Born in Florida, USA, on this day in 1941, with a film debut in The Happening (1967), one of the stars of Bonnie and Clyde (also 1967), is whom?
Two
In 1939, Queen Maud Land was claimed and named. Which country made this claim on this 1.0-million-square-mile area of Antarctica?
Three
In 1970, The Supremes performed their final concert with whom?
Four
In 2005, which organisation developed the probe that became the first spacecraft to land on a celestial body beyond Mars, and on which moon of Saturn did it touch down?
Five
In 2024, Queen Margrethe II abdicated after 52 years on the throne. Her eldest son, the Crown Prince, succeeded her as king. Who was the new king, and in which country did this happen?
Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.
The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges — aka Gateway Bridges — crossing the Brisbane River, 2011. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
The pictured ‘Gateway Bridges’ at Brisbane in Queensland, Australia cross what 214 mile (344 km) long river?
Answer: Brisbane River
The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, formerly known as the Gateway Bridge, are twin road bridges over the Brisbane River. The original bridge opened in 1986, and the duplicate bridge opened in 2010, carrying twelve lanes of traffic, six in each direction. The western bridge carries northbound traffic while the eastern bridge carries traffic to heading to the south. A toll is imposed on both bridges until 2051.
Two
In 1787, William Herschel discovered two Moons which were later named Titania and Oberon.These moons are satellites of which planet?
Answer: Uranus
Titania and Oberon, both discovered by William Herschel in 1787, are moons of Uranus. They were later named respectively after the Queen and King of the Fairies in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania is the largest moon of Uranus and the eighth largest in the Solar System. It’s composed of ice and rock with a rocky core, icy mantle and possibly a liquid water layer at the core-mantle boundary. Its surface, shaped by impacts and internal processes, features canyons and scarps and may have a tenuous carbon dioxide atmosphere. Oberon is the outermost and second-largest moon of Uranus. Like Titania, it’s composed of ice and rock with a dark cratered surface. Voyager 2 provided the only close-up images of Oberon in 1986 mapping 40% of its surface.
Three
The Throgs Neck Bridge, which opened in 1961, crosses the East River and links two New York City boroughs. Which two?
Answer: The Bronx and Queens
The Throgs (or Throggs) Neck Bridge, a suspension bridge in New York City, connects the Bronx and Queens boroughs. Opened in 1961, it carries six lanes of Interstate 295 over the East River. The bridge, designed by Othmar Ammann, features a centre span of 1,800 feet and is supported by two main cables.
Four
In 1935, a renowned aviator achieved the first successful flight from Hawaii to California. Who was this aviator?
Answer: Amelia Earhart
On 11 January 1935, Amelia Earhart became the first solo aviator to fly from Honolulu to Oakland in a Lockheed 5C Vega. This feat followed unsuccessful attempts by other aviators including an air race which resulted in three deaths. Earhart’s flight was routine with no mechanical issues.
Five
In 1972, this country’s name was changed. It’s now the eighth most populous nation globally and shares a border with the Siliguri Corridor. Which country?
Answer: Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, is a densely populated country in South Asia. It gained independence from Pakistan in 1971 after a war for independence. Despite challenges like corruption and climate change, Bangladesh is a middle power with a growing economy and the fourth-largest Muslim population in the world. India’s Siliguri Corridor is a vital land connection between India’s mainland and its northeastern states, crucial for logistics and military movements.
The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges — aka Gateway Bridges, 2011. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
The pictured ‘Gateway Bridges’ at Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, cross what 214-mile (344-km) long river?
Two
In 1787, William Herschel discovered two moons which were later named Titania and Oberon. These moons are satellites of which planet?
Three
The Throgs Neck Bridge, which opened in 1961, crosses the East River and links two New York City boroughs. Which two?
Four
In 1935, a renowned aviator achieved the first successful flight from Hawaii to California. Who was this aviator?
Five
In 1972, this country’s name was changed. It’s now the eighth most populous nation globally and shares a border with the Siliguri Corridor. Which country?
The first ‘official’ commercial transatlantic telephone service was established on this date. In what decade, and between what two cities, was the connection made?
Answer: 1920s; New York City, United States and London, United Kingdom
On January 6 and 7, 1927, the first transatlantic telephone conversations took place between the United States and London. The initial test call, a casual conversation about the weather and travel distances, was followed by a formal ‘official’ inauguration call between AT&T President W.S. Gifford and Sir Evelyn P. Murray, head of the British General Post Office. This historic achievement marked the beginning of a new era of global communication. The previous day, the across-the-ocean ‘test’ conversation was also recorded for the purposes of history — ‘How’s the weather over in London?’. These calls travelled over 3,000 miles, via wire from New York City to a radio transmitter at Rocky Point, Long Island, New York, and then via radio waves—to a radio receiving station at Rugby, England, and finally via wire from there to London. The return conversation went from London via wire to Cupar, Scotland, from there via radio waves to a receiving station at Houlton, Maine, and finally via wire back to New York City. — Sourced from Library of Congress
Two
The first observation of the Galilean moons was made with two being visible. Who made this first observation and in what century was it made?
Answer: Galileo Galilei; 17th century
The Galilean moons, discovered by Galileo in 1610, are the four largest moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa. They are planetary-mass moons, larger than any dwarf planet, and Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System. Their discovery challenged the geocentric Ptolemaic world system and demonstrated the importance of the telescope.
Three
In 1985, which country’s space agency launched the Sakigake spacecraft, the first deep space probe launched by a nation other than the United States or the Soviet Union?
Answer: Japan
Sakigake, a practice mission for Japan’s Suisei, flew by Comet Halley, providing data on the comet and Earth’s magnetic tail.
Four
What first three-letter distress signal was established in 1904, only to be replaced two years later by SOS?
Answer: CQD
CQD, one of the first radio distress signals, was adopted by the Marconi International Marine Communication Company on 7 January 1904. SOS, agreed upon by the International Radio Telegraphic Convention in 1906, was merely a distinctive Morse code sequence of three dots, three dashes and three dots with no spaces between the letters. Although not an abbreviation, SOS is often associated with phrases like ‘save our souls’ or ‘save our ship’.
Five
In 1954, the Georgetown-IBM experiment at the head office of IBM in New York City was the first public demonstration of a computer doing which of these?
Performing arithmetic and complex mathematical calculations
Scanning text and graphics
Translating from one input language to another output language
Answer: 3. Translating from one input language to another output language
The Georgetown–IBM experiment, a 1954 demonstration of machine translation, showcased the automatic translation of over sixty Russian sentences into English. Developed by Georgetown University and IBM, the experiment utilised a limited vocabulary and grammar rules, focusing on specific domains like politics and science. While the demonstration received widespread attention and encouraged government investment, progress in machine translation was slower than anticipated.
The first ‘official’ commercial transatlantic telephone service was established on this date. In what decade, and between what two cities, was the connection made?
Two
The first observation of the Galilean moons was made with two being visible. Who made this first observation and in what century was it made?
Three
In 1985, which country’s space agency launched the Sakigake spacecraft, the first deep space probe launched by a nation other than the United States or the Soviet Union?
Four
What first three-letter distress signal was established in 1904, only to be replaced two years later by SOS?
Five
In 1954, the Georgetown-IBM experiment at the head office of IBM in New York City was the first public demonstration of a computer doing which of these?
Performing arithmetic and complex mathematical calculations
Scanning text and graphics
Translating from one input language to another output language
In 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of a country which began as a project of the American Colonization Society. What country?
Answer: Liberia
Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, was established for formerly enslaved people from the United States. It gained independence in 1847 and experienced relative stability until a civil war in the 1990s.
Two
Who, in 1987, was the first woman to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Answer: Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was a highly acclaimed American singer known for her powerful voice and hits like Respect and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Three
A spacecraft named for a goddess who, according to legend, flew from Earth to the Moon was the first to land on the far side of the Moon. What name do the goddess and spacecraft share, and in what decade did this first landing take place?
Answer: Chang’e; 2010s
Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month during the Mid-Autumn Festival. She is often depicted floating towards the moon, holding a moon disk, or with the Hare preparing the elixir of immortality. The spacecraft Chang’e 4, carrying the Yutu-2 rover, landed on the Moon’s far side on 3 January 2019, becoming the first spacecraft to do so. It communicated with Earth via the Queqiao relay satellite.
Four
In 1749, the first issue of Berlingske was published. It is now the oldest continually operating newspaper in what country?
Answer: Denmark
Berlingske, Denmark’s oldest continually operating newspaper, was founded in 1749 and is considered a newspaper of record. Originally titled Kjøbenhavnske Danske Post-Tidender, it has a conservative stance and is known for its traditionalism. The newspaper, now published in tabloid format, has won numerous awards, including the World Press Photo Award three times.
Five
In what decade was the first electric watch introduced to the retail market?
Answer: 1950s
The Hamilton Watch Company produced the first electric watch to be retailed in 1957, using a balance wheel or tuning fork driven by a battery. Quartz watches later surpassed them in accuracy and durability.
Today’s questions focus on ‘firsts’ that occurred on January 3rd.
Image Wikimedia Commons
One
In 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of a country which began as a project of the American Colonization Society. What country?
Two
Who, in 1987, was the first woman to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Three
A spacecraft named for a goddess who, according to legend, flew from Earth to the Moon was the first to land on the far side of the Moon. What name do the goddess and spacecraft share, and in what decade did this first landing take place?
Four
In 1749, the first issue of Berlingske was published. It is now the oldest continually operating newspaper in what country?
Five
In what decade was the first electric watch introduced to the retail market?
True or false: The above 2003 headline from The Herald in Glasgow, Scotland, referenced opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa’s arrival in the city with several shotguns.
Answer: True
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the renowned soprano, caused a stir at a Glasgow hotel when she requested a gun store, leading to a police presence. The hotel, lacking a gunroom, followed protocol and contacted the police, who stored the firearms overnight. The incident occurred shortly after Glasgow was labelled the murder capital of Britain and was reported in The Herald newspaper on 5 December 2003.
Two
True or false: On 18 June 1983, US astronaut Sally Ride became the first woman to travel in space.
Answer: False
On 16 June 1963, Cosmonaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova became the first woman to travel in space when she flew a solo mission in Vostok 6. Svetlana Savitskaya, aboard Soyuz T-7, became the second woman to travel in space in 1982, and Sally Ride became the third woman, and first American woman, to travel in space.
Three
True or false: According to the United States Geological Survey, about 90% of the world’s earthquakes, including most of its largest, occur within the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Answer: True
The Ring of Fire is a 25,000-mile (40,000 km) long tectonic belt surrounding the Pacific Ocean, characterised by frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. It is formed by the subduction of various tectonic plates, creating oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and back-arc basins. The Ring of Fire contains the majority of the world’s active volcanoes and earthquakes.
Four
Those kids were fast as lightning In fact, it was a little bit frightening
True or false: The above lyric from a 1974 song was a number one hit in multiple nations.
Answer: True
Kung Fu Fighting is a disco song by Carl Douglas, released in 1974. It topped charts worldwide, sold eleven million copies, and popularised disco music. The song was covered (using different lyrics) by CeeLo Green and Jack Black in the first film of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and later by The Vamps for the third film.
Five
True or false: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1878.
Answer: False
Fleming did discover penicillin, but not in 1878, and, in fact, he was not born until 1881. On 3 September 1928, Fleming noticed a fungus contaminating a staphylococci culture, destroying the bacteria around it. He identified the fungus as Penicillium, later confirmed as P. rubens.
True or false: The above 2003 headline from The Herald in Glasgow, Scotland, referenced opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa’s arrival in the city with several shotguns.
Two
True or false: On 18 June 1983, US astronaut Sally Ride became the first woman to travel in space.
Three
True or false: According to the United States Geological Survey, about 90% of the world’s earthquakes, including most of its largest, occur within the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Four
Those kids were fast as lightning In fact, it was a little bit frightening
True or false: The above lyric from a 1974 song was a number one hit in multiple nations.
Five
True or false: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1878.
See question 5. Artist pression of ESA’s Gaia satellite observing the Milky Way, with a background image of the sky compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars. Image ESA via Wikipedia
One
… was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.
Published for the first time on this date in 1843, what begins with the quote above and whose surname is missing from the start?
Answer: A Christmas Carol; Marley
A Christmas Carol, a novella by Charles Dickens, recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation after visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella, published in 1843, was inspired by Dickens’s experiences and the Victorian revival of Christmas traditions. It has never been out of print and has been widely adapted.
Two
Born on this day in 1906, what Soviet leader, along with US President Jimmy Carter, signed the unsuccessful SALT II treaty in Vienna in 1979?
Answer: Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev, a Soviet statesman, led the Soviet Union for 18 years. He prioritised foreign and military affairs, implementing the Brezhnev Doctrine to justify Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia and expanding the Soviet military-industrial complex. While achieving parity with the US in nuclear weapons and space programmes, Brezhnev’s focus on defence led to economic decline, impacting agriculture, consumer goods and healthcare.
Three
A singer born in Paris, France, on 19 December 1915, came to be known as ‘little sparrow’. Who was she?
Answer: Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf, a French singer and actress, gained international fame for her interpretation of the chanson. Her life, marked by tragedy and hardship, deeply influenced her music, which often reflected themes of loss and love. Despite her struggles with health and addiction, Piaf’s powerful voice and dramatic style captivated audiences, leaving a lasting legacy.
Four
On this day in 1606, Christopher Newport, in command of the Discovery, the Godspeed, and the Susan Constant, sailed from London, England. The following April, they entered a bay—the largest estuary in the United States—and went on to set up the first permanent English settlement in North America. What was the name of the bay and the colony?
Answer: Chesapeake Bay; Jamestown
Newport, a member of the colony’s governing body, led a total five voyages between Virginia and England, bringing supplies and settlers to the Jamestown colony between 1606 and 1611.
Five
In 2013, the European Space Agency launched a spacecraft that could be described as a space telescope or astronomical observatory. Named after the personification of Earth in Greek mythology, what was its name?
Answer: Gaia
Gaia, the Greek personification of Earth, is the mother of Uranus, Pontus, the Titans, Cyclopes and Giants.
From 27 July 2014 to 15 January 2025, Gaia has made more than three trillion observations of two billion stars and other objects throughout our Milky Way galaxy and beyond, mapping their motions, luminosity, temperature and composition. Gaia’s extraordinarily precise three-dimensional map will provide the data needed to tackle an enormous range of important questions related to the origin, structure and evolutionary history of our galaxy.
