HowStuffWorks Newsletter Quiz

By: Madison Orradre  | 
Stretch your brain with weekly tests of knowledge from the HowStuffWorks newsletter. NicoElNino/SHUTTERSTOCK

Answers for March 23, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Laundry stripping should be performed after every wash.

False. Laundry stripping shouldn't be done very often — only a few times per year, as over-stripping can cause fabrics to break down.

Advertisement

Learn More: What Is Laundry Stripping and Is It Worth Trying?

2. Which dog breed is considered the most intelligent?

  • Afghan hound
  • Border collie
  • French bulldog
  • Rottweiler

The border collie, a type of herding dog, is considered the most intelligent dog breed; most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95 percent of the time.

Read More: Is Your Pup One of the 10 Smartest Dog Breeds?

3. Which three vegetables make up the famous "three sisters" combination?

  • Corn, beans and squash
  • Dill, pumpkins and tomatoes
  • Garlic, scallions and chives
  • Tomatoes, basil and peppers

One of the earliest and best-known examples of companion planting is what the Iroquois called "the three sisters": corn, beans and squash. The cornstalk grows quickly, creating a natural pole for the bean plant to climb. The squash spreads its leaves and shallow roots around the base of the bean and corn plants, keeping down weeds and shading the soil. The beans provide nitrogen that helps the squash grow.

Learn More: Companion Planting: The Do's and Don'ts of Growing Plants Together

4. True or false: Rayon fabric is likely to shrink in the wash.

True. According to textile expert Deborah Young, the more absorbent the fiber, the more it will shrink. Rayon is incredibly absorbent.

Read More: How to Unshrink Your Clothes

5. What type of color is brown?

  • Neutral
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary

Brown is a neutral color you can make by combining primary colors or mixing secondary colors with complementary colors.

Learn More: What Colors Make Brown? And How Do You Make Different Shades?

Advertisement

March 16, 2024

Answers for March 16, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Jennifer Lopez's revealing Grammy dress in 2000 was the direct inspiration for creating Google Image search.

True. According to a blog post by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Jennifer Lopez's revealing dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards was the direct inspiration for creating Google Image search.

Advertisement

Read More: What Happens to Red Carpet Dresses After Celebrities Wear Them?

2. Who was the first female recipient of the Abel Prize?

  • Cathleen Morawetz
  • Elinor Ostrom
  • Karen Uhlenbeck
  • Katherine Johnson

In 2019, Karen Uhlenbeck became the first female recipient of the Abel Prize, the highest honor in mathematics. The award was in recognition of Uhlenbeck's pioneering work in geometric partial differential equations and gauge theory.

Learn More: 5 Trailblazing Female Mathematicians

3. As of 2024, how many countries are there in the world?

  • 76
  • 195
  • 203
  • 300

As of 2024, there are 195 countries in the world.

Read More: What Are the 7 Largest Countries in the World by Area?

4. True or false: Maya Angelou was the second person ever to read a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration.

True. In 1993, Angelou became the second person ever to read a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration. She composed and read "On the Pulse of Morning" at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton. The first person to read a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration was Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy's Inauguration.

Learn More: 5 Eloquent and Enduring Maya Angelou Quotes

5. Which animal family does the African wild dog belong to?

  • Canidae
  • Felidae
  • Mustelidae
  • Ursidae

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), is a carnivorous mammal in the Canidae family, the same family as coyotes, domestic dogs and wolves.

Read More: African Wild Dog: Not the Hyena You Think It Is

Advertisement

March 9, 2024

Answers for March 9, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Similar to North Americans, Italians fear the number 13.

False. Italians consider the number 13 lucky. However, In Italy, the number 17 gets the same treatment as 13 does in the U.S.

Advertisement

Learn More: 13 Superstitions About Lucky Numbers and Unlucky Numbers

2. Which cult was classified as a UFO religion?

  • Children of God
  • Heaven's Gate
  • Love Has Won
  • NXIVM

The Heaven's Gate cult is classified as a UFO religion. Members believed they would leave their bodies behind and their consciousness would transfer into an immortal extraterrestrial being. You can learn more about Heaven's Gate in Apple TV’s documentary, "Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults."

Read More: 9 Cult Documentaries You Can Stream Now

3. What are your chances of finding a four-leaf clover?

  • One in 100
  • One in 1,000
  • One in 10,000
  • One in 100,000

Your chances of finding a four-leaf clover are a measly one in 10,000. It's that rarity that accounts for the luck associated with four-leaf clovers.

Learn More: Why Is a Four-leaf Clover Lucky?

4. True or false: There's a three-way tie for the WNBA's highest paid player.

True. For the 2024 season, there's a three-way tie for the WNBA's highest paid player. Arike Ogunbowale, Kahleah Copper and Jewell Loyd can all expect bases of $241,984 — the highest maximum base allowable in the league for 2024.

Read More: Who Is the Highest Paid WNBA Player in 2024?

5. Which metal did early Western Europeans believe to have magical powers?

  • Gold
  • Iron
  • Steel
  • Tin

Early Western Europeans believed that iron had magical powers and could drive away evil. Horseshoes, being made of iron, naturally became protective talismans.

Learn More: The Mystique of the Lucky Horseshoe: History and Beliefs

Advertisement

March 2, 2024

Answers for March 2, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Two popes and two queens came from the Medici line.

True. Pope Leo X and Pope Clement VII were the sons of Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother, Giuliano. Catherine de' Medici married into the French monarchy in 1533 and Marie, another Medici, was queen of France in the early 17th century.

Advertisement

Read More: Murder! Money! Power! Art! Meet the Medici Family

2. Which country does not border the Caspian Sea?

  • Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
  • Iran
  • Russia

Georgia does not border the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Read More: Caspian Sea: The World's Largest Lake (Yes, You Read That Right)

3. Which war is "the face that launched a thousand ships" blamed for starting?

  • Persian Wars
  • Revolutionary War
  • Trojan War
  • War of 1812

Helen of Troy, described as "the face that launched a thousand ships,” is blamed for inadvertently starting the Trojan War.

Read More: The Curse of Beauty: How Helen of Troy Was Blamed for Sparking the Trojan War

4. True or false: Mezcal comes from one species, the blue Weber agave plant.

False. Tequila comes from one species, the blue Weber agave plant (Agave tequilana), but mezcal is not required to come from a specific species. It just must be 100 percent agave.

Read More: Mezcal vs. Tequila: A Guide to Agave-based Spirits

5. What is the longest living animal on record?

  • A clam
  • An octopus
  • A turtle
  • A bird

The longest living animal on record is a clam known as the ocean quahog. One individual, nicknamed "Ming," holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest non-colonial animal ever discovered.

Read More: What Is the Longest Living Animal? From Tortoises to Whales

Advertisement

February 24, 2024

Answers for February 24, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Casu marzu is illegal in the United States and Italy.

True. Even though casu marzu originated in Sardinia, Italy, the cheese has been illegal to sell in Italy since 1962.

Advertisement

Learn More: Would You Eat Casu Marzu, the Illegal Cheese With Maggots?

2. What color lightsaber does Obi-Wan Kenobi wield?

  • Blue
  • Green
  • Purple
  • Red

Obi-Wan Kenobi wields a blue lightsaber that symbolizes protection and justice. Characters with a blue lightsaber are typically Jedi guardians of peace and enforcers of justice throughout the galaxy.

Read More: Lightsaber Color Meanings: From Sith Red to Jedi Green

3. In Yellowstone National Park, which animal tends to injure more visitors than any other animal?

  • Bears
  • Bison
  • Snakes
  • Wolves

In Yellowstone National Park, bison tend to injure more visitors than any other animal. The National Park Service recommends keeping at least 25 yards (23 meters) of distance between yourself and a bison.

Learn More: Bison vs. Buffalo: What's the Difference?

4. True or false: The Maillard reaction and caramelization are the same.

False. Caramelization is the browning of sugars, while the Maillard reaction is a bit more complex and involves the interaction between amino acids and sugars. The Maillard reaction also begins to occur at a lower temperature than caramelization and produces many complex flavor compounds.

Read More: The Maillard Reaction and the Science of Browning Foods

5. What is the brightest star in the universe?

  • Eta Carinae
  • R136a1
  • Sun
  • UY Scuti

The title of the brightest star in the universe, in terms of intrinsic luminosity, belongs to the luminous blue variable star Eta Carinae. UY Scuti is the largest star in the universe but not the brightest.

Learn More: The Largest Star in the Universe Is 1,700x Bigger Than Our Sun

Advertisement

February 17, 2024

Answers for February 17, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Airplane mode is a proven way to extend your cell phone's battery life.

True. A 2016 test by Wirecutter on both iOS and Android devices showed that browsing media in airplane mode caused the phone’s batteries to degrade only a few percent over four hours. By contrast, the batteries dropped up to 10 percent over the same time period with wireless functions enabled.

Advertisement

Read More: What Does Airplane Mode Do? And Can It Save Battery Life?

2. Which three letters can you find on most zipper pulls?

  • KKY
  • YKK
  • YZZ
  • ZZY

YKK, which was originally called Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, is a massive company that makes zippers.

Read More: Why Do Most Zippers Say "YKK" on the Pull-tab?

3. Which of the following statements is not true about the kākāpo?

  • It is a critically endangered species.
  • It is a flightless bird.
  • It is from Australia.
  • It is the loudest bird in the world.

The kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) is a large, flightless parrot from New Zealand. It has a 132-decibel mating call known as a "boom," and it was declared critically endangered in 2000.

Read More: 4 Kākāpō Facts That Are Almost Too Cool to Be True

4. True or false: Bad weather doesn't actually affect internet connections.

False. Satellite internet is more likely to have interference during bad weather than any other type of internet service. Data reception might slow down significantly, or it could even cut off completely for several minutes at a time.

Read More: Does Weather Mess With Your Internet Connection?

5. How many live Ili pikas have been spotted since the species was first discovered in 1983?

  • 29
  • 56
  • 147
  • 328

The Ili pika, a master of hiding, has eluded scientists for decades. Since its discovery, only 29 live individuals have been spotted.

Read More: The Ili Pika May Be the Most Adorable Endangered Species

Advertisement

February 10, 2024

Answers for February 10, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: When you have a bleach stain you should wash the stain with warm water to mitigate the effect.

False. Washing with warm water can intensify the bleach's action. You should wash or rinse the stained area with cold water to help mitigate the effect.

Advertisement

Read More: How to Get Rid of Bleach Stains

2. Which president was never served a subpoena?

  • John Quincy Adams
  • Donald Trump
  • George Washington
  • Richard Nixon

George Washington was not subpoenaed but former presidents John Quincy Adams, Donald Trump and Richard Nixon have all been subpoenaed, whether in front of Congress or in civil trials.

Read More: Can You Ignore a Subpoena?

3. Where is pink Himalayan salt mined?

  • Brazil
  • India
  • Morocco
  • Pakistan

Many people think it's from India, but virtually all pink Himalayan salt is mined in a hilly region of Pakistan.

Read More: What's the Difference Between Kosher Salt and Table Salt?

4. True or false: The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia.

True. The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia. It is also a critical habitat for various species, such as the Yangtze finless porpoise.

Read More: Yangtze Finless Porpoise: The World's Only Freshwater Porpoise

5. Which is not considered one of the official grades for paprika?

  • Extra
  • Gourmet
  • Rose
  • Special

Extra is not one of the official grades for paprika. The four official grades are: special, gourmet, noble and rose.

Read More: Paprika Is Way More Than Just Deviled Egg Dust

Advertisement

February 3, 2024

Answers for February 3, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: The difference between road salt and table salt is that road salt is a non-purified version of regular salt, with more minerals in the mix.

True. Road salt is just a non-purified version of regular salt, with more minerals in the mix. That is the main difference.

Advertisement

Read More: Why Does Salt Melt Ice on the Roads in Winter?

2. Where is the world’s largest McDonald's located?

  • Denmark
  • Florida
  • Spain
  • Texas

The world's largest McDonald's is located in Orlando, Florida, at 6875 Sandlake Road.

Read More: 5 Facts About the World's Largest McDonald's

3. What is the smallest and most common chipmunk species?

  • Eastern chipmunk
  • Least chipmunk
  • Palmer's chipmunk
  • Yellow-pine chipmunk

The smallest and most common chipmunk species is the least chipmunk (Tamias minimus), a tiny rodent — 7.2 to 8.5 inches (18.3 to 21.6 centimeters) tall and 1.1 to 1.8 ounces (31.2 to 51.0 grams) in weight — with a white underbelly.

Read More: Chipmunk vs. Squirrel Sizes, Habitats and Characteristics

4. True or false: Ocean water cannot freeze.

False. Just like fresh water, ocean water can freeze; it just does it at a lower temperature. Sea water freezes at about 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 2 degrees Celsius) because of its salt content.

Read More: The Mpemba Effect: Does Hot Water Really Freeze Faster Than Cold Water?

5. Which snake has invaded the Florida Everglades?

  • Black mamba
  • Eastern tiger snake
  • Green anaconda
  • Inland taipan

Although they are known for their presence in the remote waters of the Amazon rainforest, the green anaconda has found an unexpected home in the Florida Everglades.

Read More: Green Anaconda: Meet the Heaviest Snake in the World

Advertisement

January 27, 2024

Answers for January 27, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: According to a study by University of Alberta Psychology professor Chris Westbury, the word found to be the absolute least funny was “harassment.”

True. When Professor Chris Westbury applied his mathematical model to a dataset of 45,516 English words, he found that the word “harassment” was the least funny.

Advertisement

Read More: Why 'Poop' and 'Wiggle' Are Funny Words, According to Science

2. Which Mafia is the most powerful in the world?

  • Bonanno
  • Genovese
  • La Cosa Nostra
  • Triad

La Cosa Nostra is considered the most powerful Mafia on the planet, controlling one in five businesses in Italy and many businesses in other parts of the world, including the U.S.

Read More: 10 Businesses Supposedly Controlled by the Mafia

3. In which country is the Amur leopard not found?

  • China
  • Mongolia
  • North Korea
  • Russia

The Amur leopard is not found in Mongolia. It is only found in a small swath of land where Russia, China and North Korea meet.

Read More: Amur Leopard: The Rarest Big Cat in the World

4. True or false: “Bourgeois” can only be used as a noun.

False. “Bourgeois” can be a noun or an adjective, referring to one middle-class person or that person's middle-class behavior.

Read More: How Did 'Bourgeoisie' Become a Bad Word?

5. Which was included in Merriam-Webster’s 2020 words of the year list?

  • Authentic
  • Implode
  • Malarkey
  • Rizz

After Joe Biden used "malarkey" in a 2020 presidential debate it was in the top 30 percent of all lookups on Merriam-Webster’s site. Later the same dictionary included it in their 2020 words of the year list.

Read More: Malarkey: What's the Story Behind Joe Biden's Favorite Word?

Advertisement

January 20, 2024

Answers for January 20, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: You should use glass cleaner and a paper towel to clean your glasses.

False. Don't use glass cleaner, despite its name, as it can remove any coatings that you've paid to have on your lenses. Also, stay away from paper towels because they can scratch your lenses. Instead, dish soap is your best bet to get rid of those smudges.

Advertisement

Read More: How to Best Clean Your Glasses, for Real

2. In which U.S. state is it illegal to pump your own gas?

  • Alabama
  • Idaho
  • New Jersey
  • Nevada

It is illegal in New Jersey to pump your own gas. The official ban on self-serve gas in Jersey began in 1949 with the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, citing safety concerns like fire hazards. Since then, state law dictates that a gas station attendant must pump your gas.

Read More: Why Can't You Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey?

3. Which building is currently the tallest building in the world?

  • Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • China Zun Tower, Beijing, China
  • One World Trade Center, New York City, U.S.
  • Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai currently holds the title of the world’s tallest building, measuring 2,717 feet (828 meters) tall.

Read More: Will the Jeddah Tower, World's Tallest Building, Ever Be Finished?

4. True or false: You should keep your gas tank at least a quarter full at all times.

True. Experts say you should keep your gas tank at least a quarter full at all times. Doing this will keep you from getting in a dangerous situation where you're low on gas and too far from a gas station. It will also avoid damaging your car.

Read More: Running on Empty? How Bad Is It for Your Car?

5. Which of the following is not one of the five common VOCs that make up most of the off-gassing found in the interiors of new cars?

  • Acetone
  • Ethylbenzene
  • Trimethylbenzene
  • Xylenes

Acetone is not one of the five common VOCs that make up most of the off-gassing found in the interiors of new cars. The five common VOCs are: ethylbenzene, trimethylbenzene, xylenes, styrene and toluene.

Read More: What Causes 'New Car Smell'?

Advertisement

January 13, 2024

Answers for January 13, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: "Monsters, Inc." was Pixar's first feature film.

False. Released in 1995, "Toy Story" was Pixar's first feature film. The film takes place in a fictional world where anthropomorphic toys pretend to be lifeless when humans are present, but come to life when children and adults leave the room.

Read More: 20 of the Most Iconic Duos in Movie History

2. What is the most common eye color in the world?

  • Blue
  • Brown
  • Violet
  • Green

Brown is the most common eye color in the world. Between 70 and 80 percent of the world's population have eyes that are some shade of brown, from the darkest brown to light brown.

Read More: Do You Have One of the 6 Rarest Eye Colors in the World?

3. Which of these movies passes the Bechdel Test?

  • "Casablanca"
  • "Jackie Brown"
  • "Oppenheimer"
  • "Mean Girls"

"Mean Girls" passes all three tests of the Bechdel Test. "Casablanca," "Jackie Brown" and "Oppenheimer" all fail the Bechdel Test despite having prominent female characters.

Read More: What the Bechdel Test Says About Women in Film

4. True or false: As of 2023, there were no trillionaires in the world.

True. As of 2023, there were no trillionaires in the world. However, according to estimates, it is possible that Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos might achieve this status eventually.

Read More: How Much Actual Money Is There in the World?

5. Which spice gives curry powder its bright yellow color?

  • Allspice
  • Coriander
  • Paprika
  • Turmeric

Turmeric gives curry powder its bright yellow color, but in addition to flavoring dishes, this spice has been used medicinally and in religious ceremonies for more than 4,000 years.

Read More: The Truth About Turmeric: What Health Benefits Does It Really Have?

January 6, 2024

Answers for January 6, 2024, Quiz

1. True or false: Agatha Christie’s book sales are only surpassed by sales of the Bible and the works of Shakespeare.

True. Agatha Christie is considered the best-selling novelist of all time, having sold more than 2 billion copies of her many titles. That figure is only surpassed by sales of the Bible and the works of Shakespeare.

Read More: What Was Really Behind Agatha Christie's Mysterious Disappearance?

2. In which famous hotel was Elisa Lam found dead?

  • Cecil Hotel
  • Chateau Marmont
  • Hotel Ritz Paris
  • Plaza Hotel

In 2013, 21-year-old college student Elisa Lam died in the water tank of the Cecil Hotel. The Cecil Hotel is notorious for mysterious deaths.

Read More: How Did Elisa Lam End Up Dead in a Hotel Water Tank?

3. Which film is responsible for making the Wilhelm scream famous?

  • “Jaws”
  • "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope"
  • “The Godfather”
  • “The Silence of the Lambs”

Although the scream was created almost two decades earlier in a 1953 film titled "The Charge at Feather River," "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" made it popular. The Wilhelm scream was used in every Star Wars film through 2015's "The Force Awakens," and in numerous other flicks.

Read More: If You Hear a Scream in a Movie, It's Probably the Wilhelm Scream

4. True or false: The main difference between cleaning vinegar and white vinegar is the concentration.

True. White vinegar is 95 percent water and 5 percent acetic acid, while cleaning vinegar is 94 percent water and 6 percent acetic acid. While a 1-percent difference doesn't seem like a big deal, it actually is. That extra 1 percent of acid in undiluted cleaning vinegar amplifies its power and makes it 20 percent stronger than white vinegar.

Read More: What's the Difference Between Cleaning Vinegar and White Vinegar?

5. Where is the deepest man-made hole in the world located?

  • Antarctica
  • China
  • Russia
  • United States

The Kola Superdeep Borehole, located in Russia, is the world's deepest man-made hole, reaching a depth of 40,230 feet (12,262 meters) or 7.6 miles (12.2 kilometers).

Read More: Why Did the Russians Seal Up the Deepest Hole in the World?

December 30, 2023

Answers for December 30, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: When giving a gift to a close friend, you should wrap the present sloppily.

True. According to a 2019 study, when opening gifts from a close friend, recipients ended up liking the sloppily wrapped gift more.

Read More: Why Gift Recipients Have a Surprising Preference for Sloppy Wrapping

2. On what TV show did Festivus originate?

  • "Friends"
  • "How I Met Your Mother"
  • "Seinfeld"
  • "The Office"

The celebration of Festivus appeared on the legendary TV sitcom "Seinfeld," endorsed by character Frank Costanza.

Read More: How Festivus Works

3. In which war did the Christmas Truce occur?

  • Vietnam War
  • War of 1812
  • World War I
  • World War II

On Christmas Eve in 1914, during World War I, German soldiers and British troops came together to celebrate Christmas, resulting in the famous Christmas Truce.

Read More: What Was the Christmas Truce?

4. True or false: Kwanzaa is a religious holiday.

False. Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, which are religious holidays, Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday.

Read More: How Kwanzaa Works

5. The main character in this holiday flick declares, "This is my house. I have to defend it," before he sets up an array of booby traps. What movie is it?

  • "A Christmas Story"
  • "Boon Breakers"
  • "Home Alone"
  • "The Christmas Heist"

This quote comes from the beloved 1990 Christmas comedy "Home Alone," in which a creative and witty young boy must fight off two criminals attempting to rob his house over Christmas.

Read More: Can You Name The Christmas Movie From A Famous Quote?

December 23, 2023

Answers for December 23, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The acronym "a.m." is short for the Latin term ante meridiem.

True. The acronym "a.m. is short for the Latin term ante meridiem, or "before midday"; p.m., is short for post meridiem, or "after midday."

Read More: What Do A.M. and P.M. Stand For?

2. In which state is porch piracy not a felony?

  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • New Jersey
  • Texas

In Alabama, porch piracy is not considered a felony. In the U.S., 13 states, including Georgia, New Jersey and Texas, have passed or introduced laws to make porch piracy a felony.

Read More: How to Protect Your Packages From Porch Pirates

3. Which plant is the highest-selling potted plant in the world?

  • Orchid
  • Poinsettia
  • Rose
  • Tulip

The highest-selling potted plant in the world is poinsettias. During the holiday season, $250 million worth of poinsettia plants are sold in the United States alone, and the plants are even more popular in Europe.

Read More: Poinsettia: The Mexican Christmas Flower That Blooms in the Dark

4. True or false: Snakes are typically poisonous animals.

False. Snakes are usually venomous because venom is active; the snake must bite you for the toxin to get into your body and cause harm. A poisonous animal is passive, meaning you have to bite or touch the animal to receive its toxin.

Read More: Venomous vs. Poisonous: Is There a Difference?

5. Where is the deepest part of the global ocean located?

  • Bering Strait
  • Java Trench
  • Mariana Trench
  • Molloy Hole

The deepest part of the global ocean is the Mariana Trench. Measuring its exact depth has proven tricky, but the deepest part of the trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall. That’s very deep!

Read More: How Deep Is the Ocean?

December 16, 2023

Answers for December 16, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Patrick Dempsey has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

True. Patrick Dempsey has driven in some of the most prestigious endurance races in the world including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Read More: 12 Celebrities Who Were Also Serious Race Car Drivers

2. Who is next in the line of succession for the British throne?

  • Princess Anne, the Princess Royal
  • Princess Beatrice
  • Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
  • Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge is next in the line of succession for the British throne because he is the oldest son of King Charles III.

Read More: The Tangled Line of Succession to the British Throne

3. Which breed is the largest cat breed?

  • American Shorthair
  • Maine Coon
  • RagaMuffin
  • Siamese

The Maine Coon is recognized as the largest domestic cat breed in the world, with the biggest adult males weighing upwards of 30 pounds (13.6 kg).

Read More: 10 Biggest Cat Breeds to (Lovingly) Shed All Over Your Home

4. True or false: The United Kingdom is the same as Great Britain.

False. The United Kingdom refers to the nation-state composed of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the physical landmass that's home to three of those countries: England, Scotland and Wales.

Read More: What's the Difference Between England, the U.K. and Great Britain?

5. Which is a key component of catalytic converters?

  • Aluminum
  • Iron
  • Plastic
  • Platinum

Platinum is a key component of catalytic converters. In fact, about half of platinum's demand is actually for use in catalytic converters for transportation vehicles like buses, cars and trucks.

Read More: Platinum: What's So Special About the Shiny Metal?

December 9, 2023

Answers for December 9, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: You should replace your weighted blanket every five years.

True. No matter how — or how often — you wash your weighted blanket, SleepFoundation.org recommends replacing it every five years.

Read More: How to Wash a Weighted Blanket

2. Which country does not own land in the Arctic Circle?

  • Canada
  • Finland
  • France
  • Russia

France does not own land in the Arctic Circle. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Iceland are the only eight countries that own land in the Arctic Circle.

Read More: What Is the Arctic Circle? 9 Stone-cold Facts About the Region

3. What is the world’s longest venomous snake?

  • Black mamba
  • Boomslang
  • Green anaconda
  • King cobra

With lengths up to 19 feet (5.85 meters), the king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake.

Read More: Biggest Snakes in the World: Meet Earth's Giant Serpents

4. True or false: Josephine Cochran invented the first practical dishwashing machine.

True. Josephine Cochran invented the first practical dishwashing machine in 1886. The machine was hand-operated, and users had to turn a wheel using a hand crank on the outside of the machine.

Read More: Which Works Best: Dishwasher Pods or Powders?

5. Which neurotransmitter is related to experiences of pleasure?

  • Dopamine
  • Glutamate
  • Norepinephrine
  • Serotonin

Dopamine is related to experiences of pleasure and the reward-learning process. In other words, when you do something good, you're rewarded with dopamine and gain a pleasurable, happy feeling.

Read More: What Part of the Brain Controls Emotions?

December 2, 2023

Answers for December 2, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Marie Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake."

False. Although that's probably the first thing that comes into your head when you think of the French queen, there's no evidence she made that retort upon hearing her subjects had no bread to eat.

Read More: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Marie Antoinette

2. Where is the coldest place on Earth?

  • East Antarctic Plateau, Antarctica
  • Denali, Alaska, United States
  • Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Yakutsk, Siberia, Russia

The coldest place on Earth is a high ridge located on the East Antarctic Plateau, where temperatures can fall to minus 136 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 93.2 degrees Celsius).

Read More: Where Is the Coldest Place on Earth?

3. How tall was French general Napoleon Bonaparte (in modern measurement units) when he died ?

  • 4 feet, 5 inches (134.62 centimeters)
  • 5 feet (152.4 centimeters)
  • 5 feet, 6.5 inches (169 centimeters)
  • 6 feet (182.88 centimeters)

Napoleon wasn't really that short. At the time of his death, he measured 5 feet 2 inches in French units, the equivalent of 5 feet, 6.5 inches (169 centimeters) in modern measurement units. For reference, the global mean height for men born in 1996 was 171 centimeters, or 5 feet, 7.3 inches.

Read More: Was Napoleon Really Short?

4. True or false: In 2020, only 20 pilots had permission to land at Paro International Airport in Paro, Bhutan.

True. In 2020, only 20 pilots had permission to land at Paro International Airport in Paro, Bhutan, which sits at an elevation of 7,364 feet (2,244.5 meters) above sea level.

Read More: The Most Dangerous Airport in the World, Plus 12 Nail-biters

5. Where is the largest aquarium in the U.S. located?

  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • Monterey, California
  • Seattle, Washington

The Georgia Aquarium is the biggest aquarium in the U.S., whether you measure by the number of fish (more than 100,000) or the volume of water (more than a million cubic feet). It houses about 500 species in 60 habitats with 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters) of viewing windows, and it cost $290 million to build.

Read More: Inside the Biggest Aquarium in the U.S.: Georgia Aquarium

November 25, 2023

Answers for November 25, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Up until the late 19th century, people regularly ate breakfast pie.

True. Up until the late 19th century, people regularly ate breakfast pie, including flavors like pumpkin and apple. Breakfast pie was on hotel and restaurant menus and held a regular spot in the homes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Read More: The Humble History of Pumpkin Pie

2. Which dog breed has the strongest bite force?

  • Anatolian Shepherd Dogs
  • German Shepherd
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Tibetan Mastiff

Anatolian Shepherd Dogs have the strongest bite force (743 pounds per square inch) of any domestic dog breed.

Read More: Finding the Strongest Dog Bite in 10 Breeds

3. Which of the following are not tuberous root vegetables?

  • eggplants
  • potatoes
  • turnips
  • yams

Eggplants are not a tuberous root vegetable. Root and tuber vegetables include potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beetroot, sweet potato and taro. Tubers grow in the ground with most of the vegetable located at the root.

Read More: What's the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams?

4. True or false: Black Friday is only celebrated by Americans.

False. Simon-Kucher & Partners, a pricing consultant firm, says 77 percent of people residing in countries outside the U.S. participate in Black Friday shopping sales. This is largely thanks to international shipping.

Read More: How Black Friday Became Big Business Around the World

5. According to a 2021 study, which season has become longer?

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter

A 2021 study published in Geophysical Research Letters explained that summers have started earlier and extended by 4.2 days every 10 years, resulting in a 17-day increase in summer length over the last half-century.

Read More: Is It Time to Redefine the Four Seasons of the Year?

November 18, 2023

Answers for November 18, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Penguins can fly.

False. None of the 18 species of penguins can fly, but their wings are still put to good use as flippers that help them swim quickly and avoid predators when they go hunting for fish.

Read More: Birds Fly, Right? Meet 7 That Totally Can't

2. Which color of noise is usually categorized as moderate rainfall or ocean waves?

  • black noise
  • brown noise
  • pink noise
  • white noise

Pink noise is akin to white noise but leans more towards bass and mid-range tones, resembling sounds like moderate rainfall or ocean waves.

Read More: Brown Noise vs. White Noise: Which Is Best for Quality Sleep?

3. Which eagle does the Guinness World Records recognize as the "largest eagle"?

  • American bald eagle
  • golden eagle
  • martial eagle
  • Steller's sea eagle

Guinness World Records recognizes Steller's sea eagle as the "largest eagle," due to its combined wingspan (about 8 feet or 2.4 meters) and weight, which is about 11 to 20 pounds (5 to 9 kilograms).

Read More: 9 of the Largest Eagles in the World

4. True or false: Prokaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles and nucleus.

False. Prokaryotic cells lack the eukaryote's membrane-bound organelles and nucleus, which encapsulate the cell's DNA.

Read More: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells: What's the Difference?

5. Which cereal brand used the toucan as a mascot?

  • Frosted Flakes
  • Froot Loops
  • Lucky Charms
  • Trix

A number of brands such as Guinness beer and the Brazilian Social Democracy Party have used the toucan as their mascot, along with cereal brand Froot Loops.

Read More: The Toucan Is Far More Than the Froot Loops Mascot

November 11, 2023

Answers for November 11, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The Golden Gate Bridge is painted red.

False. The Golden Gate Bridge is painted International Orange. The color of the bridge was chosen after consulting architect Irving Morrow noticed the red lead primer of the steel and thought the red primer would serve the dual purpose of making the bridge stand out while blending in with the natural beauty of the area.

Read More: Golden Gate Bridge Facts for Your Next Trivia Night

2. Which president is responsible for giving dogs the name of Fido?

  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Andrew Jackson
  • George Washington
  • William McKinley

Abraham Lincoln is responsible for giving man’s best friend the name of Fido, after Lincoln's near-constant companion.

Read More: How Did 'Fido' Become the Default Name for a Dog?

3. What is the most common last name in Europe?

  • Alves
  • García
  • Smith
  • Zhang

In Europe, the top surname is García, a name held by 1.7 million folks and the most popular last name in Spain.

Read More: What Are the Most Common Last Names in the World?

4. True or false: Humans are symbiotes.

True. The human digestive tract contains trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms. These bacteria serve a number of functions, but they primarily break down things that our digestive system cannot process by itself.

Read More: How a Symbiotic Relationship Works

5. Who was the first woman hired by Lockheed Martin?

  • Bertha Parker Pallan Cody
  • Christina Koch
  • Hedy Lamarr
  • Mary Golda Ross

Mary Golda Ross was the first woman and the first Native American engineer hired by Lockheed Martin. In the 1940s, Ross was one of two women on Lockheed Martin's storied Skunk Works team that designed next-generation fighter aircraft for World War II. She is also credited as a lead developer of the twin-tailed P-38 Lightning and recognized by NASA as one of the "hidden figures" of the 1960s space race.

Read More: 8 Native American Scientists You Should Know

November 4, 2023

Answers for November 4, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Candy companies produce nearly 35 million pounds (15.9 million kilograms) of candy corn each year.

True. According to the National Confectioners Association, candy companies produce nearly 35 million pounds (15.9 million kilograms) of candy corn each year. That's about 9 billion individual pieces of the sweet treat!

Read More: What Is Candy Corn and How Is It Made?

2. Which country does not use the metric system as their official unit of measurement?

  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Laos
  • Myanmar

Myanmar is one of three countries around the world that does not use the metric system as their official unit of measurement. The other two countries are the United States and Liberia.

Read More: What Countries Use the Imperial System?

3. How many horror movies premiered in 2017?

  • 13
  • 38
  • 62
  • 109

In 2017, 62 horror movies were released, including Stephen King's "It," which sold more than 36 million tickets and grossed more than $320.8 million.

Read More: Why It Feels So Good To Be Scared

4. True or false: 97 percent of the water on Earth is too salty to drink.

True. According to National Geographic, 97 percent of the water on Earth is too salty to drink. This is where desalination plants play a vital role, transforming our vast oceans (salt water) into drinkable reserves.

Read More: Desalination Plants: The Future of a Sustainable Water Supply

5. Which kitchen appliance uses the most energy?

  • oven
  • refrigerator
  • stove
  • toaster

Refrigerators use the most energy of any kitchen appliance. How much energy your fridge uses, however, depends on your particular model. In 2023, Energy Star-certified refrigerators ranged in consumption from 88 kWh/year for a mini fridge to 807 kWh/year for a 31-cubic-foot (0.88-cubic-meter) smart fridge.

Read More: What Uses the Most Electricity in a Home?

October 28, 2023

Answers for October 28, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Tanzanite mines are only found in one place on Earth.

True. Tanzanite is only mined in an 8-square-mile (20-square-kilometer) area near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Read More: Tanzanite Is Africa's Real Blue Diamond

2. Which of these was not invented by Benjamin Franklin?

  • bifocal eyeglasses
  • political cartoons
  • swim fins
  • telephone

Benjamin Franklin is known for many inventions, including bifocal eyeglasses, political cartoons and an early version of swim fins, but he is not responsible for inventing the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell is credited with the invention of the telephone.

Read More: What Did Benjamin Franklin Invent? Much More Than Bifocals

3. Which color is known to have a calming effect on humans?

  • blue
  • green
  • pink
  • red

According to psychological studies, the color green is known to have a calming effect on humans, along with providing inspiration and increasing optimism.

Read More: Malachite Is the Gorgeous Green Gemstone Cleopatra Wore

4. True or false: We only use 10 percent of our brain.

False. We use our whole brain. It is a common myth that we only use 10 percent of our brain.

Read More: How Brain Mapping Works

5. Which famous stone is known as the "Great Star of Africa?"

  • Cullinan I
  • Hope Diamond
  • Koh-i-Noor
  • Tiffany Yellow Diamond

The Cullinan I, also known as the "Great Star of Africa," is the largest colorless cut diamond in the world. It weighs more than 530 carats and is mounted on the Sovereign's Scepter, part of the British royal family's priceless crown jewels.

Read More: Was the Cullinan Diamond a Royal Gift or Stolen Gem?

October 21, 2023

Answers for October 21, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The earliest recorded use of the phrase "close, but no cigar" is in the script for the 1935 film "Annie Oakley."

False. The phrase "close, but no cigar" does appear in the script for “Annie Oakley” but there are earlier recorded uses of it in National Geographic magazine.

Read More: Why Do We Say, 'Close, But No Cigar'?

2. Which city is the rainiest city in the U.S.?

  • Miami, Florida
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Seattle, Washington

New Orleans, Louisiana, is the wettest city in the U.S., with an annual average rainfall of 66.1 inches (167.89 cm) [source: NCEI].

Read More: What Is the Rainiest City in the U.S.? Here are the Top 10

3. The phrase "holy cow" is often associated with announcers for which sport?

  • baseball
  • football
  • hockey
  • swimming

The phrase "holy cow," is often associated with baseball announcers Phil Rizzuto and Harry Caray. During broadcasts Caray would often deliver a memorable "hooooo-leeeee coooow!" Some people believed that Rizzuto or Caray might have originated the phrase.

Read More: Why Do We Say 'Holy Cow'?

4. True or false: Lake Hillier gets its pink hue from a unique blend of the microorganisms present.

True. Lake Hillier looks pink due to the combination of Dunaliella salina and Halobacteria. These microorganisms both emit a reddish-pink pigment that makes the lake look pink.

Read More: Australia Has More Than One Pink Lake (Many More!)

5. Which type of plastic is used to make Styrofoam cups?

  • High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
  • Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
  • Polystyrene (PS)
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Polystyrene (PS) is used in Styrofoam cups, as well as in takeout containers, toys and hard packing.

Read More: Plastic Numbers: Breaking Down Recycling Codes

October 14, 2023

Answers for October 14, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The world’s oldest written book can be found at Bulgaria's National Museum of History.

True. Bulgaria's National Museum of History is home to the world’s oldest written book. According to reports, the book, exhibited in 2003, was estimated at about 2,500 years old and is six pages of beaten 24-carat gold covered with Etruscan script.

Read More: What Is the Oldest Book in the World?

2. Who chooses the names for hurricanes and tropical storms?

  • National Ocean Service
  • National Weather Service
  • World Health Organization
  • World Meteorological Organization

The World Meteorological Organization gives hurricanes and tropical storms short, simple names.

Read More: Why Hurricane Names Exist (and Who Names Storms)

3. In which Shakespeare play do characters use eye of newt?

  • "As You Like It"
  • "Hamlet"
  • "Macbeth"
  • "Romeo and Juliet"

In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," the witches make a brew containing eye of newt. Eye of newt is also known as mustard seed. When practicing black magic, mustard seeds cast a spell of strife, confusion, discord and disruption.

Read More: Is Eye of Newt a Real Thing?

4. True or false: Pi is an integer.

False. Pi is not an integer. Integers include whole numbers (0 and natural numbers) as well as numbers with a negative value. Integers do not include fractions or decimals.

Read More: What Is the Real Number System?

5. What material can fluoroantimonic acid not erode?

  • glass
  • human flesh
  • Teflon
  • wood

Despite its overwhelming strength, fluoroantimonic acid has an Achilles' heel: It can't erode polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon.

Read More: The World's Strongest Acid: A Deep Dive Into Extreme Acidity

October 7, 2023

Answers for October 7, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Puerto Rico is the 51st state in the United States.

False. Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth that is associated with the U.S. Thanks to a 1917 law, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but since Puerto Rico isn't a state, the island's inhabitants cannot vote in presidential elections.

Read More: How Do New States Become Part of the U.S.?

2. Which state is nicknamed the "Sooner State"?

  • Connecticut
  • Iowa
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee

Oklahoma is nicknamed the "Sooner State" because on April 22, 1889, Oklahoma Territory was officially opened for settlement on a first-come basis. Those who snuck in early to claim a spot before this date were called Sooners. The nickname later came to symbolize the "can-do" spirit of the state.

Read More: What's in a Nickname? The State Nickname Quiz

3. How long can you eat milk chocolate or white chocolate after the expiration date?

  • one day
  • one week
  • two to four months
  • one year

If stored properly, you can eat milk chocolate and white chocolate two to four months after the expiration date without any significant difference in taste or quality.

Read More: Why Does Chocolate Turn White? Unraveling the Sweet Mystery

4. True or false: Exposures to high-level sounds above 132 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss for some people.

True. Even short exposures to high-level sounds above 132 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss for some people.

Read More: Loud Films and Concerts Don't Have to Permanently Hurt Your Ears

5. Which colony declared its independence from the British two months prior to the other colonies?

  • Connecticut
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Virginia

Rhode Island might be tiny, but it always was a trendsetter. In response to British occupation, the colony of Rhode Island declared its independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776 — two months before the rest of the American colonies did.

Read More: These 6 U.S. States Once Declared Themselves Independent Nations

September 30, 2023

Answers for September 30, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Donkeys are related to horses and zebras.

True. Donkeys are related to horses and zebras, although they're often stockier, stronger and have much different personalities.

Read More: Are Mules, Burros and Jackasses All Donkeys?

2. Who left the first American flag on the moon's surface?

  • Mae Jemison and Neil Armstrong
  • Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
  • Sally Ride and John Glenn
  • Yuri Gagarin and Buzz Aldrin

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 mission astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left the first American flag on the moon's surface. Subsequent Apollo astronauts left a total of six American flags on the lunar surface.

Read More: Is the American Flag Still on the Moon? Objects Astronauts Left Behind

3. Which animal holds the Guinness World Record for having the most names?

  • the cougar
  • the donkey
  • the leopard
  • the octopus

The cougar holds one of the Guinness World Records for having the most names. The cougar has more monikers than almost any other living mammal, around 40 in English alone.

Read More: What's the Difference Between a Mountain Lion and a Cougar?

4. True or false: We will never run out of oil.

False. Oil is a finite resource, which means the world will eventually run out in the future. As of 2023, there should be enough oil left to meet global demand for at least 27 more years.

Read More: When Will We Run Out of Oil, and What Happens Then?

5. What is generally considered to be the fourth dimension?

  • energy
  • gravity
  • space
  • time

In physics, time is often considered the fourth dimension, essential in understanding space-time in Einstein's theory of general relativity.

Read More: The 4th Dimension: Where Science and Imagination Collide

September 23, 2023

Answers for September 23, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: In a positive correlation, two variables move in the same direction.

True. In a positive correlation, two variables move in the same direction. When one variable increases, the other also increases.

Read More: Causation vs. Correlation Explained With 10 Examples

2. Which cheese has been dubbed the "world's most dangerous cheese" by Guinness World Records?

  • Casu Marzu
  • Jarlsberg
  • Neufchatel
  • Pepper Jack

In 2009, Casu Marzu was dubbed the "world's most dangerous cheese" by Guinness World Records. Casu Marzu is a cheese filled with maggots made specifically on the island of Sardinia, Italy. No one has died from eating this cheese, but it is illegal to sell in many parts of the world — including Sardinia.

Read More: Would You Eat Casu Marzu, the Illegal Cheese With Maggots?

3. Which country is credited with creating the first gun?

  • China
  • Germany
  • France
  • Russia

Historians generally consider the 15th-century Chinese fire lance as the first gun. These early guns were tricky to fire as they required both hands and a burning wick to ignite the powder.

Read More: When Were Guns Invented? A Brief History of Guns

4. True or false: Earth only has two poles.

False. Our planet has more than just two poles. It has geographic north and south poles, which are the points that mark the Earth's axis of rotation. It also has magnetic north and south poles, based on the planet's magnetic field.

Read More: Pole Shift: Why Does the North Pole Move?

5. What is the national dish of Scotland?

  • bangers and mash
  • escargot
  • haggis
  • turtle soup

The national dish of Scotland is haggis. Scottish haggis is usually made with a sheep's liver, kidney and lungs, which are boiled in a pot then chopped up very finely and mixed with oatmeal, onions and other seasonings.

Read More: What's So 'Offal' About Haggis and Why's It Banned in the U.S.?

September 16, 2023

Answers for September 16, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Every molecule of plastic produced since 1907 is still present in the environment.

True. Plastic isn't a material that decomposes easily. Plastic tends to break down into smaller particles until they are too small to be seen, which means that every molecule of plastic produced since 1907 is still present in the environment.

Read More: How Long Does It Take for Plastic to Decompose?

2. Neuschwanstein castle in Germany was used as the castle model for which Disney film?

  • Cinderella
  • Aladdin
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Sleeping Beauty

Walt Disney was so impressed with Neuschwanstein Castle that he used it as the model for Sleeping Beauty's Castle, the centerpiece of Disneyland.

Read More: The Strange History of Neuschwanstein Castle Is No Disney Fairy Tale

3. Which is not a measurable property of black holes?

  • angle of reflection
  • electric charge
  • mass
  • rate of rotation

Black holes have three properties that can be measured: electric charge, mass and rate of rotation. Light cannot escape a black hole, so there is no reflection to measure.

Read More: How Black Holes Work

4. True or false: The Pantheon and the Parthenon are the same structure.

False. The Parthenon and the Pantheon are often conflated, but they're actually very different. For starters, one is in Greece and the other is in Italy.

Read More: What's the Difference Between the Pantheon and the Parthenon?

5. How many steps does it take to get to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore?

  • 130 steps
  • 200 steps
  • 463 steps
  • 532 steps

Brunelleschi's famous dome has 463 steps that you need to climb before experiencing the view at the top.

Read More: How Brunelleschi Built the World's Biggest Dome

September 9, 2023

Answers for September 9, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: You should keep your gas tank at least a quarter full at all times.

True. Experts say you should keep your gas tank at least a quarter full at all times. Doing this will keep you from getting in a dangerous situation where you're low on gas and too far from a gas station. It will also avoid damaging your car.

Read More: Running on Empty? How Bad Is It for Your Car?

2. How often should you wash your car?

  • Every week
  • Every 2 weeks
  • Every month
  • Every 2 months

Most experts recommend washing your car every two weeks or so throughout the year as a general rule.

Read More: How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

3. Which is not one of the three basic types of blue logo signs on highways?

  • Construction
  • Mainline
  • Ramp
  • Trailblazer

The three basic types of blue logo signs are Mainline, Ramp and Trailblazer. Construction is not a basic type of blue logo sign. This is an orange sign.

Read More: Who Does — and Doesn't — Get Featured on Blue Highway Exit Signs?

4. True or false: Motorcyclists call the tar squiggles on the road "tar snakes.”

True. Motorcyclists call the patches "tar snakes" and complain that they cause accidents and damage to bikes.

Read More: What Are Those Squiggles of Tar on the Road?

5. What is the most fuel-efficient way to drive?

  • windows down and the AC on
  • windows up and the AC on
  • windows down and the AC off
  • windows up and the AC off

Driving with the windows up and the AC off is the most fuel-efficient way to drive, but that is quite challenging on a hot day.

Read More: Windows Down or A/C on — Which Is More Fuel-efficient?

September 2, 2023

Answers for September 2, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Spilling salt is good luck.

False. According to superstition, spilling salt is bad luck. To reverse this bad luck, throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder.

Learn More: Why Is Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder Good Luck?

2. Which bug is considered lucky?

  • ant
  • ladybug
  • spider
  • mosquito

Ladybugs are popular lucky charms among a variety of cultures and regions. It's said that having a ladybug land on you will bring you luck as long as you let it leave on its own accord.

Learn More: You Already Have This Surprisingly Simple Good Luck Charm

3. Early Western Europeans believed which material had magical powers?

  • cerium
  • copper
  • gold
  • iron

Early Western Europeans believed that iron had magical powers and could drive away evil. Horseshoes, being made of iron, naturally became protective talismans.

Learn More: The Mystique of the Lucky Horseshoe: History and Beliefs

4. True or false: More than 80 percent of high-rises don't have a 13th floor.

True. People are so afraid of the number 13 that more than 80 percent of high-rises don't have a 13th floor. Architects skip straight from 12 to 14 to appease suspicious folks.

Learn More: 13 Superstitions About Lucky Numbers and Unlucky Numbers

5. Which animal does not have a wishbone?

  • chickens
  • ducks
  • geese
  • humans

Humans do have two clavicles, but they're not fused together, as they are in birds. So no, humans do not have wishbones.

Learn More: Why Are Wishbones Supposed to be Lucky?

August 26, 2023

Answers for August 26, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: In California, you can bury someone in your backyard.

False. According to California law, anyone who "deposits or disposes of any human remains in any place, except in a cemetery, is guilty of a misdemeanor" and could face jail time or a fine up to $10,000. It is legal in other states to do a home burial, but California does not want future owners digging up undisclosed graves.

Learn More: Can You Bury Someone in Your Backyard?

2. In which state is human composting illegal?

  • California
  • Colorado
  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont

Human composting is illegal in New Hampshire. The environmentally friendly process is permitted in California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Learn More: Is Human Composting the Greenest Burial Option?

3. Where is Elizabeth Taylor buried?

  • Arlington National Cemetery
  • Forest Lawn Memorial Park
  • Hollywood Forever Cemetery
  • Père Lachaise Cemetery

Elizabeth Taylor is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Glendale, California. Taylor joins celebrities such as Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Nat King Cole, Clark Gable, Michael Jackson and Will Rogers at this famous cemetery.

Learn More: Inside LA's Forest Lawn, Where the Biggest Celebrities Rest in Peace

4. True or false: You have to buy a casket from the funeral home you are using.

False. What many people don't know is that they don't have to buy a casket from the funeral home they are using. In fact, it's a federal law that funeral homes must accept all outside caskets, including ones that are bought online or from Costco.

Learn More: Grave Matters: Why Are Caskets So Expensive?

5. Which state does not have funeral procession laws?

  • Arizona
  • Idaho
  • Nevada
  • New York

New York has no laws governing funeral processions. Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota and Nevada are the only states that have laws dealing with funeral processions.

Learn More: Do You Have to Pull Over for a Funeral Procession?

August 19, 2023

Answers for August 19, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: In English, Chupacabra translates as "goat sucker."

True. The name "Chupacabra" comes from two Spanish words: "chupar," which means "to suck," and "cabra," meaning "goat." So, "Chupacabra" can be literally translated as "goat sucker."

Read More: El Chupacabra: A Legendary Monster With a Thirst for Blood

2. Where is the Mongolian Death Worm found?

  • Antarctica
  • Death Valley
  • The Arabian Desert
  • The Gobi Desert

Local people and tourists have described witnessing the Mongolian Death Worm in the Gobi Desert, one of the largest deserts in the world and a remote, hostile region with extreme temperatures and arid conditions.

Read More: Mongolian Death Worm: The Gobi Desert's Deadliest Cryptid

3. The Wampus cat is described as a hybrid of a woman and what other animal?

  • cheetah
  • jaguar
  • mountain lion
  • panther

The Wampus cat is described as a fearsome hybrid of a mountain lion and a woman. Believers say it roams the wilderness, emitting eerie sounds that strike terror into the hearts of those who cross its path.

Read More: The Wampus Cat Myth Explained: Origins and Sightings

4. True or false: The Loch Ness monster resides in Lake Champlain.

False. The Loch Ness monster can be found in Loch Ness, Scotland. Champy, often compared to the Loch Ness monster, can be found in Lake Champlain, which borders Vermont and New York.

Read More: Uncovering Champy, a Beloved Lake Monster

5. Which famous musician wrote a song about the Jersey Devil?

  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Dolly Parton
  • Michael Jackson
  • Prince

As a tribute to New Jersey's favorite cryptid, Bruce Springsteen released a bluesy ballad called "A Night With the Jersey Devil" back in 2008.

Read More: How Ben Franklin Helped Ignite the Jersey Devil Hysteria

August 12, 2023

Answers for August 12, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Alcohol repels fruit flies.

False. Fruit flies love alcohol. That’s why they are especially attracted to sweet fruit; sweet fruit ferments quickly at warmer temperatures.

Read More: How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

2. Which is not a recommended method to keep bugs from getting in your home?

  • add screens
  • cover large openings
  • keep all windows open
  • repair cracks

Effective and recommended methods of keeping pests away from your home include adding screens to all windows and doors, covering large openings and repairing cracks. Keeping all your windows open is not a recommended way to keep insects out of your home — this action could potentially invite them in.

Learn More: 10 Ways to Bug-proof Your Home

3. June bugs are a member of which insect family?

  • Formicidae
  • Scarabaeidae
  • Trogidae
  • Yponomeutidae

June bugs are members of the exceptionally diverse family of Scarabaeidae (scarab) beetles, of which there are more than 30,000 species. 200 of those are North American June beetles.

Read More: June Bugs Are a Nuisance for People, Manna for Other Animals

4. True or false: Ladybugs, praying mantises and parasitic wasps are all examples of beneficial insects.

True. Ladybugs, praying mantises and parasitic wasps are all examples of beneficial insects, meaning they can help your garden. You can attract these beneficial insects to your garden by planting vegetables like carrots or flowers like sunflowers and marigolds.

Learn More: Put Down the Pesticides! Introduce Beneficial Insects Into Your Garden

5. In cicadas, which organ is responsible for producing the singing sound?

  • antennae
  • head
  • tymbals
  • wings

When cicadas sing, the organs that produce sound are called tymbals. Tymbals are a pair of ribbed membranes at the base of the abdomen. The cicada sings by contracting the internal tymbal muscles.

Learn More: Why Are Cicadas So Noisy?

August 5, 2023

Answers for August 5, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach created the first motorcycle.

True. The Daimler Reitwagen, the first gas-powered motorcycle, was a collaborative creation by German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach.

Read More: The World's First Motorcycle: Timeline and Features

2. Who took the first photograph ever?

  • Alexander Gardner
  • Joseph Nicéphore Niépce
  • Leonardo da Vinci
  • Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first-ever photograph in 1826 or 1827 from an upstairs window of his estate in Saint-Lop-de-Varenees, Burgundy, France, using a camera obscura and a bitumen-coated pewter plate.

Read More: What Was the First Photo Ever Taken?

3. Which is not considered a branch of metallurgy?

  • alloy metallurgy
  • chemical metallurgy
  • ferrous metallurgy
  • powder metallurgy

Chemical metallurgy is not a branch of metallurgy, the study of metals. The branches of metallurgy are: alloy, extractive, ferrous, metallurgical analysis, non-ferrous metallurgy, powder and physical metallurgy.

Read More: Metallurgy: The Study of Metals and Their Properties

4. True or false: Samuel Morse is credited with the invention of the telephone.

False. Samuel Morse is credited with the invention of the telegraph and Morse code. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.

Read More: Who Invented the Telegraph?

5. Which is not a key ingredient of Portland cement?

  • clay
  • gypsum
  • limestone
  • volcanic ash

Volcanic ash is not a key ingredient of Portland cement. The key ingredients of Portland cement are clay, gypsum and limestone.

Read More: Portland Cement: A Concrete History With Structural Integrity

July 29, 2023

Answers for July 29, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: After two years of use, 30 percent of the weight of your pillow is made up of dead skin, bacteria and feces from dust mites.

True. One study found that, after two years of use, 30 percent of the weight of a pillow is actually made up of dead skin, bacteria and feces from dust mites (not to mention the mites themselves) — which, aside from being gross, can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Read More: How to Wash Pillows

2. After how many uses should you wash your bath towel?

  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
  • 9

You should not go more than three uses without washing your towel thoroughly. Make sure to use warm or hot water with detergent, preferably along with color-appropriate bleach, for good measure.

Read More: How Long Should You Use Your Bath Towel Without Washing It?

3. What year was The Pink Stuff invented?

  • 1665
  • 1938
  • 1990
  • 2000

Although the miracle cleaner gained popularity on TikTok, The Pink Stuff has been around since 1938.

Read More: 9 Ways to Use That 'Pink Stuff' You've Seen on TikTok

4. True or false: You should replace your weighted blanket after five years.

True. According to SleepFoundation.org, no matter how — or how often — you wash your weighted blanket, you should replace it every five years.

Read More: How to Wash a Weighted Blanket

5. Which is not an ingredient needed to make your own dishwasher tablets?

  • baking soda
  • chlorine
  • citric acid
  • white vinegar

To make your own dishwasher tablets you would combine a few simple ingredients, like baking soda, washing soda, citric acid, white vinegar, salt and essential oil. You would not need chlorine.

Read More: 9 Dishwasher Tablet Hacks to Clean Almost Anything

July 22, 2023

Answers for July 22, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Veterinarians call the hyperactive dog event a Frenetic Random Action Period, or FRAP for short.

True. Veterinarians call the hyperactive dog event some describe as the zoomies a Frenetic Random Action Period, or FRAP for short.

Read More: There's a Name for When Your Dog Zooms Around Like a Joy-crazed Maniac

2. What dog breed did Queen Victoria make popular during her reign?

  • corgi
  • maltese
  • pomeranian
  • Yorkshire terrier

Pomeranians or poms, as they are often called, came into popularity as the preferred pet of England's Queen Victoria and have become alert, loyal and friendly additions to households all over the world.

Read More: 7 of the World's Smallest Dog Breeds

3. What was the job of a turnspit dog in 16th-century Wales, England?

  • eat table scraps
  • guard the home
  • turn the wooden wheel on the roasting spit in the hearth
  • warm up cold laps on chilly days

The job of a turnspit dog or spit dog was to turn the wooden wheel on the roasting spit in the hearth. They were found in large and small homes during the 16th century.

Read More: Turnspit Dogs: The Elizabethan Kitchen Gadget Bred to Cook Meat

4. True or false: Dog teeth are made up of collagen, just like the bones in their body.

False. The bones in the bodies of dogs are made up of both collagen and calcium phosphate, but their teeth are composed of many layers of hard and soft tissue. They are not composed of collagen.

Read More: Do You Really Need to Brush Your Dog's Teeth?

5. Which dog breed is considered the most intelligent?

  • Australian cattle dog
  • border collie
  • French bulldog
  • German shepherd

The border collie, a type of herding dog, is considered the most intelligent dog breed, as most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95 percent of the time.

Read More: The 10 Smartest Dog Breeds

July 15, 2023

Answers for July 15, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Duct tape is great at sealing ductwork in heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.

False. Despite its name and early usage, duct tape isn't great at sealing the ductwork in heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems — at least not permanently. The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducted a study of various duct sealants and only one failed: duct tape.

Read More: 10 Awesome Uses for Duct Tape

2. What is another name for baking soda?

  • acetone
  • calcium carbonate
  • sodium bicarbonate
  • sodium fluoride

Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate. It is made when oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and sodium molecules are mixed together.

Read More: 15 Amazing Uses for Baking Soda

3. What industry was WD-40 produced specifically for?

  • aerospace
  • agriculture
  • fashion
  • technology

Norman Larsen, an employee of the newly formed Rocket Chemical Company, created WD-40 in 1953. It was produced specifically for use in the aerospace industry. Aerospace contractor Convair was the first to use WD-40, applying it to the outer skin of the Atlas Missile to protect it from rust and corrosion.

Read More: 12 Amazing Uses for WD-40

4. True or false: Tea leaves are great fertilizer.

True. Tea leaves are nothing more than organic matter, so they are great for gardening! It's best to add tea to soil around acid-loving plants, like rosebushes or ferns, because the tannic acid in tea tends to lower the soil’s pH and increase its acidity.

Read More: Don't Toss That Used Tea Bag! Here Are 15 Great Uses for It

5. What should you not use vinegar on?

  • brick
  • granite or marble countertops
  • your car
  • your dog

While there are a gazillion creative uses for vinegar, you shouldn't use it on granite or marble countertops, as its acidity can deteriorate the sealant and even etch or dull the finish.

Read More: 12 Incredible Uses for Vinegar

July 8, 2023

Answers for July 8, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The Declaration of Independence was approved and signed on July 4, 1776.

False. The Second Continental Congress voted to approve the resolution to legally separate from Great Britain on July 2, two days earlier. The approved Declaration of Independence was first printed on July 4, but wasn’t fully finished until Aug. 2, 1776.

Read More: 14 Fantastic Facts About the Fourth of July

2. Which treaty ended the Revolutionary War?

  • Treaty of Ghent
  • Treaty of Paris
  • Treaty of Tordesillas
  • Treaty of Versailles

British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, marked the unofficial end to the war, but the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War on September 3, 1783.

Read More: What If America Had Lost the Revolution?

3. How many hot dogs do Americans eat a year?

  • 2,000
  • 20,000
  • 20 million
  • 20 billion

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans eat 20 billion hot dogs a year. That's about 70 hot dogs per person.

Read More: What Are Hot Dogs Made Of?

4. True or false: Dogs love fireworks.

False. Dogs do not like fireworks because, like humans, they are hardwired to be afraid of sudden, loud noises. It is what keeps them safe. So a Fourth of July full of firework celebrations can be one of the worst days for dogs.

Read More: How to Comfort Your Dog During Fireworks

5. Who was not a member of the "Committee of Five" tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence?

  • Alexander Hamilton
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • John Hancock
  • Thomas Jefferson

The "Committee of Five" tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence consisted of: Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Robert Livingston. John Hancock signed the declaration but was not a member of the "Committee of Five.”

Read More: How the Declaration of Independence Birthed the American Nation

July 1, 2023

Answers for July 1, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Kepler-452b, also known as Earth's "cousin," was discovered by NASA's Kepler spacecraft in 2015.

True. Kepler-452b, also known as Earth's "cousin," was discovered by NASA's Kepler spacecraft in 2015. Kepler-452b has a diameter about 1.6 times that of Earth and orbits its star in a similar fashion, taking around 385 days to complete one orbit.

Read More: Which Planets Are Considered 'Earth-like' and Why?

2. Which planet is the largest in our solar system?

  • Earth
  • Jupiter
  • Neptune
  • Uranus

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. Were Jupiter a hollow shell, you could cram more than 1,300 Earths inside it.

Read More: Jupiter: Anatomy of a Gas Giant

3. Which is not a type of planet that can be found in the solar system?

  • ice giants
  • gas giants
  • nuclear planets
  • terrestrial planets

Nuclear planets are not a type of planet that can be found in our solar system. The solar system's planets can be classified into three main types: terrestrial planets, gas giants and ice giants.

Read More: Exploring Jovian Planets, the Titans of Our Solar System

4. True or false: Eris is larger in size than the planet Pluto, even though it is three times farther away from the sun.

True. Eris is larger in size than the planet Pluto, even though it is three times farther away from the sun.

Read More: Eris: The Dwarf Planet That Upended Our Idea of Planets

5. Which planet is named after a Greek god?

  • Mars
  • Mercury
  • Neptune
  • Uranus

Uranus represents a break with nomenclatural tradition. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune all took their names from Roman gods or deities. However, Uranus — uniquely — was named after a Greek god.

Read More: Uranus: The Ice Giant on a Tilted Axis

June 24, 2023

Answers for June 24, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Natural bug sprays are likely to lose their effectiveness quicker than chemical and synthetic sprays.

True. Natural bug sprays, which primarily use essential oils as the active ingredients, are likely to lose their effectiveness quicker than chemical and synthetic sprays because these essential oils such as rosemary and lemongrass/citronella usually decline in effectiveness after two years.

Read More: Does Bug Spray Expire?

2. What characterizes Alabama barbecue?

  • a mustard-based sauce
  • a molasses-based sauce
  • a white sauce
  • no sauce

Alabama barbecue is a lesser-known barbecue style from Northern Alabama, involving a white sauce made with mayonnaise, vinegar and lemon juice. South Carolina barbecue is the one with the mustard-based sauce.

Learn More: Come and Get It! A Spicy Barbecue Quiz

3. Which is not one of the main purposes of a pool pump?

  • To cool off the pool water during hot temperatures.
  • To circulate the water and prevent stagnation, algae and bacterial growth.
  • To mix pool chemicals.
  • To filter debris and keep the pool clean.

The main purpose of a pool pump is not to cool off your pool, but to complete all the processes dealing with your pool’s circulation system. When it's running, it keeps the water moving, preventing stagnant water, algae and bacteria growth. The pump also clears debris from the water and keeps those pool chemicals mixed by pushing water through the filtration system.

Read More: Do Pool Pumps Have to Run All the Time?

4. True or false: You can't sunburn the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.

False. According to Ivy Lee, a board-certified dermatologist, it is a myth that you can't sunburn the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. So pick a shady spot to scroll.

Read More: You're Probably Not Putting on Enough Sunscreen

5. What is the main reason you should keep your grill clean?

  • It reduces the risk of fire hazards.
  • It prevents the buildup of ash and grease.
  • The grill will last longer and heat up better.
  • Your food will taste better.

The main reason you want to properly clean your grill is your food will just taste better. Your grill will also last longer and not become a fire hazard but the main reason is your food will taste better on a clean grill. Yesterday's barbecue rib marinade won't taste good on today's lime-grilled chicken.

Read More: How to Clean Your Grill

June 17, 2023

Answers for June 17, 2023, Quiz

1. True or False: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport held the No. 1 spot for the busiest airport for 22 consecutive years before it was knocked out in 2020.

True. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport held the No. 1 spot for 22 consecutive years before it was knocked out in 2020 by the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Southern China. It regained the No. 1 spot in 2021.

Read More: How Atlanta Became the World's Busiest Airport, Again

2. What language is "mayday" a derivative of?

  • Arabic
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish

"Mayday" is a derivative of the French word "m'aider" ("help me"), which itself is a distilled version of "venez m'aider," or "come help me." The U.S. formally adopted "mayday" as a distress signal in 1927.

Read More: Why Is 'Mayday' the International Distress Call?

3. What is the largest airport in the world by total area?

  • Barra Airport
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  • King Fahd International Airport
  • Los Angeles International Airport

King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in the world by total area at 299.61 square miles (776 square kilometers). For comparison, that's approximately the same size as New York City.

Read More: What Are the 7 Biggest Airports in the World?

4. True or false: A headwind can reduce flight time.

False. A headwind (blowing against the plane) will slow the plane's overall speed, lengthening flight time. A tailwind can reduce flight time.

Read More: How Do Pilots Make Up Time in the Air?

5. What language do pilots and air traffic controllers have to speak when they communicate over radio?

  • English
  • French
  • Morse code
  • Russian

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, no matter what country they are in, pilots and air traffic controllers are required to speak a specialized version of the English language known as aviation English.

Read More: 'Tree-niner-fife': The Global Language of Pilots

June 10, 2023

Answers for June 10, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Subway tiles were not originally created for use in the New York City subway system.

False. Subway tiles were created specifically for use in the New York City subway system. In 1904, Architects George C. Heins and Christopher Grant La Farge were charged with giving the subway a distinctive look, so they landed on a 3-by-6-inch (7-by-15-centimeter) tile, laid in brick-like fashion on the subway walls. This became the infamous subway tile.

Read More: How Subway Tile Moved From the Underground to Urban Homes

2. Which country is responsible for the name of sterling silver?

  • England
  • France
  • India
  • United States

The name "sterling silver" comes from the word for silver coins in 12th-century England. These silver coins were called “Easterlings” which were later abbreviated to “sterling.”

Read More: Is All That Shines Really Sterling Silver?

3. What is one of the key differences between milk paint and chalk paint?

  • Milk paint requires priming and sanding before application, while chalk paint does not.
  • Milk paint is made with all-natural ingredients, while chalk paint is not.
  • Milk paint is available in premixed form, while chalk paint comes in powder form.
  • Milk paint provides a flat and one-dimensional finish, unlike the depth and dimension of chalk paint.

When it comes to comparing milk paint with and chalk paint, the prep work for both are about the same. But one key difference is that milk paint is made with all-natural ingredients, while chalk paint is not.

Read More: From Cows to Cabinetry: Milk Paint and 6 Awesome Uses for It

4. True or false: The main difference between masking tape and painter’s tape is in their adhesives.

True. The main difference between masking and painter’s tape is the adhesive. While masking tape has an extra sticky adhesive that makes it difficult to pull, painter's tape is easy to remove and doesn’t leave behind any residue. Painter's tape won't peel off anything beneath it, either.

Read More: Painter's Tape vs. Masking Tape: What's the Difference?

5. What is the recommended approach for saving money and energy when using an air conditioning unit?

  • Keep the air conditioning unit at the same temperature continuously.
  • Turn off the air conditioning unit during the day and turn it on in the evening.
  • Raise the temperature of the air conditioning unit when leaving the house for the day or a short period.
  • Install a smart thermostat and close curtains to block out sunlight.

According to the Department of Energy, when leaving your home for the day or the weekend it is more energy efficient to leave the AC on but at a higher temperature. This allows your house to reach a higher interior temperature, which actually slows the flow of heat into your house, thus saving energy and money.

Read More: Should You Turn Your AC Up When You're Not Home?

June 3, 2023

Answers for June 3, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: There was a pub that used to trade a free drink for any SAG-AFTRA check of $1 or less.

True. The pub was called Maeve's Re$iduals and they would treat any actor with a SAG-AFTRA residual check of $1 or less to a free drink. The tradition no longer exists, but the classic Irish pub still stands.

Read More: Can a TV Actor Live Off Royalties Forever?

2. What is the smartest pet in the world?

  • African grey parrot
  • Hamster
  • Octopus
  • Snake

African grey parrots are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. They have the highest levels of animal intelligence of any creature, domesticated or wild.

Read More: What Are the World's Smartest Pets and Animals?

3. Which movie does not pass the Bechdel Test?

  • "CODA"
  • "Goodfellas"
  • "Jackie Brown"
  • "Mean Girls"

To pass the Bechdel Test, a film must include two named female characters having a conversation about anything other than a man or group of men. Despite having a strong female protagonist, Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film "Jackie Brown" fails the Bechdel Test.

Read More: What the Bechdel Test Says About Women in Film

4. True or false: Snakes are commonly poisonous animals.

False. Snakes are usually venomous because venom is active. The snake would have to bite you for the toxin to get into your body and cause harm. A poisonous animal is passive, meaning you have to bite or touch the animal to receive its toxin.

Read More: Venomous vs. Poisonous: Is There a Difference?

5. Which scientist is credited with discovering the law of inertia?

  • Isaac Newton
  • Galileo
  • René Descartes
  • None of the above

Newton wasn't the first scientist to come up with the law of inertia. That honor goes to Galileo. Galileo is credited with the marble-and-ramp thought experiment that describes inertia.

Read More: How Newton's Laws of Motion Work

May 27, 2023

Answers for May 27, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The largest living organism is a mushroom.

True. The largest living organism is the honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae, which grows in eastern Oregon and covers 2,385 acres.

Read More: Everything Really Does Taste Like Chicken, Including This Mushroom

2. Which mob boss was suspected of being behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre?

  • Al Capone
  • Carlo Gambino
  • Michael Corleone
  • Xie Caiping

Capone was suspected of being behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in which seven rival gang members were killed by gunmen dressed as police officers. However, no definitive connection to Capone and the Feb. 14, 1929, ambush was ever proven.

Read More: How Al Capone's Mobsters Outmuscled Chicago Milkmen

3. According to Four Sigmatic founder Tero Isokauppila, mushroom coffee is based on what foreign treat?

  • Chaga tea
  • Jägermeister
  • Sencha
  • Kvass

Isokauppila’s mushroom coffee was modeled after Chaga Tea, a Finnish delicacy regularly consumed as a relaxing treat. Chaga is a nutrient-dense, birch tree-dwelling mushroom that contains valuable vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, potassium, rubidium, fiber, copper and more.

Read More: Does Mushroom Coffee Have Medicinal Properties?

4. True or false: According to Guinness World Records, the fastest mile piggyback race is 11 minutes and 11.81 seconds.

True. The record was set in 2015 by Jordan Botwright and Owen Larsen, with Larsen carrying Botwright. The event occurred on an athletics track in Plymouth, England, as part of an army fundraiser.

Read More: Why Do We Call It a Piggyback Ride?

5. How many species of mushrooms are there?

  • 100
  • 1,000
  • 10,000
  • 100,000

Currently, there are thought to be about 10,000 species of mushrooms. But numbers vary on how many of those are safe to eat.

Read More: Growing Mushrooms at Home Is Easier Than You Think

May 20, 2023

Answers for May 20, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Foxgloves are completely safe for your health.

False. Ingesting foxgloves can be fatal, particularly if it's done just before the seeds ripen, when the plant is most toxic. The leaves are also deadly, the upper leaves more than the lower ones.

Read More: Foxglove: The Beautiful Bloom That's Good (and Bad) for Your Heart

2. Who was a peanut farmer prior to becoming president?

  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Barack Obama
  • Jimmy Carter
  • Warren G. Harding

Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer before he became a U.S. president. Carter expanded his father's peanut business to include selling farm supplies and peanut seeds he'd grown himself.

Read More: 5 Smooth Things You Didn't Know About Peanut Butter

3. What type of vegetable is kohlrabi?

  • allium
  • cruciferous
  • leafy green
  • marrow

Kohlrabi is a cruciferous vegetable. It is a member of the cabbage family that boasts a sweet flavor that blends water chestnuts and turnips.

Read More: Kohlrabi Is Cabbage's Sweet Cousin You Need to Try

4. True or false: CNC stands for computer numerical control.

True. CNC stands for computer numerical control. CNC machining is a tool that forms stock material to a desired shape that will fulfill manufacturing directives and component requirements.

Read More: What Is CNC Machining?

5. Which sporting event features a large number of azaleas?

  • The Masters Tournament
  • The Wimbledon Championships
  • The World Series
  • Tour de France

Azaleas are on show for millions of folks to see during the popular Masters Tournament at Georgia's Augusta National golf course.

Read More: How Azaleas Became the Signature Flowers of the South

May 13, 2023

Answers for May 13, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: TSA considers peanut butter a liquid.

True. You may not be nuts about it, but according to TSA and science, peanut butter is a liquid.

Read More: The TSA Says Peanut Butter Is a Liquid; Physics Says They're Right

2. Who published "The Communist Manifesto," associated with the word bourgeoisie?

  • Adam Smith
  • Adolf Hitler
  • Karl Marx
  • Max Weber

Karl Marx published "The Communist Manifesto," which laid out the German philosopher's revolutionary economic worldview. Marx believed that capitalist, industrial societies were engaged in a class war. The heroes were the proletariat or the working class, while the villains were the bourgeoisie.

Read More: How Did 'Bourgeoisie' Become a Bad Word?

3. Which is not one of the four main types of deserts?

  • cold deserts
  • hot and dry deserts
  • semi-arid deserts
  • wet deserts

The four main types of deserts on Earth are cold, hot and dry, coastal and semi-arid. There is no such thing as a wet desert.

Read More: 10 Largest Deserts in the World

4. True or false: All hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets.

True. Jason Gibbs, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Manitoba, states “hornets are just a kind of wasp. Wasp is a very broad term that covers many different species with different lifestyles.”

Read More: What's the Difference Between a Hornet and a Wasp?

5. What was New York City’s first daily newspaper?

  • The American Minerva
  • The Atlantic
  • The New York Ledger
  • The New York Times

New York City’s first daily newspaper was The American Minerva, created by Noah Webster. The American Minerva was a partisan enterprise that almost always threw its support behind the Federalist Party of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. It printed just 744 issues.

Read More: Is It 'Theater' or 'Theatre'?

May 6, 2023

Answers for May 6, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: In most states, you're under no obligation to tell a prospective buyer your house is haunted, even if asked.

True. According to a state-by-state analysis by Zillow, there are no states that require home sellers to voluntarily disclose alleged ghostly activities on the property before a sale.

Read More: Do You Have to Tell Buyers Your House Is Haunted?

2. What is the world’s largest island?

  • Capri
  • Greenland
  • Honshu
  • Madagascar

Greenland, the world's largest island, has an area of 836,330 square miles. It's three times the size of Texas and almost three times bigger than New Guinea, the second-biggest island on our list.

Read More: 9 Largest Islands in the World

3. Which cult is associated with the phrase “drink the Kool-Aid”?

  • Aum Shinrikyo
  • Branch Davidians
  • The NXIVM Cult
  • The People's Temple

The People’s Temple led by charismatic cult leader, Jim Jones is associated with the phrase “drink the Kool-Aid” after the event at Jonestown where Jones convinced his congregation to kill themselves, by drinking a fruit drink (not actually Kool-Aid) filled with cyanide and tranquilizers.

Read More: 13 of the World's Most Infamous Cults

4. True or false: You cannot buy a private island.

False. You can buy a private island but it will definitely cost you. In the Caribbean and South Pacific, even the most modest private island typically costs $1 million or more. But surprisingly, you can still find a small island in the northern United States or Canada for less than $500,000.

Read More: How Do You Buy a Private Island?

5. Which number usually has a negative connotation in the Bible?

  • 1
  • 6
  • 7
  • 200

The number 6 usually has a negative connotation in the Bible. For instance, Jesus suffered on the cross for six hours and men were commanded to work six days a week in Exodus. And, of course, 666 is another name for the “Antichrist.”

Read More: 6 Mysterious Numbers in the Bible and What They Mean

April 29, 2023

Answers for Apr. 29, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Hike Naked Day is a way hikers celebrate the summer solstice on the Appalachian Trail.

True. Nudity is not illegal in national parks so on the first day of summer, aka the summer solstice, people will hike the Appalachian Trail in the nude to celebrate Hike Naked Day.

Read More: Nudity Isn't Illegal in National Parks, But Don't Do Anything Weird

2. In which national park was the hottest official temperature recorded on Earth?

  • Acadia National Park
  • Death Valley National Park
  • Haleakalā National Park
  • Joshua Tree National Park

On Aug. 16, 2020, in Death Valley National Park, the hottest temperature officially recorded on Earth occurred at a sizzling 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The feat was repeated on July 11, 2021.

Read More: Inside Death Valley, the Hottest Place on Earth

3. Which famous actor is said to be “the glue that held Hollywood together"?

  • Anne Hathaway
  • Blake Lively
  • Kevin Bacon
  • Tom Cruise

Ever played the pop-culture parlor game “Six Degrees of Bacon"? It was invented by three college students in 1994 who realized that Kevin Bacon was the glue that held Hollywood together when you considered all the movies he had appeared in. This game was inspired by Stanley Milgrim’s theory “The Small World Problem'' aka known as “Six Degrees of Separation.”

Read More: What Does the Term 'Six Degrees of Separation' Mean?

4. True or false: Every state in the U.S. has a national park within its borders.

False. Twenty-one states have no national parks. They include: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. You could take Idaho off the list since part of Yellowstone is located there.

Read More: What's the Difference Between a National Park and National Monument?

5. Which is not a principle of Kaizen?

  • Be the Boss
  • Go to Gemba
  • Know your Customer
  • Let it Flow

Be the boss is not a principle of Kaizen. The five principles of Kaizen are: know your customer, let it flow, go to gemba, empower people and be transparent.

Read More: What Is Kaizen and How Do You Use It in the Workplace?

April 22, 2023

Answers for Apr. 22, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Plum Island is not open to the public.

False. Plum Island is open to the public. The beach at Sandy Point State Reservation is open to the public for swimming and sunbathing.

Read More: The Mystery, Myth and Reality of Plum Island

2. In which city is the Human Library headquartered?

  • Cairo, Egypt
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Paris, France
  • New York City, USA

The Human Library still has its headquarters in Copenhagen, but Human Libraries have been held on every continent in the world.

Read More: Check Out the Human Library, Where the Books Are People

3. What is the name of the operation during which the government first started studying UFOs?

  • Operation Flying Object
  • Operation Orange Book
  • Project Blue Book
  • Project E.T.

The first time a U.S. government agency studied UFOs was called Project Blue Book, and it took place in the 1950s and '60s.

Read More: Scientists Want You to Say 'UAPs', Not 'UFOs'

4. True or false: A sitting president or vice president can refuse Secret Service protection while in office.

False. A sitting president or vice president cannot refuse Secret Service protection while in office, but other members of the president’s family can, as can former presidents.

Read More: If a U.S. President Goes to Prison, Does the Secret Service Go, Too?

5. Which historical figure has a song named after them in the Tony Award-winning musical, “Hamilton?”

  • Abigail Adams
  • John Wilkes Booth
  • Martha Washington
  • Theodosia Burr Alston

If you're a fan of the musical "Hamilton," you undoubtedly remember a song in Act I titled "Dear Theodosia," in which Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton's rival and eventual killer, professes his love for his young daughter. That daughter, Theodosia Burr Alston, never actually appears in the musical.

Read More: The Mysterious Disappearance of Aaron Burr's Daughter, Theodosia

April 15, 2023

Answers for Apr. 15, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: One big difference between terracotta and porcelain is that terracotta is never fired to full vitrification.

True.Vitrification is when fired clay becomes glassy, hard and non-porous. So terracotta, when unglazed, remains porous, unlike porcelain.

Read More: From Plant Pots to Ancient Armies, Terracotta Is Universal

2. Which waterway separates Alaska and Russia?

  • The Atlantic Ocean
  • The Bering Strait
  • The Panama Canal
  • The Suez Canal

The Bering Strait separates Russia and Alaska with 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) of ocean at its narrowest point between the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia) and Seward Peninsula (U.S.).

Read More: How Far Is Russia From Alaska?

3. Which three vegetables make up the famous "three sisters" combination?

  • corn, beans and squash
  • dill, pumpkins and tomatoes
  • garlic, scallions and chives
  • tomatoes, basil and peppers

One of the earliest and best-known examples of companion planting is what the Iroquois called "the three sisters": corn, beans and squash. The cornstalk grows quickly, creating a natural pole for the bean plant to climb. The squash spreads its leaves and shallow roots around the base of the bean and corn plants, keeping down weeds and shading the soil. The beans provide nitrogen that helps the squash grow.

Read More: Companion Planting: The Do's and Don'ts of Growing Plants Together

4. True or false: The Aurora Borealis and STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) are the same.

False. The Aurora Borealis and STEVE are both optical phenomena, but that’s where the similarities end. They appear in different parts of the sky, take different instruments to measure and both form differently.

Read More: That's Not the Aurora Borealis, That's Just STEVE

5. Snails and slugs are a member of what animal group?

  • amphibians
  • birds
  • gastropods
  • mammals

Snails and slugs are members of a large group of related animals known as mollusks, which also includes clams, oysters, squids and octopuses. Within mollusks, there's a smaller set of related animals called gastropods; this includes snails and slugs.

Read More: Why Are Snails and Slugs So, Well, Sluggish?

April 8, 2023

Answers for Apr. 8, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: It is easy to sneak up on a squirrel.

False. Squirrels have very keen eyesight. Their peripheral vision is as good as their focal eyesight. They can see what's above and beside them without moving their heads, making it hard to sneak up on them.

Read More: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Squirrels

2. Which of the following is not one of the most commonly used road names in the U.S.?

  • First
  • Main
  • Maple
  • Third

The most commonly used road names in the U.S. are Main, First, Second, Park and Maple. So Third does not make the list.

Read More: What's the Difference Between an Avenue, a Road and a Boulevard?

3. Which company originally started in the textile business before reinventing itself as a powerful investment firm?

  • Apple
  • Berkshire Hathaway
  • LG
  • Nokia

In 1955, Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing Co. merged to create Berkshire Hathaway. Later, the CEO of this textile company angered Warren Buffett, who bought a majority stake in the company, forced the owners out and eliminated the textile business, creating a global investment powerhouse: Berkshire Hathaway.

Read More: 12 Companies That Completely Reinvented Themselves

4. True or false: Tree squirrels use a mnemonic technique called "spatial chunking" to sort out and bury their nuts.

True. According to professors in the Department of Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, tree squirrels use a mnemonic technique called "spatial chunking" to sort out and bury their nut scores by size, type, and perhaps nutritional value and taste.

Read More: Squirrels Actually Organize Their Nut Hoard — Here's Why

5. In which modern-day country did the 1962 Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic take place?

  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda

In 1962, in a small, British-run boarding school in a remote town on the coast of Lake Victoria in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), three girls began laughing — possibly in response to a joke — and couldn't stop. The laughter then spread to the rest of the school and surrounding areas, becoming the 1962 Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic.

Read More: Not So Funny: The Mysterious 1962 Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic

April 1, 2023

Answers for Apr. 1, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: You should put stained clothing in the dryer when the stain is still present.

False. Never put stained clothing in the dryer if the stain is still present. The heat will then set the stain permanently.

Read More: 6 Ways to Clean White Baseball Pants That Actually Work

2. In which state is it illegal to pump your own gas?

  • California
  • Georgia
  • New Jersey
  • Vermont

It is illegal in New Jersey to pump your own gas. The official ban on self-serve gas in Jersey began in 1949 with the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, citing safety concerns like fire hazards. Since then, a gas station attendant must pump your gas.

Read More: Why Can't You Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey?

3. Which solution kills mold?

  • lemon juice
  • soap
  • WD-40
  • white vinegar

White vinegar is suitable for disinfecting and cleaning stubborn mold stains. Simply spray undiluted white vinegar onto the mold-infected areas.

Read More: How to Get Mold Out of Clothes

4. True or false: Cream of tartar occurs naturally in many plants.

True. Cream of tartar actually occurs naturally in many plants and is a natural byproduct of the winemaking process.

Read More: 10 Uses for Cream of Tartar That Don't Involve Cooking

5. Why is it that Lewis and Clark might have wanted to bring Sacagawea, not her husband, on their expedition?

  • She knew the terrain well.
  • She was fearless.
  • She was resourceful.
  • She was a Shoshone translator.

Lewis and Clark might have wanted to bring Sacagawea more than her husband because they were looking for a Shoshone translator. Charbonneau only spoke Hidatsa and French. But they couldn't hire a woman; they had to hire her husband.

Read More: How a Teenage Sacagawea Guided the Lewis and Clark Expedition Into Immortality

March 25, 2023

Answers for Mar. 25, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The occipital lobe is the gatekeeper of human fear.

False. The amygdala has been referred to as “the gatekeeper of human fear” because it is associated with memory storage and the processing of emotions like anger, pleasure and fear.

Read More: The Amygdala: Gatekeeper of Human Fear

2. What is the deepest lake in the world?

  • Crater Lake
  • Lake Baikal
  • Lake Como
  • Lake Vostok

Lake Baikal, located in Siberia, is the deepest lake in the world, clocking in at 5,387 feet. It is also the world's oldest lake, and its largest lake by volume of water.

Read More: How Deep Is the Deepest Lake in the World?

3. Which is not a common trigger of trypophobia?

  • cucumbers
  • insect eyes
  • sea sponges
  • pomegranates

Trypophobia is a fear or disgust of closely packed holes. A few common triggers of trypophobia include: insect eyes, pomegranates and sea sponges.

Read More: Why Are People With Trypophobia Horrified By Holes?

4. True or false: The University of Connecticut has the most successful women's college basketball team in the U.S.

True. The University of Connecticut has won the women's NCAA championship 11 times, including four times in a row between 2013 and 2016.

Read More: How March Madness Works

5. What species is Hyperion, the world’s tallest tree?

  • banyan
  • coast redwood
  • pine
  • weeping willow

The world’s tallest tree, Hyperion, is a coast redwood located in Redwood National Park. This tree is an average height of 360 feet (116 meters) tall, and its trunk is just over 16 feet (4.94 meters) in diameter. That’s as tall as a 35-story building.

Read More: These Giants Are the 7 Tallest Trees in the World

March 18, 2023

Answers for Mar. 18, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Hedy Lamarr never received a penny for her "secret communications system" even though she had a patent for the invention.

True. Lamarr never received a penny for her invention because her patent had expired by the time the U.S. Navy implemented the system nearly two decades later.

Read More: How Hollywood Screen Siren Hedy Lamarr Helped Pioneer WiFi and GPS

2. Which fruit is known as the "Queen of Fruit?"

  • acai
  • mangosteen
  • noni
  • tamarillo

Popular in southeast Asia, mangosteen fruit is purple on the inside with a thick rind. It’s known for a light, citrusy flavor, as well as high levels of vitamin C.

Read More: Pretty Cool Produce: The Exotic Fruits and Veggies Quiz

3. What type of cipher did Mary, Queen of Scots use to encrypt her letters?

  • playfair
  • polygraphic
  • transposition
  • substitution

Mary, Queen of Scots used a substitution cipher that replaced each word with a unique symbol.

Read More: Why Historical Cryptologists Need to Be 'Part Mozart, Part Accountant'

4. True or false: In the northern hemisphere, the stars of the Big Dipper are always visible.

True. All the stars of the Big Dipper are visible no matter the time of night or time of year, as long as you have a clear northern horizon.

Read More: Surprise! The Big Dipper Is an Asterism, Not a Constellation

5. What is not an ingredient in potting soil?

  • compost
  • dirt
  • earthworm castings
  • perlite

There's no actual dirt in potting soil. Potting soil usually contains a combination of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, composted or aged bark, compost, earthworm castings, horticultural grade perlite, pumice or cinders and controlled-release fertilizer.

Read More: What's In Potting Soil? Everything But Soil

March 11, 2023

Answers for Mar. 11, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Martha Jane Canary earned the nickname “Calamity Jane” around 1875, during the Newton-Jenney expedition.

True. Canary earned the nickname “Calamity Jane” during the Newton-Jenney expedition, which was intended to determine the quality and quantity of gold in the Black Hills. An expert said, "She had wandered off one day and the soldiers thought it would be a 'calamity' if she were captured or killed."

Read More: Calamity Jane Rode Hard, Drank Even Harder and Became a Wild West Legend

2. What is the longest motorway in the world?

  • China National Highway 318
  • Interstate 90
  • Pan-American Highway
  • U.S. Route 6

According to the Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the longest motorway in the world, covering almost 19,000 miles.

Read More: Ever Driven Any of the 9 Longest Roads in the World?

3. Which part of the brain is involved in synthesizing different kinds of information to create memories?

  • amygdala
  • hippocampus
  • pituitary gland
  • thalamus

The hippocampus helps synthesize different kinds of information to create memories.

Read More: How Having an Imagination Sets Us Apart and Makes Us Human

4. True or false: "Doc" Holliday practiced dentistry./\r\n/

True. Holliday attended Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and later practiced dentistry in stops that included St. Louis, Atlanta and Dallas.

Read More: 5 Facts About the Wild West's Deadly 'Doc' Holliday

5. How did Wyatt Earp die?

  • gunfight at the O.K. Corral
  • natural causes
  • overdose
  • tuberculosis

Wyatt Earp, who never was wounded in a gunfight, died at age 80 of natural causes.

Read More: Wyatt Earp Wasn't the Fastest Gunslinger in the West and That Didn't Matter

March 4, 2023

Answers for Mar. 4, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The Instant Pot offers more control than a pressure cooker.

True. While both the Instant Pot and pressure cookers are still used widely, there's no denying that the level of control you get from an Instant Pot is second to none. The Instant Pot allows users to have more control over what they cook.

Read More: What's the Difference Between a Pressure Cooker and an Instant Pot?

2. Which country made the “shoey” popular?

  • Australia
  • England
  • Russia
  • United States

"Shoey" is Australian slang for having a celebratory drink out of a shoe. As a cultural phenomenon, the shoey represents overcoming adversity — literally drinking out of the vessels that got you over the line. Australians have claimed the shoey, but they're not the only ones to partake in the practice.

Read More: What in the World Is a 'Shoey'?

3. Which is not a requirement to serve on a jury?

  • being over 21
  • being a U.S. citizen
  • having sufficient knowledge of English to understand the proceedings
  • being a resident of the county where the trial is taking place

Being over 21 years of age is not a requirement to serve on a jury. The required age to serve on a jury is 18.

Read More: Why Do Some People Get Called for Jury Duty More Than Others?

4. True or false: In 2031, NASA plans to plunge the International Space Station into the waters of Point Nemo.

True. After more than 30 years of service, NASA plans to plunge the International Space Station into the waters of Point Nemo in 2031. NASA expects the ISS to be able to operate safely through 2030.

Read More: Point Nemo: Where Spacecraft Go to Die

5. Which kitchen device is derivative of the European dumbwaiter?

  • food processor
  • lazy Susan
  • napkin holder
  • spatula

The lazy Susan may be derivative of the European dumbwaiter, which was a piece of furniture situated near the hostess at a dinner table. It was used to store things such as desserts, cheeses, silver and extra plates — anything the hostess might need to access quickly.

Read More: Why Is That Rotating Tray a Lazy Susan, Not an Apathetic Amy?

February 25, 2023

Answers for Feb. 25, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Mardi Gras Day is set to occur 46 days before Easter.

True. The date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it corresponds with Easter, which also moves around the calendar. This means Mardi Gras can come as early as Feb. 3 or as late as March 9.

Read More: How Mardi Gras Works

2. Which Supreme Court case decided racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional?

  • Abood v. Detroit Board of Education
  • Brown v. Board of Education
  • Loving v. Virginia
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

Brown v. Board of Education decided racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. The impact of the decision changed the face of public education in the U.S. and set the stage for the civil rights movement of the 20th century.

Read More: Brown v. Board Wasn't the First Case to Challenge Jim Crow in Schools

3. Who was voted People Magazine's "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" in 2000?

  • Amy Mainzer
  • Carl Sagan
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson
  • Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

Neil deGrasse Tyson was voted People Magazine's "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" in 2000. His more professional accomplishments include adviser on the aerospace industry to President George W. Bush and director of the Hayden Planetarium at New York City's American Museum of Natural History.

Read More: 10 Black Scientists You Should Know

4. True or false: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first female justice ever to serve on the Supreme Court.

False. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first Jewish female — and second female justice ever — to serve on the Supreme Court. The first female justice to serve on the Supreme Court was Sandra Day O'Connor.

Read More: 10 Essential Supreme Court Cases of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

5. Your eBay sales can be a maximum of __________ before you must pay income tax on your earnings.

  • $10,000
  • $20,000
  • $30,000
  • $40,000

On eBay, you can have a maximum of $20,000 in sales or a maximum of 200 transactions before you must pay income tax on your earnings.

Read More: Do You Have to Pay Income Tax on Stuff Sold on eBay?

February 18, 2023

Answers for Feb. 18, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Liqueurs are liquors with other ingredients added.

True. Producers add sugar to liqueurs to make them sweeter, along with oils, herbs, florals or fruits. These additions to liqueurs are the main difference between liquor and liqueur.

Read More: What's the Difference Between Liquor and Liqueur?

2. What is a con of owning a soapstone countertop?

  • It can be easily scratched or damaged.
  • It contains dangerous chemicals.
  • It’s prone to staining.
  • It’s sensitive to heat.

The natural stone contains no chemicals, is impermeable (and therefore stain-resistant) and can withstand heat without taking damage. However, soapstone’s softness makes it vulnerable to scratches. On the Mohs Hardness Scale, which ranks minerals from 1 to 10 based on hardness (with diamonds ranking 10 and talc at a 1), soapstone falls between a 1 and 5, meaning it is rather soft. This softness allows it to be used for other purposes besides countertops but also means it can be easily damaged. This would be considered a con to owning soapstone.

Read More: What Are the Pros and Cons of Soapstone Countertops?

3. Who gave a speech prior to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address?

  • Andrew Johnson
  • Edward Everett
  • Mary Todd Lincoln
  • Stephen Douglas

Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address was second in line that day to the orator Edward Everett, who spent two spellbinding hours relating the battle to the crowd. Lincoln followed with his two-minute, three-paragraph gem.

Read More: 9 Little-known Nuggets About Honest Abe

4. True or false: Toothpaste is good for cleaning jewelry.

False. This is a common myth. Toothpaste is actually too corrosive for many metals and gemstones. Opt for a few drops of dish soap in a warm bowl of water instead.

Read More: 9 Great Uses for Toothpaste Besides Brushing Your Teeth

5. What song is considered the most memorable K-pop breakout?

  • "After Like"
  • "Gangnam Style"
  • “Pink Venom”
  • "Run BTS"

The most memorable K-pop breakout was Psy's 2012 international hit "Gangnam Style," which had K-pop fans all over the world doing a dance where you pretend to ride a tiny pony. It also proved that an international K-pop idol music hit didn't necessarily require English lyrics.

Read More: From BTS to BLACKPINK: How K-pop Took Over the Music World

February 11, 2023

Answers for Feb. 11, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: The bright red look of maraschino cherries is natural.

False. Maraschino cherries get their bright red coloring by being soaked in a brining solution and then soaked in a solution made up of sugar syrup, red dye No. 40 and almond flavoring.

Read More: You Don't Want to Know How Maraschino Cherries Are Made

2. Who invented the gas mask?

  • Garrett Morgan
  • George Washington Carver
  • Jan Matzeliger
  • Sarah Goode

Garrett Morgan didn’t just invent the gas mask; he also developed an early prototype of the traffic signal. His inventions saved countless lives.

Read More: Top Inventions by African American Inventors

3. Ophiocordyceps fungus plays an important role in which TV show?

  • “Game of Thrones”
  • "The Last of Us"
  • “The Mandalorian”
  • “Westworld”

The new HBO hit series "The Last of Us," an apocalyptic nightmare based on the 2013 video game of the same name, centers on a group of people left to survive after an Ophiocordyceps fungus evolves to infect humans.

Read More: Meet the Zombie Ant Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us'

4. True or false: The world's first pay telephone was installed in downtown Hartford, Connecticut.

True. The world's first pay telephone was installed in 1889 on the corner of Main Street and Central Row in downtown Hartford, Connecticut.

Read More: Remember Pay Phones? Philly's Bringing Them Back for Free.

5. What is the coldest place in the universe?

  • Antarctica
  • Pluto
  • The Boomerang Nebula
  • Uranus

The coldest place in the universe is the Boomerang Nebula, which exists 5,000 light-years from Earth and is just one degree Kelvin over absolute zero.

Read More: What Is the Coldest Place in the Universe?

February 4, 2023

Answers for Feb. 4, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: "Some Like It Hot" (1959) was one of the movies that helped weaken the Hays Code.

True. A daring comedy about gender roles and organized crime with clear LGBTQ subtexts, "Some Like It Hot" was slammed by conservatives and failed to get PCA approval. But in a bold move for the time, the film was released without their blessing. And it went on to become a box office hit, undermining the Hays Code's influence over Hollywood.

Read More: How the Hays Code Censored Early Hollywood

2. What was the world’s shortest war?

  • Anglo-Zanzibar War
  • The Emu War
  • Spanish-American War
  • War of 1812

It's generous to call the Anglo-Zanzibar War a "war." The entire conflict lasted less than an hour (38 minutes) and the victory was ludicrously one-sided, yet this 1896 standoff between the British Royal Navy and a stubborn sultan is commonly cited as the shortest war on record.

Read More: The World's Shortest War Lasted Just 38 Minutes

3. In what month does the Strawberry Moon occur?

  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July

The Strawberry Moon occurs on June 3. It is also known as the Flower Moon and Rose Moon.

Read More: Worm, Harvest, Blue: Every Full Moon Has a Name

4. True or false: Only one Founding Father signed all four documents of the American Revolution: the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution.

True. Roger Sherman, the lead architect of the Great Compromise, was the only Founding Father to sign all four documents of the American Revolution.

Read More: How the Great Compromise Saved a Fledgling United States

5. What was the name of the CIA experiment that involved LSD and prostitutes?

  • Air America
  • Operation Cyclone
  • Operation Midnight Climax
  • The Berlin Tunnel

In a bizarre experiment, the CIA used prostitutes to lure unsuspecting men to apartments in New York and San Francisco to drug them with LSD in an effort to achieve mind control. The experiment, known inside the CIA as Operation Midnight Climax, was part of a larger research program code-named MKULTRA.

Read More: Operation Midnight Climax: A CIA Sex, Drugs and Surveillance Program

January 28, 2023

Answers for Jan. 28, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Cobalt drill bits are harder than titanium drill bits.

False. Titanium drill bits are harder than cobalt.

Read More: What type of drill bit do I need for metal?

2. Which U.S. state is the cheapest to live in?

  • Alabama
  • California
  • Mississippi
  • Oklahoma

Mississippi's cost of living is about 16 percent lower than the national average, making the Magnolia State a real bargain.

Read More: 8 Cheapest States to Live In

3. How many pounds of added sugar do Americans eat annually?

  • 30
  • 60
  • 100
  • 150

According to the American Heart Association, Americans eat 60 pounds (27 kilograms) of added sugar annually. Soft drinks account for 25 percent of this and fruit drinks for another 11 percent.

Read More: What's the Difference Between White Sugar and Brown Sugar?

4. True or false: The main difference between masking tape and painter’s tape is in their adhesives.

True. The main difference between masking and painter’s tape is the adhesive. While masking tape has an extra sticky adhesive that makes it difficult to pull, painter's tape is easy to remove and doesn’t leave behind any residue. Painter's tape won't peel off anything beneath it, either.

Read More: Painter's Tape vs. Masking Tape: What's the Difference?

5. Which material is not fire-resistant?

  • Brick
  • Concrete
  • Cotton
  • Gypsum

Natural building materials such as lumber and cotton typically offer very poor fire resistance compared to dense concrete and plaster. Brick, concrete and gypsum are some of the most fire-resistant materials.

Read More: Top 6 Fire-resistant Building Materials

January 21, 2023

Answers for Jan. 21, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: Hanging upside down for long periods of time can kill you.

True. Your lungs evolved to sit atop all the other organs for a reason; inverting that anatomy can lead to death over a long enough period of time.

Read More: How Long Can a Person Safely Hang Upside Down?

2. Which country built the Tsar Bomba?

  • China
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • United States

Russia built and tested the Tsar Bomba, serving as a symbol of the escalating tensions between the Soviets and the U.S. at the height of the Cold War.

Read More: Tsar Bomba: The Most Powerful Nuclear Weapon Ever Built

3. Which Mafia is the most powerful in the world?

  • Bonanno
  • Genovese
  • La Cosa Nostra
  • Triad

La Cosa Nostra is considered the most powerful Mafia on the planet, controlling one in five businesses in Italy and many businesses in other parts of the world, including the U.S.

Read More: 10 Businesses Supposedly Controlled by the Mafia

4. True or false: Your liver regenerates itself every 150 to 500 days.

True. Your liver’s primary function is detoxification. To ensure that it continues to carry out this function efficiently, it regenerates every 150 to 500 days and remains immune to most toxins.

Read More: Does Your Body Really Replace Itself Every Seven Years?

5. What year was element 115 added to the periodic table?

  • 1869
  • 1900
  • 2005
  • 2016

Element 115 was only added to the periodic table in 2016, yet for decades it has attracted extra attention because of a supposed connection to extraterrestrial technology and alien lifeforms.

Read More: Does the Real Element 115 Have a Connection With UFOs?

January 14, 2023

Answers for Jan. 14, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: A young George Washington cut down a cherry tree and proclaimed to his father, "I cannot tell a lie."

False. Experts say the incident never happened. After Washington’s death, one of his first biographers invented the story to honor the late president.

Read More: 11 of the Biggest Lies in History

2. Where is the longest bridge in the world located?

  • China
  • Germany
  • Thailand
  • United States

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China is a marvel spanning more than 100 miles (165 kilometers), making it the longest bridge in the world.

Read More: The 10 Longest Bridges in the World

3. What is the smallest country?

  • Bermuda
  • Italy
  • Monaco
  • Vatican City

Vatican City is the smallest country. It covers a mere 0.2 square miles (0.52 square kilometers), which is smaller than New York City's Central Park. Nevertheless, it has its own post office, telephone system, radio station, banking system and even its own currency.

Read More: What's the Smallest Country in the World?

4. True or false: Earth’s rotation has sped up.

True. In 2011, after the Tōhoku earthquake that shook Japan with a magnitude of 8.9, Earth's rotation sped up by 1.8 microseconds.

Read More: Time Is Up for the Leap Second

5. What’s another name for an atmospheric river storm?

  • Apple avalanche
  • Cloud cluster
  • Pineapple express
  • Thunderstorm

In the 1960s, meteorologists coined the phrase "Pineapple Express" to describe storm tracks that originated near Hawaii and carried warm water vapor to the coast of North America. By the late 1990s, atmospheric scientists had named these "atmospheric rivers."

Read More: What Are Atmospheric River Storms?

January 7, 2023

Answers for Jan. 7, 2023, Quiz

1. True or false: January's full moon is a micromoon, the opposite of a supermoon.

True. January's full moon is a micromoon. This means that the moon will be approaching its greatest distance from Earth, called its apogee.

Read More: No Need to Howl When You See January's Wolf Moon

2. According to experts, how often should you wash your bath towel?

  • After one use
  • After three uses
  • Once a week
  • Never

Experts say you should not go more than three uses without washing your bath towel, due to the growth of mildew and bacteria on the towel.

Read More: How Long Should You Use Your Bath Towel Without Washing It?

3. Which soda can be used to clean mineral stains from your toilet?

  • Coca-Cola
  • Dr. Pepper
  • Pepsi
  • Sprite

You can spray Coca-Cola or pour it directly onto the affected area and let it sit overnight before wiping it away.

Read More: How to Clean Mineral Stains From Your Toilet

4. True or false: Schadenfreude is the sense of happiness and shared joy we feel when others succeed.

False. Freudenfreude is the sense of happiness and shared joy we feel when others succeed — the opposite of schadenfreude.

Read More: Freudenfreude Is the Joyous Opposite of Schadenfreude

5. Which of these is not a variety of dragon fruit?

  • ACDC
  • David Bowie
  • Purple Haze
  • Voodoo Child

ACDC is not a variety of dragon fruit, but whoever names the dragon fruit varieties is clearly a fan of classic rock. Three varieties are even named after the classic rock performers: David Bowie, the Purple Haze and Voodoo Child.

Read More: How to Eat Dragon Fruit

December 31, 2022

Answers for Dec. 31, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: It is healthy and possible to sweat out a hangover.

False. It is not healthy to sweat out a hangover because you can become even more dehydrated. Technically, you can “sweat out” alcohol because sweat is one way your body expels the substance, but you would sweat out a very small amount. More of the alcohol is oxidized by your liver.

Read More: Can You Really Sweat Out a Hangover?

2. What plant is said to bring you good luck in the new year?

  • Bonsai tree
  • Chinese money tree
  • Snake plant
  • Venus fly trap

The Chinese money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a popular gift for those celebrating Lunar New Year because the plant is said to bring good luck in your life. This houseplant is also very easy to take care of and is important in feng shui.

Read More: Why Do People Give Money Trees at Lunar New Year?

3. When buying a good bottle of prosecco what label should you look for?

  • DOCG
  • FDA
  • Made in France
  • Voted Best in World

According to wine expert Vince Anter, you want to look for the DOCG label when buying prosecco to guarantee that it is officially from the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region in Veneto, Italy, and was evaluated and tasted by a government-licensed committee before it was bottled.

Read More: How to Buy a Good Bottle of Prosecco

4. True or false: Dice have been around for thousands of years.

True. Dice have been around for thousands of years. The oldest known cubic dice date back to around 2500 B.C.E. and were from the Indus Valley.

Read More: Sticks, Stones and Knucklebones: The History of Dice

5. A rare Pokémon card is indicated by:

  • Black circle
  • Black star
  • Purple circle
  • Yellow square

A rare Pokémon card is indicated by a black star in the bottom-right corner.

Read More: 10 of the Most Expensive Pokémon Cards Ever Sold

December 24, 2022

Answers for Dec. 24, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: In the winter, you need to underinflate your tires.

False. In the winter, you can underinflate your tires to give your car more traction, but it is not crucial. Underinflating your tires increases your traction, but you run the risk of too much traction making steering harder.

Read More: Should You Underinflate Your Tires in Winter?

2. In which Christmas movie does Jimmy Stewart’s character learn that "every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings"?

  • "It's a Wonderful Life"
  • "Miracle on 34th Street"
  • "White Christmas"
  • "Winter Wonderland"

In this 1946 Christmas film, an angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

Test Your Knowledge: Can You Name These Christmas Movies From Famous Quotes?

3. What does p.m. stand for when talking about time?

  • Post meridiem
  • Post midnight
  • Pre midnight
  • Pre meridiem

The abbreviation p.m. is short for the Latin phrase post meridiem, which means "after noon."

Read More: What Do A.M. and P.M. Stand For?

4. True or false: Jesus was born on Dec. 25.

False. No one knows for sure when Jesus was born. The Bible mentions neither a month nor a date, but some scholars believe September is a more accurate estimate.

Read More: 10 Myths About Christmas

5. What do the Three French Hens in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” symbolize?

  • Father, Son and Holy Spirit
  • Mary, Joseph and Jesus
  • The three kings
  • The three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity

The Three French Hens symbolize the three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.

Read More: What Are the 12 Days of Christmas?

December 17, 2022

Answers for Dec. 17, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: You can ship human remains via the United States Postal Service.

True. You just need an inner container, an outer container, a lot of padding and clear markings on the outside of the box to indicate the contents.

Read More: Is 'Jim Wilson' Airline Code for a Dead Body on a Plane?

2. Who coined the scream used in hundreds of Hollywood films?

  • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Luke Skywalker
  • Private Ryan
  • Private Wilhelm

The iconic scream used in many Hollywood flicks is attributed to Private Wilhelm, a character in the 1953 film "The Charge at Feather River."

Read More: If You Hear a Scream in a Movie, It's Probably the Wilhelm Scream

3. What famous technique is used to measure artificial intelligence?

  • IBM Imitation Test
  • Polygraph Test
  • Turing Test
  • Watson Test

Created in 1950 by Alan Turing, the Turing Test is used to measure artificial intelligence. This test was originally called the imitation game.

Read More: Ghost in the Machine: When Does AI Become Sentient?

4. True or false: Ada Lovelace, the daughter of famous poet Lord Byron, is viewed as the first computer programmer.

True. Ada Lovelace had an aptitude for math along with being the protegé of Charles Babbage, father of the computer.

Read More: This 'Enchantress of Numbers' Was the World's First Computer Programmer

5. What material is stronger than steel but lighter than paper?

  • Diamond
  • Graphene
  • Gold
  • Silver

Graphene is a supermaterial that is 200 times stronger than steel and 1,000 times lighter than paper.

Read More: Graphene: 200 Times Stronger Than Steel, 1,000 Times Lighter Than Paper

December 10, 2022

Answers for Dec. 10, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: The Doughnut Corporation of America tried pushing a product called Vitamin Donuts.

True. In the early '40s, the Doughnut Corporation of America tried pushing a product called Vitamin Donuts, but the product didn’t last long because the donuts were not actually enriched with vitamins.

Read More: Ridiculous History: Vitamin Donuts Were a Thing?

2. What is the most densely populated city in the world?

  • Beijing, China
  • Cairo, Egypt
  • New York City, U.S.A
  • Tokyo, Japan

Topping the list of world city populations is Tokyo. With a population of 37,274,000, it has become the most densely populated city in the world.

Read More: What Are the 10 Largest Cities in the World by Population?

3. According to the world records for the largest waves ever surfed, six of the top seven waves happened in which location?

  • Jaws, North of Maui, Hawaii
  • Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, California
  • Mullaghmore Head, Ireland
  • Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal

Six of the top seven waves — and seven of the top 10 — were surfed in a single location: Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. These massive waves are created by the unique ocean floor geography just off the shores of Nazaré.

Read More: Nazaré's 80-foot Waves Intimidate Even Pro Surfers

4. True or false: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History knowingly put a human skull in a diorama.

False. The diorama "Lion Attacking a Dromedary" at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History unknowingly featured a human skull. The diorama was acquired by the museum in 1898 and displayed for many decades before anyone suspected that anything was amiss.

Read More: Famous Museum Diorama Includes Human Remains

5. Which newspaper is responsible for running a series of articles that turned into the "The Great Moon Hoax" of August 1835?

  • The New York Post
  • The Onion
  • The New York Sun
  • The New York Times

In August 1835, The New York Sun ran a series of articles stating that life on the moon had been discovered. These popular articles later turned into “The Great Moon Hoax.”

Read More: The Great Moon Hoax of August 1835

December 3, 2022

Answers for Dec. 3, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: In 2021, 84 percent of the Christmas trees displayed in the U.S. were real while 16 percent were artificial.

False. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, in 2021, 84 percent of the Christmas trees displayed in the U.S. were artificial while 16 percent were real.

Read More: How to Safely Transport Your Christmas Tree Home

2. What day of the week is said to have the most challenging New York Times crossword puzzle?

  • Monday
  • Wednesday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday

Each day of the week, from Monday onward, The New York Times crossword puzzle becomes more difficult, culminating in the most challenging of all: Saturday's crossword.

Explore More: 5 Tips for Solving The New York Times Crossword Puzzle

3. "Say 'hello' to my little friend" is from which mobster movie?

  • “The Godfather”
  • “Scarface”
  • “Dirty Harry”
  • “Goodfellas”

"Say 'hello' to my little friend" is from “Scarface" which was loosely based on the life of Al Capone, but this line was famously delivered by another famous Al — Pacino.

Learn More: Guess the Movie From Its Famous Line

4. True or False: There are 5 different colors of sounds.

True. Scientists recognize black, brown, pink, blue and white noise. Some people find pink noise or brown noise better for sleep than white noise.

Read More: You Know White Noise, But What's Pink Noise and Brown Noise?

5. Which movie below passes the Bechdel Test?

  • "Casablanca"
  • "Jackie Brown"
  • "Lawrence of Arabia"
  • “Mean Girls”

"Mean Girls" passes the Bechdel Test because it has at least one scene in which two female characters have a conversation about something other than a man.

Read More: What the Bechdel Test Says About Women in Film

November 26, 2022

Answers for Nov. 26, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Yams and sweet potatoes are the same food.

False. Yams and sweet potatoes are quite different. In fact, they're not even part of the same genus. But, due to how the names are used interchangeably, you might believe they are the same.

Read More: What's the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams?

2. What is one of the safest forms of investment?

  • Property
  • Treasury bills
  • Stocks
  • Precious metals

Treasury bills are one of the safest forms of investment in the world because they are backed by the U.S. government. They are considered risk-free. They are also used by many other governments throughout the world.

Read More: How Treasury Bills Work

3. When was green bean casserole, the beloved Thanksgiving side, developed?

  • 1880
  • 1955
  • 1967
  • 1980

Green bean casserole was developed by the late Dorcas Reilly back in 1955 when she was a Campbell Soup Company test kitchen manager. Her green bean casserole has made a name for itself as a go-to Thanksgiving side for more than 60 years.

Read More: Dishing It Up: History of the Green Bean Casserole

4. True or false: Up until the late 19th century, people regularly ate breakfast pie, including flavors like pumpkin and apple.

True. Breakfast pie was on hotel and restaurant menus and held a regular spot on the breakfast menus in the homes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Read More: The Humble History of Pumpkin Pie

5. What scientific tool is used to measure the severity of a snowstorm?

  • Fujita Scale
  • Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale
  • Richter Scale
  • Saffir-Simpson Scale

To assess the severity of a snowstorm, we can use several metrics beyond the volume of snow. The Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS) was created in 2004 to characterize snowstorms in the Northeastern U.S., similar to the way the Fujita Scale rates tornadoes and the Saffir-Simpson Scale classifies hurricanes.

Read More: 10 Biggest Snowstorms of All Time

November 19, 2022

Answers for Nov. 19, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Jimmy Carter served as the United States’ 39th president.

True. Jimmy Carter is the 39th American to hold the title of President of the United States. The presidency was only the beginning of his lifelong effort to make the world a better place.

Read More: A Portrait of Jimmy Carter, America's Oldest Living President Ever

2. What is the all-time best-selling book?

  • "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ"
  • "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
  • "The Little Prince"
  • "Xinhua Zidian"

"Xinhua Zidian" was first published in 1953 and became the standard dictionary among Chinese schoolchildren. Its widespread use in the most populous nation in the world (1.4 billion people as of 2022) gives this book the top spot on our list.

Read More: The 22 Best-selling Books of All Time

3. What is graupel?

  • A mix of snow crystals and ice
  • Sleet
  • Snow
  • Rain

Graupel is actually an interesting mix of snow crystals and ice. It should not be confused with sleet, which is sturdier and more frozen; graupel occurs when a snow pellet falls and is encapsulated by ice. Sounds like hail, right? Well, it’s not quite hail either.

Read More: Graupel Isn't Snow, Nor Sleet, Nor Hail, So What the Heck Is It?

4. True or false: Flash droughts typically result from a combination of higher-than-normal precipitation and lower temperatures.

False. Flash droughts typically result from a combination of lower-than-normal precipitation and higher temperatures.

Read More: What Is a Flash Drought? An Earth Scientist Explains

5. What is the vocation of the oldest living woman?

  • Chef
  • Lawyer
  • Nun
  • Maid

Lucile Randon, aka Sister André, is the world's oldest living person. She was born Feb. 11, 1904, in France. She's also the oldest known living person in Europe, and the world's oldest living nun.

Read More: Who Is the Oldest Person to Ever Live?

November 12, 2022

Answers for Nov. 12, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: An axolotl can regenerate almost any part of its body.

True. An axolotl can regenerate new limbs, heart tissue, eyes and even its spinal cord and parts of its brain. Scientists study axolotls in the hopes of one day applying their miraculous limb-regeneration abilities to the human body.

Read More: The Super-cute Axolotl Is Also a Ruthless Carnivore

2. Why does Earth's shadow cast a red hue on the moon during a lunar eclipse?

  • Climate change
  • Earth’s atmosphere
  • Earth’s shadow is red
  • Reflection from the stars

During a total eclipse, the only sunlight reaching the moon is passing through Earth's atmosphere. As rays of the sun's light pass through the atmosphere and bend around Earth, they pick up a reddish color. This is why the moon appears red during a blood moon, also known as a lunar eclipse.

Read More: What's the Difference Between a Blood Moon and a Lunar Eclipse?

3. What will mess up a car’s engine if added to the fuel?

  • Milk
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Water

If you add water to fuel, the water gets into the engine and, if there's enough water in the cylinders, the fuel does not combust. The engine is dead in the water, you might say.

Read More: What if I Put Sugar in Someone's Gas Tank?

4. True or false: Graphene is considered one of the softest materials in the world.

False. Graphene is considered one of the strongest — and thinnest — materials in the world. The composition of graphene is similar to the graphite used in pencils, but when graphene is used as a temporary tattoo, it provides a waterproof way to measure the skin's electrical currents and the body's response to changes in blood volume.

Read More: How the Graphene Blood Pressure Tattoo Will Change Monitoring

5. How often should you wash your car?

  • Every week
  • Every 2 weeks
  • Every month
  • Every 2 months

Most experts recommend washing your car every two weeks or so throughout the year as a general rule.

Read More: How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

November 5, 2022

Answers for Nov. 5, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Tsundoku is the art of buying books you can't possibly read.

True. Tsundoku comes from the root words "tsumu," which means "to pile up," and "doku," which means "reading."

Read More: Tsundoku: The Art of Buying Books You Can't Possibly Read

2. What car brand can attribute some of its success to international spy, James Bond?

  • Aston Martin
  • Ferrari
  • Jaguar
  • Porsche

The Aston Martin DB5 became an international sensation when it played a starring role in the James Bond spy thriller "Goldfinger." Aston Martin can attribute some of its success to this franchise.

Read More: The Aston Martin: From the DB1 to DB7

3. How many Nancy Drew books are there in the classic series?

  • 43
  • 56
  • 123
  • 157

Although there are currently over 175 Nancy Drew books including several spinoffs, the classic series had 56 books.

Read More: 5 Secrets You Didn't Know About Nancy Drew

4. True or false: Netflix says it uses credit card information to determine if your device is within a subscriber household or not.

False. Netflix uses IP addresses, device IDs and account activity to determine if your device is within a subscriber household or not. If a device is outside of the subscriber household then you will have to verify the device to watch on it.

Read More: How Netflix's Password Crackdown Will Stop Moochers

5. "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." Which book opens with this line?

  • "A Clockwork Orange"
  • "Jane Eyre"
  • "1984"
  • "The Bell Jar"

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen" is the opening line of George Orwell's "1984," which is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.

Read More: Quiz: Guess the Book From Its Opening Line

October 29, 2022

Answers for Oct. 29, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Albert Einstein famously called the phenomenon of quantum entanglement "spooky action at a distance."

True. Albert Einstein famously called it "spooky action at a distance," even though he had some doubts about the phenomenon.

Read More: Quantum Entanglement Is the Strangest Phenomenon in Physics, But What Is It?

2. British prime minister Liz Truss recently resigned. How many days did Truss last as prime minister?

  • 21
  • 30
  • 44
  • 60

British prime minister Liz Truss resigned after only 44 days, making Truss go down in history as the U.K. prime minister with the shortest term.

Read More: British Prime Minister Liz Truss Resigns After Only 44 Days

3. How many emergency drawdowns of crude oil have there been since the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) was established?

  • 3
  • 4
  • 6
  • 10

Since the SPR has been established, there have been three emergency drawdowns: one after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and the most recent in 2011 when President Barack Obama released 30 million barrels of oil onto the world market in response to production disruptions in Libya.

Read More: How Long Will the U.S. Oil Reserves Last?

4. True or false: A buyer must disclose to the seller that their house is haunted.

False. According to a state-by-state analysis by Zillow, there are no states that require home sellers to voluntarily disclose alleged ghostly activities on the property before a sale.

Read More: Do You Have to Tell Buyers Your House Is Haunted?

5. When did candy corn first become associated with Halloween?

  • At the beginning of the Civil War
  • During the Great Depression
  • After World War II
  • During the Cold War

Oct. 30 is National Candy Corn Day. However, candy corn didn't become associated with Halloween until after World War II, when trick-or-treating became popular.

Read More: What Is Candy Corn and How Is It Made?

Answers for Oct. 22, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: The Oakland County child killer better known as "The Babysitter," was captured in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison.

False. Despite a few promising leads, including the discovery of a blue AMC Gremlin suspected of having been the killer's car, the case remains open.

Read More: 10 Serial Killers Who Have Never Been Caught

2. At what age does a girl celebrate her quinceañera?

  • 16
  • 15
  • 20
  • 10

Celebrating your quinceañera or "Sweet 15" is a milestone for many Latin American girls and American girls of Hispanic heritage.

Read More: How Quinceañeras Work

3. What is considered to be one of the oldest fairy tales?

  • "Rumpelstiltskin"
  • "Sleeping Beauty"
  • "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
  • "Hansel and Gretel"

"Rumpelstiltskin" and "Beauty and the Beast" are two of the oldest fairy tales ever written. They're said to be around 4,000 years old.

Read More: 10 Fairy Tales That Are Way Darker Than You Realized as a Kid

4. True or false: Travis Gienger set a new North American record for heaviest pumpkin early in October with a massive 2,560-pound (1161-kilogram) pumpkin.

True. At this year's 49th Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota, broke the current record for heaviest pumpkin with his giant pumpkin named Maverick.

Read More: How Do You Grow a 2,000-pound Pumpkin?

5. How many people was Jeffrey Dahmer convicted of killing?

  • 100
  • 15
  • 17
  • 35

Serial killer and sex offender Jeffrey Dahmer was convicted of murdering 15 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. Dahmer was sentenced to 15 terms of life imprisonment, though he was killed by another inmate in 1994.

Read More: FBI Files Provide Chilling Look Into the Mind of Jeffrey Dahmer

October 15, 2022

Answers for Oct. 15, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Multi-factor authentication is a security measure that requires you to provide three or more proofs of identity to gain access to digital services.

False. Multi-factor authentication is a security measure that requires you to provide two or more proofs of identity to gain access to digital services. It's also known as two-step verification or two-step authentication.

Read More: What Is Multi-factor Authentication and Should You Use It?

2. What is the earthy aroma we smell after it rains known as?

  • after-rain odor
  • petrichor
  • Earth's musk
  • percheron

The scientific name for that after-rain smell is petrichor. It is caused by bacteria, specifically actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, that grows in soil when conditions are damp and warm.

Read More: What Causes Petrichor, the Earthy Smell After Rain?

3. What should you never use to clean your glasses?

  • acetone
  • microfiber cloth
  • soap
  • water

You should never use acetone, like nail polish remover, to cut through the smudges, because it's far too harsh for glasses. You should use only soap and water, and dry them with a clean microfiber cloth.

Read More: How to Best Clean Your Glasses, for Real

4. True or false: Polio can be spread through person-to-person contact via the stool of an infected person or the droplets of a sneeze or cough.

True. Polio spreads through person-to-person contact via the stool of an infected person or the droplets of a sneeze or cough. Most people who contract poliovirus have no symptoms. About a quarter of them have mild, flu-like symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, upset stomach and body aches. Most people may not be aware they have polio.

Read More: Is Polio Back? Here's What You Need to Know

5. What causes "old person" smell?

  • bacteria
  • old skin
  • 2-nonenal
  • potassium

"Old person" smell is caused by the breakdown of 2-nonenal. Researchers discovered that 2-nonenal, an unsaturated compound with an unpleasant greasy and grassy smell, is the only odor present in humans that becomes stronger as we age.

Read More: What Causes 'Old Person' Smell?

October 8, 2022

Answers for Oct. 8, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Jimmy Carter is the oldest living U.S. president.

True. Jimmy Carter is America's oldest living president at 98 years old. He was born Oct. 1, 1924.

Read More: A Portrait of Jimmy Carter, America's Oldest Living President Ever

2. When was the phrase "in a pickle" first used?

  • 1562
  • 1900
  • 1692
  • 1711

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest-known written instance of this phrase is from 1562.

Read More: Why Do We Say We're 'In a Pickle'?

3. What is the phrase "bullwhip effect" used to describe?

  • the sound of a cowboy's whip
  • the car and computer chip shortage
  • an exercise move
  • the popularity of whips, thanks to the Indiana Jones franchise

The "bullwhip effect" is an economic term coined by MIT computer scientist Jay Forrester that describes what happens when fluctuations in demand reverberate and amplify throughout the supply chain, leading to worsening problems and shortages.

Read More: Store Shelves Still Empty? Blame the 'Bullwhip Effect'

4. True or false: Big dog breeds live longer than small dogs.

False. Small dog breeds usually live longer than big dogs. The average lifespan for a big dog is around 7 or 8 years, while a tiny dog can reliably live, variables aside, to the ripe old age of 14 or 15.

Read More: The Longest-living Dog Breeds Are Tiny, But Why?

5. Which state recently legalized human composting as another option for burial?

  • Maine
  • Texas
  • Alabama
  • California

In mid-September 2022, California became the fifth state to legalize human composting. California follows the states of Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, which allow human composting.

Read More: Is Human Composting the Greenest Burial Option?

October 1, 2022

Answers for Oct. 1, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: NASA recently crashed a spaceship into an asteroid, on purpose.

True. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) robotic spacecraft successfully crashed into Dimorphos, a small asteroid that orbits a second, larger space rock, Didymos, Monday, Sept. 26.

Read More: NASA's DART Crashed Into an Asteroid, On Purpose

2. What is grape waste called?

  • waste
  • raisins
  • pomace
  • grape Juice

Grape waste, aka pomace, is what's left over after the grapes are pressed during wine production. Some wineries use it as a fertilizing compost, while others are selling it to biogas companies for use as a renewable energy source.

Read More: What Do Winemakers Do With Grape Waste?

3. Where is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world located?

  • Florida
  • Dubai
  • Denmark
  • China

The tallest Ferris wheel in the world is the Ain Dubai, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai Marina. Also known as the Dubai Eye, the attraction opened in 2021.

Read More: Have You Ridden Any of the 10 Tallest Ferris Wheels in the World?

4. True or false: Joseph Marion Hernández was the first Hispanic to serve in Congress.

True. Joseph Marion Hernández was sworn into duty in 1823 as the first Hispanic to serve in Congress. He helped smooth the transfer of the territory of Florida into U.S. rule. He also served in the House of Representatives.

Read More: 5 Events in Hispanic History You Never Learned in School

5. About how many dogs did Camberley Kate rescue throughout her lifetime?

  • 20
  • 40
  • 150
  • 600

Camberley Kate single-handedly took in and cared for at least 600 dogs (and several cats) from 1943 until her death Aug. 4, 1979, at age 84. She may well have been the U.K.'s first dog rescuer.

Read More: England's Eccentric 'Camberley Kate' Never Turned Away a Stray

September 24, 2022

Answers for Sept. 24, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Smith is the most popular last name in the world.

False. The most popular surname in the world is Wang. More than 106 million people have the last name Wang, which is a Mandarin term for prince or king.

Read More: What Are the Most Common Last Names in the World?

2. Where is the oldest tree in the world?

  • California
  • Sweden
  • Chile
  • Scotland

According to carbon dating, Old Tjikko, a spruce tree on Fulu Mountain in Sweden, sprouted around 7542 B.C.E., making it older than written history. It's considered the oldest tree in the world.

More Details: What Is the Oldest Tree in the World?

3. What does it mean when a planet is "at opposition?"

  • Its orbit is out of position.
  • It's opposite the position of the sun.
  • It's opposite the moon's orbit.
  • It's no longer considered a planet.

Planetary opposition is when a planet's orbit brings it between the sun and another planet. That means a planet at opposition is 180 degrees from the sun in the sky.

Read More: Neptune Is at Opposition, But What Does That Mean?

4. True or false: In a recent Gallup poll, the majority of Hispanic respondents said they prefer "Latinx" as their racial or ethnic identity.

False. Just 5 percent of Hispanics prefer the term Latinx. Instead, an overwhelming 94 percent said they prefer either Hispanic or Latino.

Keep Reading: The 'X' Factor: Why Some Advocates Prefer 'Latine' to 'Latinx'

5. How do birds know where to migrate south in the winter?

  • They all fly to the same location.
  • Scientists still don't have a definitive answer.
  • They use GPS.
  • They track the scent of food.

Scientists still have no answer to this question, but they have some theories, including they have internal maps and compasses; they use the sun, stars and constellations to find their way; and some might actually learn landmarks to help guide them on their paths.

More Details: How Do Birds Know When to Fly South and Where to Go?

September 17, 2022

Answers for Sept. 17, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: In the 19th century, one of Paris' best-known attractions was the morgue.

True. Today people flock to the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées. In the 19th-century, everyone congregated at the morgue.

Read More: In 19th-century Paris, the Morgue Was the Best Show in Town

2. How many objects have astronauts left behind on the moon?

  • about 250
  • about 470
  • about 500
  • about 800

There's estimated to be about 800 items still on the lunar surface, including lots of geological tools, cameras and several lunar rovers.

More Details: Can You See Objects Astronauts Left Behind on the Moon?

3. How many phases does the moon have in every lunar cycle?

  • 4
  • 6
  • 8
  • 10

The moon has eight phases in each lunar cycle: four primary phases and four secondary phases.

Keep Reading: What Are the 8 Phases of the Moon, in Order?

4. True or false: A rainy summer means we will have an exceptionally beautiful fall.

False. It's actually the very late-summer, early-autumn weather that affects leaves' appearance. What leaves really need for a colorful fall display is clear sun in the day, with nights that are a bit chilly, but not freezing.

Read More: Does a Wet Summer Mean a Brilliant Fall?

5. How many steps do you have to climb to reach the top of Jacob's Ladder on St. Helena Island?

  • 235
  • 122
  • 699
  • 355

There are 699 steps in all. Some people think there were originally 700, but that the bottom step was buried or destroyed. Those who reach the top of this steep staircase are rewarded with a certificate from the Museum of Saint Helena.

More Details: Climbing Jacob's Ladder in St. Helena Is Not for the Faint of Heart

September 10, 2022

Answers for Sept. 10, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: The green anaconda is the biggest snake in the world.

True. At more than 16.4 feet (5 meters) in length, the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) grabs the title of biggest snake in the world.

Read More: What Is the Biggest Snake in the World?

2 . Who is the most famous political or historical figure in the world?

  • Queen Elizabeth II
  • Mahatma Gandhi
  • Adolf Hitler
  • Martin Luther King Jr.

In terms of impact and sheer numbers of people, Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the most famous political or historical figure in the world. India's current population is 1.4 billion, and though not every citizen may know who he is, between the numbers who do and the rest of the world who knows him, that would be billions of people.

Keeping Reading: Who Is the Most Famous Person in the World?

3 . True or false: It is considered unlucky to wish upon a striped stone.

False. Wishing upon a smooth pebble that has a single, uninterrupted white stripe all the way around it is considered lucky. These stones are rare so when you find one, make a wish.

Read More: When You Wish Upon a Stone ... Make It a Striped One

4 . What are attendees of the popular art and music festival, Burning Man, usually referred to as?

  • Dreamers
  • Artists
  • Burning Men and Women
  • Burners

Attendees of Burning Man are referred to as Burners. Burners flock to Black Rock City, Nevada each year, to experience radical inclusion, one of Burning Man's 10 Principles. After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Burning Man returned this year.

Read More: How Burning Man Works

5 . True or false: William Gaines and Harvey Kurtzman created "Mad Magazine."

True. "Mad Magazine" was the brainchild of William Gaines and Harvey Kurtzman at EC Comics, a low-brow publishing house that specialized in gory horror titles that drove parents nuts in the 1950s, like "Tales from the Crypt."

Keep Reading: 'What, Me Worry?' Celebrating 70 Years of Mad Magazine

September 3, 2022

Answers for Sept. 3, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Green coffee beans are the best beans to roast at home so you can have the best cuppa joe.

True. All coffee beans are green before they are roasted to be brewed into that perfect cup of coffee.

Read More: Want a Perfect Cuppa Joe? Roast Your Own Coffee Beans

2. Which country is building a 106-mile (170-kilometer), one-building city?

  • United States
  • Egypt
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Norway

The government of Saudi Arabia unveiled plans in 2021 for the city of Neom, which will include a megastructure called The Line, a 106-mile, one-building city in the Saudi Arabian desert.

Keep Reading: Meet The Line, Saudi Arabia's Future 106-mile, One-building City

3. True or false: Napoleon really was short.

False. Napoleon wasn't exactly tall, but he wasn't short, either. At the time of his death, he measured 5 foot 2 inches in French units, the equivalent of 5 foot 6.5 inches (169 centimeters) in modern measurement units.

Read More: Was Napoleon Really Short?

4. Out of the eight main blood types in the world, which is the rarest?

  • AB Negative
  • Negative
  • AB Positive
  • B Positive

The short answer: AB negative is the rarest of the eight main blood types. Less than 1 percent of American donors are AB negative, according to the American Red Cross.

More Info: What Is the Rarest Blood Type in the World?

5. How much did it cost in today's money to build the Cathedral of Notre Dame?

  • $300,000
  • $1 million
  • $25 billion
  • $1 billion

Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris from 1160 until 1196, convinced the crown to invest an astronomical amount of money in the project — almost $1 billion in today's figures.

Read More: Notre Dame Cathedral: What It Took to Build Her

August 27, 2022

Answers for Aug. 27, 2022, Quiz

1. Which state in the United States has the largest population of death row inmates?

  • Texas
  • Florida
  • California
  • North Carolina

The oldest prison in California, San Quentin, was home to its only death row facility and its more than 700 death row inmates. But in early 2022, the state began the process of closing death row and relocating the inmates, three years after California Governor Gavin Newsom ended executions in the state.

Read More: 10 of the Worst Prisons in the World

2. True or false: Americans drink more coffee than any other beverage — even water.

True. As of spring 2022, 66 percent of Americans drink coffee daily, more than any other beverage — even water.

Read About What to Do With All Those Coffee Filters: 11 Great Uses for Coffee Filters

3. John Harrison is credited with saving the lives of more than 2 million Australian babies because of his blood donations. How often did he donate blood plasma?

  • Every two weeks
  • Once a month
  • Every two months
  • Twice a year

Australian John Harrison, donated blood plasma roughly every two weeks for decades and singlehandedly created a steady supply of anti-D, a rare antibody that can help pregnant women and their babies.

Read How He Did It: The Man Whose Blood Saved More Than 2 Million Babies

4. True or false: The Republican Party once had a live elephant at one of its conventions.

False. The Republican Party has never had a live elephant at one of its conventions. However, when the Democratic Party gathered for its 2008 convention in Denver, Colorado, a live donkey named Mordecai was there to serve as the first official live mascot in the history of the Democratic Party.

Read Why Democrats Are Donkeys and Republicans Are Elephants

5. Which General Mills cereal is being brought back for the first time in nearly a decade?

  • Franken Berry
  • Frute Brute
  • Count Chocula
  • Boo-Berry

Frute Brute (originally Fruit Brute) hit shelves for the first time in 1974 but was sent back to the General Mills vault in 1982. The cereal is making an appearance for the first time since 2013 and will round out this year's seasonal spooky cereals.

Get the Details: General Mills Resurrects 4 Classic Monster Cereals

August 20, 2022

Answers for Aug. 20, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Fast-growing wages are a sign of a looming recession.

True. When unemployment levels are low, that leads to a scarcity of qualified workers on the job market, which forces employers to offer higher and higher pay. Fast-growing wages are often a sign of a coming recession.

Read More: 7 Warning Signs of a Looming Recession

2. True or false: iPhones can shoot raw photos right in their native camera app.

False. Current Android operating systems can shoot raw photos right in their native camera app, while iPhones require a third-party app like Manual Cam to do the job.

Learn More: What's the Difference Between Raw and JPEG Files?

3. How did Catherine the Great die?

  • A stroke
  • While having sex with a horse
  • She was murdered

One of the most notorious rumors to follow Catherine has been the one regarding her cause of death. Catherine did not die while having sex with a horse. She died of a stroke at the age of 67.

Keep Reading: 7 Reasons Catherine the Great Was So Great

4. True or false: Scientists do not know why we dream.

Scientists and sleep experts know when we normally dream, but researchers don't know why we dream in the first place.

Get More Info: 10 Questions That Science Can't Answer Yet

5. King William I is better known as William the Conqueror. What was his other nickname?

  • William the Brutal
  • William the Bastard
  • William the Handsome

William I ruled England from 1066 to 1087, and was the illegitimate son of Robert the Devil, Duke of Normandy — hence the "bastard" designation. He defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in his bid for the throne, which he said was promised him by his second cousin, Harold's predecessor.

Take Our Kings and Queens Quiz: All Hail the Kings and Queens Quiz

August 13, 2022

Answers for Aug. 13, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: New York City's nickname the "Big Apple" came from horse racing.

True. In the 1920s, John Fitz Gerald, a reporter for The Morning Telegraph who covered horse racing, overheard stable hands referring to the races in New York and their prestige and prize money as the "big apple of horse racing." Fitz Gerald found the term apt and started using it regularly in his columns.

Read More: Why Is New York City Called the 'Big Apple'?

2. How many people are allowed to visit The Wave in Arizona each day?

  • 64
  • 152
  • 814
  • No one is allowed to visit

A maximum of 64 people is allowed each day, whether as individuals or part of a group. Forty-eight of those people are awarded access through the advanced online lottery system. Another 16 people are allowed to enter through a daily lottery.

More Details: Bring Water and a Permit to Catch 'The Wave' in Arizona

3. True or false: Your cat licking you is never a sign of affection.

False. "Cats lick us as a sign of closeness, bonding and affection," says Anita Kelsey, cat behaviorist.

Keep Reading: Why Does My Cat Lick Me?

4. True or false: "The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence dropped out of school while in the eighth grade.

True. Jennifer Lawrence's parents allowed her to drop out of school while in eighth grade to pursue acting in New York City.

Read More: 20 Notable People Who Dropped Out of School

5. Which famous female actress did not stay at New York's Barbizon Hotel?

  • Grace Kelly
  • Liza Minelli
  • Elizabeth Taylor
  • Candice Bergen

The Barbizon Hotel was a glamorous, women-only residential hotel in New York City that catered to up-and-coming stars. Grace Kelly, Liza Minelli and Candice Bergen all called it home. Elizabeth Taylor did not.

More Info: Why Every Woman Wanted to Stay at the Barbizon Hotel

Answers for Aug. 6, 2022, Quiz

1. How old is the youngest mother in recorded history?

  • 5
  • 8
  • 11

On May 14, 1939, Lina Medina delivered a healthy, 6-pound (3-kilogram) baby boy via cesarean section. At the time she was exactly 5 years, 7 months and 21 days old, making her the youngest mother in recorded history.

Read More: The Shocking Story of Lina Medina, Who Gave Birth at Age 5

2. True or false: Mowing your grass at the right time of the day will help your lawn stay green.

True. Don't mow in the morning when the grass is wet. Wait until the lawn dries. Once dry, mow in the late afternoon and early evening. For one thing, it's excessively hot at noontime for such work. Not only can mowing in the heat of the day stress you out, but it can also stress your lawn.

Read Tips: 10 Things You Should Never Do to Your Lawn

3. True or false: There is no longer a ban on gooseberries in the U.S.

False. Maine, Delaware, New Hampshire and a handful of other states maintain the ban on the gooseberry and its cousin black currant because some species aid and abet a tree-killing disease known as white pine blister rust.

Read More: Banned in the U.S.A: 8 Foods You Can't Eat in America

4. The extinct Thylacoleo carnifex, a lion-sized marsupial, killed its prey in which strange way?

  • Repeatedly charging at their prey
  • Using mimicry to lure its prey
  • Scratching their prey to death

This ancient predator had a long, deadly-looking retractable "dew claw" on each semi-opposable thumb. Thylacoleo used its jaws to hold an animal and then used its giant claws to slash or disembowel its prey.

Learn More: Extinct Marsupial Lions Killed Prey in a Really Weird Way

5. True or false: Buc-ee's, a chain of giant convenience stores in the U.S., pays its employees about double the minimum wage.

True. Buc-ee's pays its employees about double the minimum wage.

Learn More: Why People Are Nuts for Buc-ee's

July 30, 2022

Answers for July 30, 2022, Quiz

1 . How does the parasitic isopod Cymothoa exigua affect its host?

  • the parasite forces its host to raise its babies
  • the parasite uses its host for locomotion
  • the parasite replaces its host's tongue
  • the parasite controls the minds and actions of its host

Cymothoa exigua attaches to a fish's tongue, sucks blood from it until it falls off, and then replaces it by gripping onto the tongue stump and acting as a prosthetic for the rest of its life.

Read More: Why No Fish Wants a Tongue-eating Parasitic Louse in its Mouth

2. True or false: When you purchase a movie on a streaming service, the movie can be canceled at any time.

True. When you purchase a movie on a streaming service, you're basically putting yourself at the service's mercy. That's because the digital purchase grants you only a temporary license to the movie — you don't own it. The license can be revoked at any time, due to things like rights ownership changes and music licensing issues.

More Info Here: Think You Own That Online Video Game You Bought? Think Again

3. What is the job of a lexicographer?

  • describing and mapping geographic regions
  • writing and editing dictionaries
  • converting messages from a code to plain text
  • writing glossaries

The culling of dictionary words is left to lexicographers, who not only decide which words to remove, but also what new words to add, definitions to update and pronunciations to improve.

Read More: How Are Words Removed From a Dictionary?

4. True or false: Non-climacteric fruits — like apples — continue to ripen after they've been plucked.

False. There are two classifications of fruit in the ripening realm — climacteric and non-climacteric. Climacteric fruits produce ethylene gas and continue to ripen after they've been plucked, while non-climacteric fruits do not and thus should only be picked when fully ripe.

Get the Details: Does Fruit Really Ripen Faster in a Brown Paper Bag?

5. True or false: Muriatic acid is a diluted version of hydrochloric acid, therefore it doesn't need to be diluted with water before you use it.

False. Despite that muriatic acid is made for cleaning, you still need to dilute it with water before use. How much you weaken it will depend on what job you're tackling. A good formula is one-part muriatic acid to 10 parts water.

Read More: What Is Muriatic Acid and Is It Safe For Home Cleaning?

July 23, 2022

Answers for July 23, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Using cruise control on road trips increases your gas usage.

Using cruise control to maintain constant speed can decrease how much gas has to go in your car's tank.

Read more: How Much Gas Will You Use on Your Road Trip?

2. Why were gooseberries once banned in the United States?

  • They are poisonous to consume
  • They can cause skin irritations
  • They can kill trees

Gooseberries once banned in the United States because the fruits serve as an intermediary host for the destructive white pine blister rust. This tree-killing disease would decimate white pine-reliant economies, like those that depend on lumber.

Read more: The Once-banned Gooseberry Has Made a Comeback in the U.S.

3. True or false: Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only public diamond mining site in America.

Crater of Diamonds State Park, which opened to visitors in 1972, is the only public diamond mining site in America. The park allows visitors to search for their own diamonds. And if you find one, you get to keep it!

Read more: Arkansas State Park Lets You Dig for Diamonds

4. According to FlightAware, how many flights were canceled in and out of the U.S. on July 14?

  • 1,400
  • 3,500
  • 5,200
  • 6,800

On July 14 alone, more than 6,800 flights were canceled in and out of the U.S., and 23,000-plus were delayed according to FlightAware, which tracks these stats in real time.

Read more: Traveling This Summer? 12 Tips to Navigate Flight Cancellations

5. Which variable increases the sour factor of cucamelons?

  • Leaving them on the vine longer
  • The climate where they're grown
  • Picking them too early

The longer a cucamelon (aka a Mexican sour gherkin) stays on the vine, the more sour it becomes. To avoid excessive sourness, pick them when they're about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) long.

Take our exotic fruits quiz: Pretty Cool Produce: The Exotic Fruits and Veggies Quiz

July 16, 2022

Answers for July 16, 2022, Quiz

1. Typical Florida snails average between 1 and 1.5 inches (2.5 and 3.8 centimeters) in length. How long can giant African land snails grow to be?

  • 3 inches (7.6 centimeters)
  • 5 inches (12.7 centimeters)
  • 8 inches (20.3 centimeters)
  • 11 inches (27.9 centimeters)

These massive mollusks dwarf all others — in Florida and anywhere else on Earth. Their shells are usually light to dark brown with vertical stripes, and they can grow up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. Compare that to other typical Florida snails, which average between 1 and 1.5 inches (2.5 and 3.8 centimeters) in length.

Read More: Giant African Land Snails Invade South Florida Again

2. True or false: Space is odorless.

False. It turns out space does smell, and our solar system has a very particular scent. It's been described by astronauts as similar to the smell of something cooking on a charcoal grill.

Read More: What Does Space Smell Like?

3. What does the 1930s slang term "skivvies" mean?

  • men's underwear
  • gossip
  • the best
  • legs

The term "skivvies" means men's underwear and is just one of the funny terms used in the 1930s.

Read More: 67 Slang Terms by Decade

4. True or false: When the Gulf corvina fish mates, it's so loud it can deafen other marine animals.

True. In what might be among the loudest wildlife events on Earth, the chorus of mating Gulf corvina (Cynoscion othonopterus) fish can deafen other marine animals. The chattering sound the males make as they call the females to spawn is like a machine gun and it's the loudest sound made by any fish, anywhere.

Read More: Who Knew Fish Sex Could Be So Loud?

5. True or false: Betta fish don't require a lot of space.

False. Perhaps the most popular myth is that bettas can live in small bowls. The opposite is true: Betta fish need a tank that's at least 5 gallons (19 liters), and 10 gallons (38 liters) is better.

Read More: 5 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Betta Fish

July 9, 2022

Answers for July 9, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: The Declaration of Independence was approved and signed July 4, 1776.

​​False. One of the most enduring misconceptions about Independence Day is that the Declaration of Independence was approved and signed July 4, 1776. In fact, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the resolution to legally separate from Great Britain on July 2, two days earlier. The approved Declaration of Independence was first printed on July 4, so that's the date on the document.

14 More Facts About the Fourth of July

2. Jyoti Amge holds the overall Guinness title of "world's shortest person (mobile)." How tall is she?

  • 1 foot
  • 1.5 feet
  • 2 feet
  • 3 feet

The overall Guinness title of "world's shortest person (mobile)" belongs to Jyoti Amge, who measured just over 2 feet (24.7 inches or 62.8 centimeters to be exact) when she took over the record in December 2011. She also holds the title of "shortest woman living (mobile)."

Read More: How Short Is the World's Smallest Person?

3. True or false: According to the United Nations, Scotland is not considered a country.

True. The Republic of Ireland is a country, but Northern Ireland is not. Northern Ireland, along with Scotland, Wales and even England are part of the United Kingdom.

Learn More: How Many Countries Are There in the World?

4. How many grams of sugar does 1 cup of mango contain?

  • 8 grams
  • 12 grams
  • 17 grams
  • 23 grams

These tropical beauties pack about 23 grams of sugar per 1 cup (236 milliliter) serving! Instead, opt for the equally exotic papaya, which has only 8.3 grams of sugar for the same serving size.

Munch on More: 6 Fruits Loaded With Sugar

5. True or false: A Dunkin' Donuts blueberry muffin is worse for your health than a Dunkin' Donuts frosted chocolate donut.

True. Although somewhat lower in saturated fat than a comparable doughnut, the blueberry muffin comes totally undone thanks to a huge sugar content.

Read More: Bagel, Muffin or Doughnut: Which Is the Best and Worst, Healthwise?

July 2, 2022

Answers for July 2, 2022, Quiz

1. True or false: Bubbles pop more quickly on a cool day than on a warmer one.

False. One reason a bubble pops is because its water evaporates. Water evaporates faster when the air temperature is higher, so bubbles pop more quickly on a warm day than on a cooler one.

Learn More: Why Do Bubbles Pop?

2. Where did the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral actually take place?

  • A vacant lot
  • On Main Street in the city of Tombstone
  • In a corral

The famous gunfight took place in a vacant lot next to a boarding house and a photo studio, and not in a corral as Hollywood would have you believe.

Take Our Wild West Quiz!

3. True or false: The South Pole is the remotest spot on Earth.

False. South Pole is not the remotest spot on Earth. In reality, it's not even the remotest spot in Antarctica. That distinction belongs to a spot called the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility, about 546 miles (878 kilometers) away from the South Pole, an ice-covered patch of earth that happens to be the most distant spot from the Southern Ocean on the Antarctic continent.

Read More: The World's 'Poles of Inaccessibility' Are, Well, Pretty Inaccessible

4. True or false: Calamity Jane worked on Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show performing sharpshooting tricks.

True. In 1895, Calamity Jane realized she could use her shooting skills to support her family and joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, performing sharpshooting tricks. Her drinking antics, however, cost her the job, and she was fired after touring Minneapolis, Chicago St. Louis, and Kansas City.

Read More: Calamity Jane Rode Hard, Drank Even Harder and Became a Wild West Legend

5. Of the 3.5 billion women in the world who have monthly periods, nearly _____ percent do not have reliable access to pads, tampons or other feminine hygiene products.

  • 5
  • 15
  • 25

Of the 3.5 billion women in the world who have monthly periods, nearly 25 percent — more than 500 million — do not have reliable access to pads, tampons or other feminine hygiene products, and one of the primary reasons is cost.

Read More: Menstrual Leave: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

June 25, 2022

1. Which is the most dangerous place for shark attacks?

  • Volusia County, Florida
  • Hawaii
  • Queensland, Australia
  • South Africa

Volusia County, Florida, has had 337 attacks since 1882, according to the International Shark Attack File. That's not only the highest number of shark attacks recorded in Florida, but it's more than South Africa, whose attacks occurred over 2,798 miles (4,503 kilometers) of coastline, as opposed to a single county.

Read More: 10 Most Dangerous Places for Shark Attacks

2. True or false: Dyson fans use a lot of electricity and have higher consumption ratings than regular fans.

False. Dyson fans are extremely energy efficient, so they'll keep you comfortable without increasing your electricity bill.

Learn More: How the Dyson Bladeless Fan Works

3. What did a woman named Mary Toft allegedly give birth to in 1700s England?

  • Bunnies
  • An egg
  • A demon child

Toft and her husband hid baby bunny rabbits under the sheets and pretended that she was giving birth to them. She was apparently very distressed, having suffered a miscarriage only the month before.

Take Our Hoax Quiz

4. Which plant would not do well with the addition of diluted coffee in its soil?

  • Hydrangeas
  • Roses
  • Lily of the valley
  • Azaleas

Coffee and coffee grounds are acidic and, while there are some plants that love an alkaline soil and won't do well with the addition of coffee, such as lily of the valley, lavender and honeysuckle, some plants absolutely thrive in an acidic soil.

Explore More: Don't Toss That Joe! Use Diluted Coffee to Fertilize Plants

5. True or false: Using ammonia is a safe method for keeping your dog out of your garden.

False. Do not use ammonia as a dog repellent. While ammonia will keep dogs away from almost anything because the smell irritates their noses, it can cause damage to their throats and stomachs if consumed. Always check with your vet before using any chemical or substance around your pets.

Read More: How to Make Homemade Dog Repellent

Advertisement

Loading...