1. The Astronomical Unit (AU) is a unit of measurement based on the average distance between what two bodies?

Answer The Earth and the Sun

When you start dealing with vast distances across space, it’s often easier to view time and space as one interconnected unit, which is where we
get the concept of a lightyear.

2. What general name is also given to natural satellites?

Answer Moon
The Earth’s moon is relatively unique because of its large size in comparison to the planet it orbits (Earth). It is also unique in that it always
shows its same side to us.

3. Humans and chimpanzees share roughly how much DNA?

Answer 0.98
Interestingly enough, humans also share 60% of their DNA with a banana, and over 90% of their DNA with a housecat, so sometimes the genetic
similarities can be misleading. [/learn_more]

4. What is the heaviest organ in the human body?

Answer Liver
The liver may be the heaviest organ in the human body, but it’s not the largest. That honor goes instead to our skin, which covers more surface
area than any other organ.

5. What is known as the “master gland” of the human body?

Answer Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland is responsible for hormone production in the human body. These hormones are important for blood pressure and many other
functions.

6. How much taller is the Eiffel Tower during the summer?

Answer 15 cm
If you’re wondering why the Eiffel Tower gets taller during summer, the answer is quite simple: metal expands when heated. This is why it’s
easier to open a jar when you run hot water over the lid first.

7. What is the only planet that spins clockwise?

Answer Venus
Venus is also the closest planet to Earth, and many have proposed that it might be a good candidate for a future space colony. However, the
planet is incredibly inhospitable and has tremendous amounts of atmospheric pressure.

8. The Horsehead Nebula can be found in what constellation?

Answer Orion
Some researchers believe that the pyramids of Giza are actually aligned with the stars that make up Orion’s belt.

9. The world’s fastest-growing plant is a species of what?

Answer Bamboo
Bamboo grows so quickly that in some cases, it has been known to grow over one foot in just 24 hours.

10. How often does Halley’s Comet appear in the sky?

Answer Every 75-76 years
Comets may be beautiful, but they also pose a threat to our planet. During the Tunguska event of 1908, a meteoroid impacted the Earth with as
much as 30 megatons of explosive force.

11. What melted rock eventually becomes lava?

Answer Magma
Lava comes from volcanoes, and these explosive mountains have erupted throughout human history – even destroying the entire city of Pompeii
during the ancient times.
12. On what continent would you not find bees?
Answer Antarctica
Interestingly enough, bees are considered “vegetarian” wasps because they have evolved to feed from plants alone. [/learn_more]

13. How many planets in our solar system have moons?

Answer 6
Many of the moons throughout our solar system may be potential spots for future space colonies, especially the water-rich moon of Titan.

14. In science, how long is an eon?

Answer 1 billion years
The Earth is approximately 4.54 billion years old, or 4.54 eons old. Interestingly, the first signs of life appear not long after the Earth was formed.

15. In what year did the Apollo 7 human spaceflight take place?
Answer 1968
The Apollo 7 mission may have been a success, but the Apollo 13 mission was not. In fact, the astronauts aboard very nearly never made it back
to Earth.

16. Big bang machine is also known as?

Answer Large Hadron
The Large Hadron collider is one of the most interesting developments in the modern scientific world, mostly because it allows researchers to find
the so-called “God particle.

17. When the moon appears to block the sun, as seen from Earth, what is the event called?
Answer Solar eclipse
The fact that the moon is exactly large enough to completely block out the sun from our point of view is one of science’s biggest mysteries.

18. The brain is divided into how many lobes?

Answer 4
The frontal lobe is dedicated to problem solving, emotional expression, language, and sexual behavior. The occipital lobe is primarily dedicated
to vision.

19. What is the name for trees that never lose their leaves?
Answer Evergreen
18. Evergreen trees are actually much older than their deciduous counterparts on the evolutionary timeline. In fact, some mammals evolved
before flowering plants.

20. How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?
Answer 8 minutes and 20 seconds
There have been many theories when it comes to faster-than-light space travel, although most scientists believe that it is physically impossible.

21. What is the end cause of every human death?

Answer Cerebral hypoxia
Cerebral hypoxia is the lack of oxygen to the brain. When people die, their brains essentially starve, and that may be the cause of near-death-
experiences and hallucinations.

22. What is the only rock that floats?

Answer Pumice
Pumice is actually created from lava, and it forms from the froth at the top of the laval flow that then cools very rapidly.
23. The oldest living tree is 4,843 years old and can be found where?
Answer California
Also known as Methuselah, this bristle-cone pine has been around since before the first building blocks were laid on the foundation of Ancient
Rome.

24. Who first proposed the concept of contact lenses?

Answer Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was a truly innovative mind. He also created the concept of the first flying machine, various siege engines, and much more.

25. How many constellations are in the night sky?

Answer 88
Due to increased satellites in the Earth’s orbit, stars are becoming more and more difficult to see because of light pollution.

26. How many electrons does a hydrogen atom have?

Answer 1
Hydrogen was of course used to create the first thermonuclear explosives, which are considered an improvement on the first-generation nuclear
weapons.

27. What is the name of the world’s largest reef?

Answer Great Barrier Reef
One of the coolest things about the Great Barrier Reef is the fact that it’s actually alive. That being said, human impact is threatening to destroy
this natural wonder.

28. What metal is the best conductor of electricity?

Answer Silver
Silver may be used extensively for jewelry, but it also has very important uses for things like circuitry. Gold is also quite useful, especially in terms
of space travel.

30. What is the scientific name for the job or role an organism plays in its habitat?
Answer Niche
While the word “niche” has a very specific meaning in terms of biology, it can also mean the purpose or target market of a particular business.

31. Which large mammal’s tail is so strong it can stand on it and lift its hind legs off the ground?
Answer The kangaroo
The kangaroo may be a mammal, but it’s also part of the marsupial family. This means that it gives birth to immature young that then spend a
period of time developing further in a marsupial pouch.

32. What is the scientific name for the trunk of an elephant?

Answer Proboscis
The word “proboscis” also means “nose,” which means you have a proboscis too – just like an elephant. However, elephant probosci are unique
for very obvious reasons.

33. What are the male honey bees called that are the only members of the colony allowed to mate with the queen?
Answer Drones
Drones might seem like they have a nice life, as they don’t really have to do any work. However, every so often all of the drones get kicked out of
the hive, never to return.

34. What animal is the closest living relative to the T-Rex

Answer Chicken
Birds in general are actually quite closely related to the extinct dinosaurs. In fact, some researchers believe that dinosaurs were actually
feathered creatures for the most part.
35. A xenomorph took on a shaved-head Ripley in this sci-fi horror?
Alien 3
Many people believe Alien 3 to be one of the weakest films of the Alien franchise, but others feel that it is somewhat misunderstood and
underrated.

36. How long did it take the evil aliens to defeat the combined armies of the human race in the 2000 sci-fi film “Battlefield Earth”?
Answer 9 minutes
Battlefield Earth has earned a reputation as one of the worst films ever made, although it did show John Travolta in a very non-standard role as
an alien villain.

37. Actress Scarlett Johansson starred in this 2017 film based on what popular Japanese comic?
Answer Ghost in the Shell
The original Ghost in the Shell anime film explored concepts connected to the merging of humanity with machines, to the point where the only
thing that remains is the brain or perhaps just the consciousness.

38. ‘Star Trek’ marked the film debut of this actor, a future Marvel superhero.
Answer Chris Hemsworth
Prior to his short cameo in Star Trek, Hemsworth was mostly known within Australia for his roles in various soap operas. Of course, he would go
on to star in a range of other films after this debut.

39. In 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in what US state killing 57 people?
Answer Washington state
Mount St. Helens is still an active volcano today, and it’s actually considered one of the most dangerous in the United States.

40. What power plant near Kiev, Ukraine, released radioactive fallout across much of Europe and renders thousands of acres of land near the
accident site uninhabitable for thousands of years?
Answer Chernobyl nuclear power plant
The official cause of the Chernobyl disaster has been stated as a flawed reactor design. Combined with inadequately trained staff, the power
plant was always a dangerous prospect.

41. In 1986 an American space shuttle disintegrated after launch, killing all aboard, what was the name of the shuttle?
Answer Space Shuttle Challenger
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was caused by the explosion of an external fuel tank. It was even more tragic than usual because the
shuttle contained the first woman in space, Sally Ride.

42. Scientists first identified the AIDS virus in 1981, what does AIDS stand for?
Answer Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Since its discovery in the 80s, AIDS/HIV has claimed many lives. However, much progress has been made during recent years, and today those
diagnosed with AIDS can live long and normal lives with the right medications.

43. Who invented the Morse code?

Answer Samuel Finley Breese Morse and Alfred Vail
It’s easy to look back on Morse code today and think of it as a primitive form of communication.

44. What islands were extensively studied by Charles Darwin?

Answer Galapagos Islands
The thing that really formed the basis of Darwin’s theory of evolution was the various sub-species of finches, which all developed different traits
after being isolated on different islands.

45. Which dwarf planet was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh while working at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff in 1930?
Answer Pluto
Today, there is still quite a bit of debate as to whether or not Pluto is actually a legitimate planet. That being said, the general consensus is that
Pluto is not actually a planet
46. Which civilization is regarded as the first to have a functional theory of the planets?
Answer Babylonian
The ancient Sumerians had an incredible understanding of the planets, and we can see by their carvings that they understood, in basic terms,
how the planets behaved in the night sky.

47. What type of doctor is Stephen Strange?

Answer Neurosurgeon
Stephen Strange was a talented neurosurgeon – at least until he injured his hands in a terrible car accident. This caused him to travel the world
in search for ways to heal himself.

48. What is the alien race Loki sends to invade Earth in The Avengers?
Answer The Chitauri
In case you weren’t aware, Loki and all of the other Asgardians are based on real mythological figures from Norse legends.

49. Thor’s method of travel can be supported by a real theory called?

Answer The Einstein Rosen Bridge
The Einstein Rosen Bridge is also known by its more common name, the wormhole. If a wormhole could be controlled, perhaps people could
achieve faster than light travel.

50. The echo base is hidden in Hoth, a frozen world. What types of precipitation will likely fall on Hoth?
Answer Snow
The rebel base on Hoth was attacked by a viscous detachment of Imperial ground forces, including massive Imperial walkers.

51. Tatoonie copies carry heavy cargo and are adapted to the desert. What Earth animal would be similar?
Answer Camel
The camel is famous for its three humps and its ability to survive for long periods of time without drinking any water.

52. Han and Lando can breathe outside Cloud City. What element must be in that atmosphere?
Answer Oxygen
Lando and Han go way back. In fact, Lando once owned the Millennium Falcon before he lost it to Han as part of a bet.

53. True or false? Lower tension on a tennis racquet produces more control and less power.
Answer False
Most racket manufacturers recommend that you use 50 to 70 pounds of tension when adjusting your racket, but it totally depends on your
personal preference as a player.

54. What was the fastest recorded tennis serve?

Answer 155 mph (250 kph)
Sometimes, a fast serve can win entire tennis matches. However, most of the time it’s a combination of serving technique and other skills that
win players matches.