey.