Question 1: In what year did Albert Einstein publish his theory of special relativity?
Question 2: How long is the San Andreas Fault in California?
The San Andreas Fault forms the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. It is a transform fault known for generating large, destructive earthquakes.
Question 3: What Jewish holiday is known as the "Festival of Lights"?
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE. The holiday is celebrated by lighting the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum.
Question 4: How long did World War II last?
World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved more than 30 countries and resulted in an estimated 70-85 million fatalities, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.
Question 5: What renowned playwright wrote the plays "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" and "Shakespeare in Love"?
Tom Stoppard is a Czech-born British playwright known for his witty, intellectual, and often absurdist works. "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" is an absurdist tragicomedy that expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Stoppard co-wrote the screenplay for the 1998 film "Shakespeare in Love," which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Question 6: In what year did the Hubble Space Telescope launch into orbit?
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. It orbits above Earth's atmosphere, capturing extremely sharp images of distant galaxies, planets and stars.
Question 7: What was the name of the first episode of the TV series "Friends"?
The pilot episode of Friends first aired on September 22, 1994. It introduced the six main characters and established the premise of the show. The episode was watched by nearly 22 million viewers.
Question 8: Which musical features the song "Don't Rain on My Parade"?
"Don't Rain on My Parade" is one of the most famous songs from the musical Funny Girl, which premiered on Broadway in 1964 starring Barbra Streisand in the lead role of Fanny Brice. Streisand's rendition of the song became her signature number.
Question 9: Which famous classical composer was deaf when he composed some of his most renowned works?
Beethoven began to lose his hearing in his late twenties, but continued composing masterpieces like his Ninth Symphony even after becoming almost completely deaf. He is considered one of the greatest composers of all time.
Question 10: Which organ in the human body is responsible for producing insulin?
The pancreas is a glandular organ that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones, including insulin which regulates blood sugar levels. Insulin is produced by special cells in the pancreas called islets of Langerhans.
Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" introduced the theory of special relativity. It reconciled Maxwell's equations for electricity and magnetism with the laws of mechanics by introducing major changes to mechanics close to the speed of light.