competitions & quizzes...pit your wits & win with Planet Science
april-not-such-a-fool quiz!
Yes folks, it's amazing just how much of science and invention is about recognising when you've hit upon a happy accident. So make sure when you blunder, you aren't downhearted 'cos your failure could have a silver lining and you could make a fortune, or even enter the science history books!
Three lucky winners will get a combo pack of lots of things mentioned in the quiz - useful, and delicious…
Try not to get these wrong then!
Click here to see the answers
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01
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Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven after discovering his chocolate bar had melted in a microwave beam. What was the first food he decided to cook? |
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| Roast Chicken |
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| Popcorn |
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| Ice cream |
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02
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Sticky subjects… Super glue TM was invented by Harry Coover when he was actually trying to make a clear plastic. Which of these is a less well know use for the super sticky stuff? |
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| Sealing cuts and wounds to stop bleeding |
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| Lubricating aeroplane engines |
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| Decorating cakes |
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03
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And… What did Art Fry invent in 1980, from Dr Spencer Silver’s unsuccessful glue experiment? |
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| Toffee |
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| Post-it notes |
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| Chewing gum |
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04
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And at the other extreme… Roy Plunkett was trying to make a refrigerant when he accidentally discovered what very non-sticky stuff? |
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| Teflon | ||
| Neon | ||
| Mastadon | ||
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05
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Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin after spotting that his dish of bacteria had been killed by... what? |
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| Bleach | ||
| Water | ||
| Mould | ||
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06
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Thomas Edison once said, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99%..." what? |
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| Acceleration |
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| Frustration |
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| Perspiration |
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07
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Which of these events could NOT start a fire, possibly inspiring our ancestors to do a spot of cooking? |
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| A lightning strike |
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| A volcanic eruption |
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| A blizzard |
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08
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Which of these planets was NOT discovered by accident, but by very careful calculation? |
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| Earth | ||
| Venus | ||
| Neptune | ||
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09
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Gamma Ray Bursts were thought to be Russian nuclear testing when they were discovered in the 1960’s by American spy satellites. What do scientists now think they are? |
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| People using mobile phones |
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| The formation of a black hole from an exploding star |
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| Aeroplanes flying overhead | ||
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10
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The discovery of radio waves from every direction in the sky lead Penzias and Wilson to confirm what theory? |
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| Big Bang |
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| Medium Hiccup |
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| Small Pop |
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Answers:
1: two • 2: two • 3: two • 4: one • 5: three • 6: three • 7: three • 8: three • 9: two • 10: one
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