Question 1: Which planet was originally known as the Georgian Star?
Question 2: Apple seeds contain which poisonous substance?
Apple seeds contain a compound called amygdalin in their seeds, which degrades to cyanide when the body's enzymes come into contact with the seed. Don't worry though, it would take swallowing a lot of apple seeds to have an adverse effect on you!
Question 3: Who designed the Sydney Opera House?
Danish architect Jorn Utzon initially designed the Sydney Opera house. However, he wasn’t able to finish it amid several controversies that forced him to pack up and leave the country with his family. William F. Lamb was the designer behind the Empire State Building, Stephen Sauvestre was the architect behind the Eiffel Tower, and Moshe Safdie was the architect behind Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands.
Question 4: Which popular Aussie actor was an avid chess player and even won a championship at 10 years old?
Heath Ledger was an avid chess player, winning an Australian Junior Chess Championship when he was 10. He said he made it a point to play at least one game a day in an interview many years later. It also seems Ledger’s passion for the game never faltered, as former competitors he faced well into adulthood in New York, USA’s Washington Square Park recalled that the unassuming actor would get into cheeky trash-talking during casual matches.
Question 5: Achluophobia is the fear of what?
Achluophobia is the fear of the dark. The term is derived from the Greek words ‘achluo’, which means dark, and ‘phobia’, which means fear.
Question 6: If you were standing on Mars, which planet would appear as the most prominent visible object in the night sky?
While Earth and Venus would still appear as bright objects in the sky, Jupiter would be the most prominent due to its size and brightness. From the Mars perspective, Jupiter would often outshine all the other planets.
Question 7: Which comic strip character is known for saying "good grief"?
Charlie Brown is the central character of the comic strip "Peanuts," created by Charles M. Schulz. "Good grief" is his catchphrase, often uttered in response to the various challenges and setbacks he faces in his daily life. The comic strip debuted in 1950 and ran until Schulz's death in 2000, making it one of the most successful and long-running comic strips in history.
Question 8: Why does the ozone layer protect us from harmful UV radiation?
The ozone layer is a region of the Earth's stratosphere containing high concentrations of ozone (O3). It plays a crucial role in absorbing the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and harm marine life. The depletion of the ozone layer due to human-made chemicals has led to an increase in UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, which is a cause for concern.
Question 9: Which country has the most official languages?
South Africa boasts 11 official languages, making it the country with the most official languages in the world. These languages include Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. The country's diverse linguistic landscape reflects its rich cultural heritage and history.
Question 10: Where is the world's largest stock exchange located?
The largest stock exchange in the world, in terms of market capitalization, is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) located in New York City, USA. Founded in 1792, it boasts a market capitalization of over $25 trillion, with many of the world's largest companies listed on the NYSE for trading.
Uranus was originally dubbed as the ‘Georgian star’ or the ‘Georgian planet’. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1781, who then named it to honor his patron, King George III.