Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Raising the Dead—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The Raising of Lazarus and the Adoration of the Shepherds
    Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Italian artist born this day in 1571, painted the works above which are displayed in Sicily?

    Answer: Caravaggio

    Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, (known mononymously as Caravaggio) an Italian painter from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, gained fame for his realistic religious works.

    Two

    In 1829 the Metropolitan Police was founded, by what name (two words the first contains eight letters) is the force, especially the Criminal Investigation Department, colloquially known?

    Answer: Scotland Yard

    Through the efforts of Robert Peel, England’s first professional police force, London’s Metropolitan Police (often called Scotland Yard), was founded; it became a model for future police departments in various other countries, including the United States.

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    Born in Rome in 1901, who became an associate director of Manhattan Project in 1944?

    Answer: Enrico Fermi

    Enrico Fermi, an Italian-born American scientist, was a pivotal figure in the nuclear age. He developed mathematical statistics for subatomic phenomena, explored neutron-induced nuclear transformations, and directed the first controlled nuclear fission chain reaction, earning the 1938 Nobel Prize for Physics. Fermi is best known for creating the first artificial nuclear reactor, Chicago Pile-1, and for his contributions to the Manhattan Project. His work spanned statistical mechanics, quantum theory, and nuclear and particle physics.

    Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Who was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia?

    Answer: Julia Gillard

    Julia Gillard, born in Wales, served as Australia’s 27th prime minister. She was the first and, as of September 2025, the only woman to hold the position.

    Five

    Following the Challenger disaster in January 1986 and the suspension of NASA’s space shuttle programme, it resumed on this day. In which year and with which shuttle did this happen?

    Answer: 1988 and Discovery

    On January 28, 1986, the Challenger shuttle exploded shortly after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. A presidential commission discovered a joint seal in a solid rocket booster had failed due to mechanical design flaws exacerbated by cold weather. Hot gases leaking from the joint ignited the shuttle’s external tank fuel leading to the devastating explosion. As a result, the shuttle fleet was grounded for necessary design corrections and administrative changes. On 29 September 1988, Discovery was the first shuttle to resume flights. Endeavour, a replacement orbiter, finally flew its first mission in 1992.

  • Raising the Dead

    Here are five questions related to today, September 29th.

    The Raising of Lazarus and the Adoration of the Shepherds
    Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Italian artist born this day in 1571, painted the works above which are displayed in Sicily?

    Two

    In 1829 the Metropolitan Police was founded, by what name (two words the first contains eight letters) is the force, especially the Criminal Investigation Department, colloquially known?

    Three

    Born in Rome in 1901, who became an associate director of Manhattan Project in 1944?

    Four

    Who was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia?

    Five

    Following the Challenger disaster in January 1986 and the suspension of NASA’s space shuttle programme, it resumed on this day. In which year and with which shuttle did this happen?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • A Sporting First—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Althea Gibson, victorious at Wimbledon Ladies Singles in 1957, at parade in her honour, New York. 
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Althea Gibson, aged 76, died on this day in 2003. In the mid-1950s she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-American woman to win titles in what sport?

    Answer: Tennis

    Althea Gibson was a dominant American tennis player who ruled women’s competition in the late 1950s. She achieved historic milestones as the first Black player to win the French Open (1956), Wimbledon (1957–58) and the US Open (1957–58) singles championships.

    Two

    Brigitte Bardot was born on 28 September 1934.  She gained international recognition in which 1956 film directed by Roger Vadim?

    Answer: And God Created Woman

    Born in Paris, Bardot aspired to be a ballerina before starting her acting career in 1952. She gained international fame in 1957 for her role in And God Created Woman.

    Three

    In 1928, a physician and microbiologist observed a mould growth in a laboratory that would later be identified as penicillin.  Who was this individual?

    Answer: Alexander Fleming

    Scottish physician and microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first broadly effective antibiotic, in 1928. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for this discovery.

    Four

    On 28 September, a European ‘discovered’ California. In which century did this happen?

    Answer: 16th century

    Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the “discoverer” of California, landed near present-day San Diego in 1542, becoming the first European to set foot on the west coast of the future United States.

    Five

    On 28 September 2008 Singapore hosted its inaugural Formula One race, making it the first night race in the sport’s history. Almost a year later allegations emerged of a driver being instructed by his team to crash his car. Who was the driver and which team was he representing?

    Answer: Nelson Piquet Jr. and Renault F1 (or Renault)

    The 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the first Formula One race held at night, was won by Fernando Alonso after a controversial incident involving his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr. Piquet deliberately crashed, bringing out the safety car and benefiting Alonso’s strategy. This incident led to Renault’s disqualification from Formula One, later overturned in court.

  • A Sporting First

    Here are five questions about today, September 28th.

    Althea Gibson, 1957.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Althea Gibson, aged 76, died on this day in 2003. In the mid-1950s she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-American woman to win titles in what sport?

    Two

    Brigitte Bardot was born on 28 September 1934.  She gained international recognition in which 1956 film directed by Roger Vadim?

    Three

    In 1928, a physician and microbiologist observed a mould growth in a laboratory that would later be identified as penicillin.  Who was this individual?

    Four

    On 28 September, a European ‘discovered’ California. In which century did this happen?

    Five

    On 28 September 2008 Singapore hosted its inaugural Formula One race, making it the first night race in the sport’s history. Almost a year later allegations emerged of a driver being instructed by his team to crash his car. Who was the driver and which team was he representing?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later.

  • Dress Sense—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Ocelots are active especially during dawn and dusk.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which fictional character habitually wears a charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis and collegiate cordovan loafers; and which author created him?

    Answer: Robert Langdon (created by) Dan Brown

    Robert Langdon, a fictional character created by author Dan Brown for his Robert Langdon book series: Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013), Origin (2017), and The Secret of Secrets (2025). He is a Harvard University professor of Religious Iconology and Symbology (a fictional field).

    Tom Hanks portrays Langdon in the Robert Langdon film series; starting with the 2006 film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, reprising the role in the 2009 film adaptation of Angels & Demons, and again in the 2016 film adaptation of Inferno, while Ashley Zukerman plays a younger version of the character in the 2021 TV series adaptation of The Lost Symbol.

    Two

    Is it true or false that in zoology, a crepuscular animal is one which lives on a seashore in the areas between the high and low tide marks?

    Answer: False

    In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the hours of daytime and of night, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day.

    Stanley Baldwin.
    Image The Spectator

    Three

    Who was the British prime minister at the time of the abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII renounced the throne?

    Answer: Stanley Baldwin

    Baldwin served as Prime Minister from May 1935 to June 1937. He held office under three kings: George V, his eldest son Edward VIII, who abdicated and was succeeded by his brother Albert, who took the regnal name King George VI.
    In 1936, King Edward VIII’s proposed marriage to Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, caused a constitutional crisis. The British government and the Church of England, of which the monarch is head, opposed the marriage. Consequently Edward abdicated in favour of his brother.

    The Doors c. 1966: Jim Morrison (L), John Densmore (C), Robby Krieger (R), and Ray Manzarek (seated).
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    The Doors chose their band name from a 1954 work by what author (1894-1963)?

    Answer: Aldous Huxley

    Morrison took the band’s name from Aldous Huxley’s book on mescaline, The Doors of Perception (1954), which in turn refers to a line in a poem by Romantic artist and writer William Blake.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Five

    Can you name three players chosen for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team whose surnames begin with the same letter?

    Answer: Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard and Viktor Hovland

    The players are Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka.

  • Dress Sense

    Here are five unrelated questions which are not connected by date, subject or theme.

    King Edward VIII. Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which fictional character habitually wears a charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis and collegiate cordovan loafers; and which author created him?

    Two

    Is it true or false that in zoology, a crepuscular animal is one which lives on a seashore in the areas between the high and low tide marks?

    Three

    Who was the British prime minister at the time of the abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII renounced the throne?

    Four

    The Doors chose their band name from a 1954 work by what author (1894-1963)?

    Five

    Can you name three players chosen for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team whose surnames begin with the same letter?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • The Naming of Cats—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    T.S. Eliot.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The name of an American-English poet, born on 26 September 1888, is an anagram of the word ‘TOILETS’. This poet wrote The Naming of Cats. Who is this poet?

    Answer: T.S. Eliot

    Two

    The American-English poet referred to in question one was born in a city which is an anagram of ‘SUSTAIN OIL’. What city?

    Answer: Saint Louis

    Three

    In The Naming of Cats, they are said to have three names: A family name, a particular name, and another, secret name…

    The name that no human research can discover—
    But — — ——- —–, and will never confess.

    ‘THE MAKESHIFT CLOWNS’ is an anagram of the four words missing from the above quote, what are these words?

    Answer: THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS

    Four

    April is the cruellest month

    The above quote opens a poem by our featured poet. ‘THE NEWT SALAD’ is an anagram of its title. What poem is it?

    Answer: The Waste Land

    Five

    In the room the women come and go
    Talking of Michelangelo.

    This quote is again from the featured poet in this case from The Love Song of – —— ——–. What initial and two names, which form the anagram ‘J PURRED FOR FLACK’ complete the title of this poem?

    Answer: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

    Thomas Stearns Eliot, was born in Saint Louis, Missouri but moved to England at the age of 25 and became a British subject. A leading Modernist poet, essayist and playwright, revitalised English-language poetry. He gained recognition for works like The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and The Waste Land, and was awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize in Literature. His Four Quartets, which consists of four long poems won him the 1948 Nobel Prize for Literature. His book of light-verse, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, is the foundation of the musical Cats, and is where the title of today’s post, The Naming of Cats, is found.

  • The Naming of cats

    Today’s questions relate to a poet born this day who wrote the poem The Naming of Cats. As the naming of cats can be quite confusing, there are anagrams to be solved in each of these questions.

    Domestic cat. Image Wikipedia

    One

    The name of an American-English poet, born on 26 September 1888, is an anagram of the word ‘TOILETS’. This poet wrote The Naming of Cats. Who is this poet?

    Two

    The American-English poet referred to in question one was born in a city which is an anagram of ‘SUSTAIN OIL’. What city?

    Three

    In The Naming of Cats, they are said to have three names: A family name, a particular name, and another, secret name…

    The name that no human research can discover—
    But — — ——- —–, and will never confess.

    ‘THE MAKESHIFT CLOWNS’ is an anagram of the four words missing from the above quote, what are these words?

    Four

    April is the cruellest month

    The above quote opens a poem by our featured poet. ‘THE NEWT SALAD’ is an anagram of its title. What poem is it?

    Five

    In the room the women come and go
    Talking of Michelangelo.

    This quote is again from the featured poet in this case from The Love Song of – —— ——–. What initial and two names, which form the anagram ‘J PURRED FOR FLACK’ complete the title of this poem?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Entertaining History—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas and daughter, Carys in 2023.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both actors, share the same birthday on 25 September. How many years apart are their birth years, and where were they born?

    Answer: 25 years; New Jersey, US and Wales, UK

    Douglas was born in 1944, in the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, US. The birth of Catherine Zeta-Jones was in 1969 in Swansea, a city in Wales, UK

    Two

    Tostig Godwinson died in England on 25 September in a battle against his brother. His victorious brother would die less than three weeks later in another battle over 250 miles away. Who was the victorious brother, and in what battle did he die?

    Answer: King Harold II of England aka Harold Godwinson and Battle of Hastings

    On 25 September 1066, Tostig Godwinson, allied with the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada, faced his brother Harold II, the king of England, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Both Tostig and Harald died in the battle. The victorious Harold was then compelled to march his armies to the English Channel coast to confront the Norman invasion led by William, Duke of Normandy. At the Battle of Hastings, Harold was killed and his armies defeated, and the Duke of Normandy became William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England, known as William I.

    The first page of Publick Occurrences.
    Internet Archive under public domain
    Image Smithsonian Magazine

    Three

    Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, a multi-page newspaper, first published on 25 September 1690, was the first publication of its kind in the British American colonies. Is this true or false?

    Answer: True

    It is true. It was short lived though as the following quote explains.

    His newspaper, Publick Occurrences, Both Foreign and Domestick (Sept. 25, 1690), the first newspaper printed in the colonies, was suppressed by Boston authorities after one issue.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Four

    On 25 September 1962, Sonny Liston became the world heavyweight boxing champion with a first-round knockout to win the title. Who did he defeat?

    Answer: Floyd Paterson

    Floyd Patterson became the youngest heavyweight champion in 1956, defeating Archie Moore. He lost the title to Ingemar Johansson in 1959 but regained it in 1960, holding it until 1962 when he was defeated by Sonny Liston.

    Vasco Nuñez de Balboa.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On 25 September 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. What was that body of water known as to Balboa and his contemporaries at that time?

    Answer: Pacific Ocean

    The Pacific Ocean was originally called the South Sea by Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa in 1513, due to its location along the southern shore of the Isthmus of Panama. Later, in 1520, Ferdinand Magellan renamed it the Pacific, being a ‘peaceful sea’, after his journey through the stormy waters surrounding Cape Horn to reach it.

  • Entertaining History

    Here are five questions all related to today, September 25th.

    Catherine Zeta-Jones with her husband Michael Douglas in 2012.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both actors, share the same birthday on 25 September. How many years apart are their birth years, and where were they born?

    Two

    Tostig Godwinson died in England on 25 September in a battle against his brother. His victorious brother would die less than three weeks later in another battle over 250 miles away. Who was the victorious brother, and in what battle did he die?

    Three

    Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, a multi-page newspaper, first published on 25 September 1690, was the first publication of its kind in the British American colonies. Is this true or false?

    Four

    On 25 September 1962, Sonny Liston became the world heavyweight boxing champion with a first-round knockout to win the title. Who did he defeat?

    Five

    On 25 September 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. What was that body of water known as to Balboa and his contemporaries at that time?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.