Question 1: Who invented the cotton gin?
Question 2: Which mineral makes up most of the Earth's mantle?
Olivine is a magnesium iron silicate that makes up most of the Earth's upper mantle. It is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth, but it weathers quickly on the surface.
Question 3: What was the name of the famous American gangster who was nicknamed "Scarface"?
Al Capone was an infamous American gangster during the 1920s and early 1930s. He got the nickname "Scarface" after getting slashed on the left side of his face during a fight at a Brooklyn night club.
Question 4: How many Tony Awards has the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" won?
The Phantom of the Opera opened on Broadway in 1988 and is the longest-running show in Broadway history. It won 7 Tony Awards in 1988, including Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical.
Question 5: Why do hurricanes spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere?
The Coriolis Effect is caused by the Earth's rotation. In the northern hemisphere, it deflects moving objects to the right, causing hurricanes to spin counterclockwise. In the southern hemisphere, the Coriolis Effect deflects to the left, so hurricanes spin clockwise.
Question 6: Who was the first actor to play James Bond in the long-running film series?
Sean Connery defined the suave secret agent in the first five Bond films from 1962-1967 starting with Dr. No. He returned for two more films in 1971 and 1983.
Question 7: Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 mission. His famous words upon stepping onto the lunar surface were "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Question 8: Which former U.S. President won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album?
Barack Obama has actually won two Grammy Awards in the Best Spoken Word Album category - the first in 2006 for his audiobook "Dreams from My Father" and the second in 2008 for his audiobook "The Audacity of Hope."
Question 9: If a baby kangaroo is called a joey, what is a baby echidna called?
Echidnas, sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are egg-laying mammals native to Australia and New Guinea. Newborn echidnas are referred to as puggles. The puggle is born hairless and spineless, and is carried around in its mother's pouch for protection until its spines develop at around 50 days old.
Question 10: What is the study of algae called?
Phycology is derived from the Greek words "phykos" meaning seaweed and "logos" meaning discourse. Algae play a vital role in many ecosystems, serving as a food source for marine life and producing a large amount of the world's oxygen.
Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1794. The machine automated the separation of cotton fibers from their seeds, revolutionizing the cotton industry in the southern United States.