Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • We’ve had a Problem — Answers

    Here’s today’s answers.

    All of these questions are related to today, April 13th.

    Apollo13 – view of the crippled Service Module after separation.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1970, Apollo 13 suffered an explosion in a tank en route to the Moon. What did the tank contain, and who were the three crew?

    Answers: Oxygen; James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise (aka Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise).

    Apollo 13, the seventh crewed Apollo mission, was aborted after an oxygen tank explosion two days into the mission. The crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat, facing hardships like limited power and water, but successfully returned to Earth. The incident highlighted the need for improved safety measures, leading to changes in oxygen tank design for future missions.

    Two

    In accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, a religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints. In what century did this occur, and what religion was formalised as described?

    Answers: 17th century; Sikh or Sikhism.

    Sikhism, founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region, is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and nine successors. It emphasises faith in one creator, equality, selfless service, and honest conduct. Since 1699, Sikhs follow the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal guru and are identified by the five Ks, which are:

    • Kesh — unshorn hair and beard
    • Kangha — a comb for the kesh, usually made of wood
    • Kara — a bracelet, usually made of iron or steel
    • Kachhera — an undergarment
    • Kirpan — a small curved sword or knife made of iron or steel

    Three

    In 1953, the CIA launched Project MKUltra. What was the purpose of this programme?

    Answer: Mind-control (alter human behaviour).

    MKUltra was a CIA programme that ran from 1953 to 1973, experimenting on unwitting subjects to alter behaviour using drugs, hypnosis, and other methods. The programme, which involved illegal activities and violated individual rights, was exposed in 1975, and further information was declassified in 2001. Encyclopædia Britannica notes that MK-ULTRA was a CIA mind-control programme from 1953 to 1964, continuing work from concentration camps with the aim of controlling minds for Cold War purposes.

    Four

    George Frideric Handel’s Messiah made its world premiere on this date. In what century, and in what capital city, did this premiere take place?

    Answers: 18th century; Dublin, Ireland.

    Messiah, an oratorio by George Frideric Handel, premiered in Dublin in 1742 and is now a popular Easter performance. Based on biblical texts by Charles Jennens, it features the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and combines Old and New Testament verses. Originally for a small Baroque orchestra, performances have since expanded.

    Five

    On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Academy Award. 

    1. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in any category, and for which film was the award made?
    2. Who was the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for which film was the award made?

    Answers

    1. Hattie McDaniel; Gone with the Wind.
    2. Halle Berry; Monster’s Ball.
      Hattie McDaniel played Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939) and won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Halle Berry won the Best Actress Oscar as Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball (2001). Berry was also the first person of colour to win Best Actress, and that year was the first time two African-American performers won Oscars in the same year — Denzel Washington for Training Day.

    We’ve had a Problem

    The post title reflects what was first said from Apollo 13 to Houston after the explosion. Jack Swigert called Mission Control, ‘Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here’. Capsule communicator (Capcom) astronaut Jack R. Lousma asked, ‘This is Houston. Say again, please’. Lovell replied, ‘Ah, Houston, we’ve had a problem here. We’ve had a Main B Bus Undervolt’.

  • We’ve had a Problem

    All of these questions are related to today, April 13th.

    Apollo13 – view of the crippled Service Module after separation.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1970, Apollo 13 suffered an explosion in a tank en route to the Moon. What did the tank contain, and who were the three crew?

    Two

    In accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, a religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints. In what century did this occur, and what religion was formalised as described?

    Three

    In 1953, the CIA launched Project MKUltra. What was the purpose of this programme?

    Four

    George Frideric Handel’s Messiah made its world premiere on this date. In what century, and in what capital city, did this premiere take place?

    Five

    On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Academy Award. 

    1. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in any category, and for which film was the award made?
    2. Who was the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for which film was the award made?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Rocket Man — Answers

    Here’s the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    The first question relates to today’s date, April 12th, and the answer begins with the letter ‘V. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the ‘V’ theme.

    Yuri Gagarin on 12 April 1961.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What ‘V’ was the spaceflight that carried the first human into space on this day in 1961?

    Answer: Vostok 1.

    Vostok 1, launched on 12 April 1961 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, was the first human orbital spaceflight. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth, completing a single orbit at 169 km altitude in 108 minutes and parachuting to the ground separately from his capsule. Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, made history as the first person in space aboard Vostok 1. Tragically, he died in a MiG-15 crash in 1968.

    The following questions are not date-related but continue with the ‘V’ theme.

    Two

    What ‘V’, an island country in Melanesia, is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,090 miles (1,750 km) east of northern Australia?

    Answer: Vanuatu.

    Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island nation in Melanesia, South Pacific Ocean, consisting of volcanic islands. Located 1,090 miles east of Australia and 340 miles northeast of New Caledonia, it was first visited by Europeans in 1606 by Spanish navigator Fernandes de Queirós. France and the UK claimed parts in the 1880s, managing them as the New Hebrides from 1906. Vanuatu gained independence in 1980 and joined the UN and Commonwealth.

    Three

    What ‘V’ is missing from the following statement about a relative and mentor of Britain’s King Charles III?

    Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten was a British statesman, naval leader, and the last … of India.

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Answer: Viceroy.

    Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten, was a British statesman and naval leader, born on June 25, 1900. He served as the last viceroy of India, overseeing its independence and partition into India and Pakistan in 1947. Mountbatten held significant naval commands during World War II and was supreme allied commander for Southeast Asia. He later served as chief of the UK Defence Staff. Mountbatten was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in August 1979.

    Four

    What ‘V’ was the Russian-born author of the 1955 novel Lolita, which relates Humbert Humbert’s obsession with 12-year-old Dolores Haze?

    Answer: Vladimir Nabokov.

    Lolita, a 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov, follows Humbert Humbert, a French literature professor, and his obsession with 12-year-old Dolores Haze, whom he calls ‘Lolita’. Published in Paris due to censorship fears, the novel explores controversial themes. Despite public backlash, it has received critical acclaim and is featured on numerous best book lists. It was adapted into films by Stanley Kubrick in 1962 and Adrian Lyne in 1997, and several times for the stage.

    Five

    What ’V’, in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is an alien race who arrive at the Earth to destroy it to make way for an intergalactic bypass?

    Answer: Vogon.

    The Vogons, from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, are a fictional alien race from Vogsphere. They destroy Earth for an intergalactic highway. Slug-like and humanoid, they are bulkier than humans with green skin. Known for their unpleasant, bad-tempered, and bureaucratic nature, they lack empathy and write the third-worst poetry in the universe. As galactic bureaucrats and poor marksmen, their strict rule adherence makes them a formidable presence in the galaxy.

  • Rocket Man

    The first question relates to today’s date, April 12th, and the answer begins with the letter ‘V. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the ‘V’ theme.

    Yuri Gagarin on 12 April 1961.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What ‘V’ was the spaceflight that carried the first human into space on this day in 1961?

    The following questions are not date-related but continue with the ‘V’ theme.

    Two

    What ‘V’, an island country in Melanesia, is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,090 miles (1,750 km) east of northern Australia?

    Three

    What ‘V’ is missing from the following statement about a relative and mentor of Britain’s King Charles III?

    Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten was a British statesman, naval leader, and the last … of India.

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Four

    What ‘V’ was the Russian-born author of the 1955 novel Lolita, which relates Humbert Humbert’s obsession with 12-year-old Dolores Haze?

    Five

    What ’V’, in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is an alien race who arrive at the Earth to destroy it to make way for an intergalactic bypass?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • S is for… — Answers

    Today’s answers are shown below.

    Kurt Vonnegut, 1965.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question relates to today’s date, April 11th, and the answer begins with the letter ‘S’. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the ‘S’ theme.

    One

    Kurt Vonnegut, who passed away at the age of 84 on this day in 2007, published a novel in 1969. It follows the life and psychological traumas of Billy Pilgrim. What ‘S’ is the title of this novel?

    Answer: Slaughterhouse-Five.

    Slaughterhouse-Five is a 1969 anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut. It follows Billy Pilgrim, a soldier who experiences time travel and psychological trauma after surviving the Allied firebombing of Dresden whilst he was being held as a prisoner of war, like Vonnegut himself.

    Two

    What ‘S’ is an acoustic sensing method first used by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century but more associated with the Cold War?

    Answer: Sonar.

    Sonar, a technique using sound propagation, is employed for navigation, distance measurement, communication, and object detection underwater. It can operate passively by listening for sounds or actively by emitting sound pulses and listening for echoes. Initially used by Leonardo da Vinci in 1490, who employed a tube inserted into the water to detect vessels by ear, sonar was further developed during WWI with a passive sonar system to counter submarines developed by 1918. Modern active sonar utilises acoustic transducers to detect objects.

    Three

    What ’S’ can this description apply to?

    • A republic with two heads of state
    • Official language: Italian
    • Currency: Euro

    Answer: San Marino.

    San Marino, a landlocked country in Southern Europe. It claims to be the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic, being founded in AD 301. It has a unique political structure with two heads of state, the Captains Regent, elected every six months. San Marino is a member of the Council of Europe, uses the euro, and has a strong economy based on finance, industry, services, retail and tourism.

    Four

    What ‘S’ was the traditional garment worn by Roman women and the equivalent of the toga worn by men?

    Answer: Stola.

    The stola was the traditional garment of Roman women, akin to the men’s toga, and was also referred to as vestis longa due to its length. A well-known depiction of the stola is on the Statue of Liberty in New York City, which represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. Libertas, known to the ancient Greeks as Eleutheria, is portrayed wearing the stola, a crown, and sandals.

    Five

    What ‘S’ connects the Moby-Dick to coffee (at least to 88.889%)?

    Answer: Starbuck(s).

    Starbuck, the young chief mate, is a thoughtful Quaker who opposes Ahab’s quest for revenge against Moby Dick, believing it to be madness and blasphemous. Despite his objections and desire to return home, he feels bound to obey Ahab.

    Moby-Dick didn’t have anything to do with Starbucks directly; it was only coincidental that the sound seemed to make sense.

    — Gordon Bowker, co-founder of Starbucks

  • S is for…

    Kurt Vonnegut, 1965.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question relates to today’s date, April 11th, and the answer begins with the letter ‘S’. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the ‘S’ theme.

    One

    Kurt Vonnegut, who passed away at the age of 84 on this day in 2007, published a novel in 1969 which follows the life and psychological traumas of Billy Pilgrim. What is the title of this novel?

    Two

    What ‘S’ is an acoustic sensing method first used by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century but more associated with the Cold War?

    Three

    What ’S’ can this description apply to?

    • A republic with two heads of state
    • Official language: Italian
    • Currency: Euro

    Four

    What ‘S’ was the traditional garment worn by Roman women and the equivalent of the toga worn by men?

    Five

    What ‘S’ connects the Moby-Dick to coffee (at least to 88.889%)?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Let it Be — Answers

    Today’s answers are shown below.

    The first question relates to both today’s date, April 10th, and music. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the music theme.

    The Beatles Let it Be.
    Image orohits949.com

    One

    On this day in 1970, who became the first to publicly announce that he was leaving The Beatles?

    Answer: Paul McCartney.

    The Beatles’ internal strife, evident in the White Album and Get Back sessions, escalated over business disagreements, leading to Lennon’s departure in September 1969 and McCartney’s making the first public announcement when he issued a press release advising of his departure in April 1970.

    Two

    Name the official theme song for Mission: Impossible III; whose song it was, and who featured on it?

    Answer: Impossible; Kanye West featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole and BJ.

    Impossible by American hip-hop artist Kanye West featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole, and BJ. Composed for the film Mission: Impossible III, it served as its official theme but wasn’t included on the soundtrack. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Bubbling Under Hot 100 charts in 2006.

    Three

    Add up the numbers from the titles that these clues point you to, and the total sum is the answer.

    1. The Beatles — Days of the Week (1964)
    2. The Rolling Stones — Nervous Breakdown (1966)
    3. Bob Marley and the Wailers — Little Birds (1977)
    4. Bryan Adams — Summer (1985)
    5. The Proclaimers Miles (1988)
    6. Vanessa Carlton — Miles
    7. Adele — Album (2008)
    8. Christina Perri — Years (2011)
    9. Adele — Album (2021)
    10. Belinda Carlisle — Loneliest Number (2025) (A long time previously Harry Nilsson followed by Three Dog Night)

    Answer: 2,649.

    1. 8 — Eight Days a Week (1964) The Beatles
    2. 19 — 19th Nervous Breakdown (1966) Rolling Stones
    3. 3 — Three Little Birds (1977) Bob Marley & The Wailers
    4. 69 — Summer of ’69 (1985) Bryan Adams
    5. 500 — I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) (1988) The Proclaimers
    6. 1,000 — A Thousand Miles (2002) Vanessa Carlton
    7. 19 — 19 (2008) Adele
    8. 1,000 — A Thousand Years (2011) Christina Perri
    9. 30 — 30 (2021) Adele
    10. 1 — One (Is the Loneliest Number) Belinda Carlisle (2025) (Originally Harry Nilsson in 1968, followed by Three Dog Night in 1969.)

    Four

    Creedence Clearwater Revival topped the UK singles charts and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 with a song from their Green River album, which had a three-word title. What song?

    Answer: Bad Moon Rising.

    Bad Moon Rising, a song by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was their lead single from the album Green River. Released on 16 April 1969, four months before the album’s release, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 28 June 1969. It also spent three weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in September of the same year. Bad Moon Rising became CCR’s second gold single.

    Five

    Who were the four named members of the rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young?

    Answer: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young.

    CSN formed in 1968 after Crosby, Stills, and Nash discovered their harmonious blend. Crosby left the Byrds in late 1967, Buffalo Springfield (Stills) disbanded in early 1968, and Nash departed the Hollies in December. In early 1969, they released their debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash, which featured Top 40 hits Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Marrakesh Express. They added Neil Young, Stills’s former Buffalo Springfield bandmate, and as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, performed at Woodstock in 1969. Their first album with Young, Déjà Vu (1970), topped international charts, selling over eight million copies and producing hits like Woodstock and Teach Your Children. Tensions during their second tour led to the group’s disbandment. They reunited multiple times, releasing eight studio and four live albums, with their final studio album, Looking Forward, in 1999. CSN was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with individual members also recognised for their work with other groups. Crosby passed away in 2023.

    Let it Be

    The post-title ‘Let it Be’, released in 1970, was their final single before McCartney’s departure. The song, written by McCartney, topped charts internationally and was certified Platinum in several locations and double Platinum in both the UK and US.

  • Let it Be

    The first question relates to both today’s date, April 10th, and music. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the music theme.

    The Beatles Let it Be.
    Image orohits949.com

    One

    On this day in 1970, who became the first to publicly announce that he was leaving The Beatles?

    Two

    Name the official theme song for Mission: Impossible III; whose song it was, and who featured on it?

    Three

    Add up the numbers from the titles that these clues point you to, and the total sum is the answer.

    1. The Beatles — Days of the Week (1964)
    2. The Rolling Stones — Nervous Breakdown (1966)
    3. Bob Marley and the Wailers — Little Birds (1977)
    4. Bryan Adams — Summer (1985)
    5. The Proclaimers — Miles (1988)
    6. Vanessa Carlton — Miles
    7. Adele — Album (2008)
    8. Christina Perri — Years (2011)
    9. Adele — Album (2021)
    10. Belinda Carlisle — Loneliest Number (2025) (previously Harry Nilsson followed by Three Dog Night)

    Four

    Creedence Clearwater Revival topped the UK singles charts and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 with a song from their Green River album, which had a three-word title. What song?

    Five

    Who were the four named members of the rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • From Island to Island — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Today’s questions are all about literature.

    One

    What geographic feature is the third word in the title of a 1973 work by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn?

    Answer: Archipelago.

    The Gulag Archipelago: An Experiment in Literary Investigation, a three-volume non-fiction series by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, explores life in the Soviet labour camp system. Initially smuggled out of Russia and published in Paris, it circulated underground until the Soviet Union’s collapse after which it became more available.

    See question two. William Blake: Christian Reading in His Book, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Two

    In what century was The Pilgrim’s Progress first published?

    Answer: 17th century.

    The Pilgrim’s Progress, a 1678 Christian allegory by John Bunyan, is a significant work of Protestant devotional literature. Written during Bunyan’s imprisonment, it has been translated into over 200 languages and remains influential, cited as the first novel written in English.

    Three

    Digital Fortress (1998) and Deception Point (2001) were the early novels of an author better known for a series of books, some of which have been made into films, featuring an academic protagonist. Who is this author, who is the academic protagonist, what novel published in 2000 is the first in the series, and what, published in 2025, is the most recent?

    Answer: Dan Brown; Robert Langdon; Angels & Demons and The Secret of Secrets.

    American writer Dan Brown is best known for his thriller novels, particularly the Robert Langdon series (Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, Origin and The Secret of Secrets) which often centre on cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories. His books have sold over 200 million copies and have been adapted into films and a television series.

    Four

    What author’s work includes a Mr. and Mrs. Maggot who live at Bamfurlong?

    Answer: J.R.R. Tolkien.

    In The Lord of the Rings Frodo, Frodo, Sam and Pippin visited Maggot’s farm, where Farmer Maggot recognised them and shared his story about a stranger inquiring about Bilbo’s treasure. Maggot and his wife gave them refreshments and he offered them a ride to the Ferry, which they accepted.

    Five

    HARI SELDON … born in the 11,988th year of the Galactic Era: died 12,069. The dates are more commonly given in terms of the current Foundational Era as -79 to the year 1 F.E.
    The Psychohistorians, which is part I of a book published in 1951, opens its first chapter with the quote shown. What is the title of the book, and who was its author? 

    Answer: Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

    Foundation is the first book of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, originally a trilogy, which explores the fall of a Galactic Empire and the efforts of Hari Seldon to shorten the ensuing dark age through the new science of psychohistory. The series, which includes sequels and prequels, won the Hugo Award for ‘Best All-Time Series’ in 1966.

    From Island to Island

    The post title is from a quote by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in The Gulag Archipelago…

    Thin strands of human lives stretch from island to island of the Archipelago.

    — The Gulag Archipelago

  • From Island to Island

    Today’s questions are all about literature.

    One

    What geographic feature is the third word in the title of a 1973 work by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn?

    See question two. William Blake: Christian Reading in His Book, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Two

    In what century was The Pilgrim’s Progress first published?

    Three

    Digital Fortress (1998) and Deception Point (2001) were the first novels of an author better known for a series of books, some of which have been made into films, featuring an academic protagonist. Who is this author, who is the academic protagonist, what novel published in 2000 is the first in the series, and what, published in 2025, is the most recent?

    Four

    What author’s work includes a Mr. and Mrs. Maggot who live at Bamfurlong?

    Five

    HARI SELDON … born in the 11,988th year of the Galactic Era: died 12,069. The dates are more commonly given in terms of the current Foundational Era as -79 to the year 1 F.E.

    The Psychohistorians, which is part I of a book published in 1951, opens its first chapter with the above quote. What is the title of the book, and who was its author?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.