[ { "id": 1, "publishDate": "2024-10-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "An early logo for which Fortune 500 company prominently featured Isaac Newton?", "solution": "Apple", "alternateSolutions": "Apple Inc|Apple Computer Inc|Apple Inc.|Apple Computer Inc.", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "An early product from this company shares its name with a character in The Simpsons |It was founded in 1976 in Los Altos, California, and is now headquartered in Cupertino in Silicon Valley|It is the world's largest company by market capitalisation|Best-selling products include the iPhone and iPad" }, { "id": 2, "publishDate": "2024-10-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which leading 20th-century figure in the UK worked as a chemist on the development of technology for injecting air into ice cream?", "solution": "Margaret Thatcher", "alternateSolutions": "Margaret Thatcher|Maggie Thatcher|Margret Thacher|Maragaret Thacther|Margeret Thatchar|Margret Thatcher|Margeret Thatcher|Margrett Thatcher|Margareth Thacher|Margarate Thacther|Marget Thatcher|Maragret Thatcher|Margarte Thacher|Margerat Thacher|Margarett Thatcher|Thatcher", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "Her speaking voice was developed with the help of Laurence Olivier's voice coach at the National Theatre|A first unsuccessful attempt to win election to parliament came in 1950 at just 24 |Elected as party leader in 1975, her nicknames included 'Milk Snatcher' and The Iron Lady|In 1979 she became the UK’s first woman prime minister" }, { "id": 3, "publishDate": "2024-11-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The artist Pablo Picasso was accused in 1911 of stealing which painting?", "solution": "Mona Lisa", "alternateSolutions": "Mouna Lysa|Monna Lissa|Moana Leesa|Mona Liza|Muna Lisa|Moana Lisa|Mona Leesa|Monal Lysa|Mouna Lissa|Monna Lisa|Monna Leesa|Mona Lysa|Moana Liza", "topic": "ART", "hints": "For many years it was part of the French royal collection, and during Napoleon's rule it hung in his bedroom|It gave its name to a song that was a hit for Nat King Cole in 1950|It is now one of the main attractions in the Louvre Museum in Paris|Painted by Leonardo da Vinci, it depicts a woman with a famously enigmatic smile " }, { "id": 4, "publishDate": "2024-11-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the largest organ in the human body?", "solution": "Skin", "alternateSolutions": "Integumentary system|Dermis|Epidermis|Skinn|Skyn|Skim|Skinnn|Sskin|Scin", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It gives its name to a popular type of extra purchase in many video games|Its plural form was the name of a UK TV comedy drama series about teenage life|Its appearance is affected by melanin|It covers almost the whole body, and nearly all of it is covered with hair follicles.\n" }, { "id": 5, "publishDate": "2024-11-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which British artist created Dismaland, a \"family theme park unsuitable for children\"?", "solution": "Banksy", "alternateSolutions": "Banksee", "topic": "ART", "hints": "In 2004, he printed a set of £10 notes featuring Princess Diana in place of Queen Elizabeth|His documentary film Exit Through the Gift Shop premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival|His best-known works are stencil murals such as Girl with Balloon and Kissing Coppers|He goes by a one-word nickname, his real identity being a closely guarded secret " }, { "id": 6, "publishDate": "2024-11-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the fastest land mammal in the UK, reaching speeds of up to 80 kmph?", "solution": "Hare", "alternateSolutions": "Haer|Harr|Haire|Harre|Here|Haire|Hairee|Haree|Hary|Hear|Hairey|Heir|Harr|Brown Hare|European Hare|The hare", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It makes its nest in a depression called a form|It is traditionally associated with witchcraft|These animals can be seen appearing to box with each other in spring|Its springtime behaviour has led to the expression: “Mad as a March _____”" }, { "id": 7, "publishDate": "2024-11-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which company is the largest distributor of toys globally?", "solution": "McDonalds", "alternateSolutions": "Macdonalds|MacDonalds|McDonald's|Macky D's", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It has about one and a half times more outlets in the US than there are hospitals|It was said in 1996 that no two countries with one of its outlets had gone to war against each other|It is the world's largest fast food chain, serving 69 million customers a day|Its outlets are recognisable by their twin golden arches" }, { "id": 8, "publishDate": "2024-11-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which cultural icon, at age 17, founded the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men?", "solution": "David Bowie", "alternateSolutions": "David Bowe|Davyd Bowie|Davey Bowie|David Bowey|Davide Bowie|David Bawie|David Boie|Bowie|David Robert Jones|David Jones", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "He was born in Brixton, South London, in 1947 and grew up in the suburb of Bromley|He released 11 No 1 albums and was famous for reinventing himself|He starred in a number of films, playing an alien in The Man Who Fell to Earth|Hits included Space Oddity, Life on Mars, Heroes and Let's Dance" }, { "id": 9, "publishDate": "2024-11-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which company shared its name with a 19th-century word for an excrescence on a horse’s hoof?", "solution": "Twitter", "alternateSolutions": "Twiter", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "The first message sent on it was sold in the form of an NFT for £2.1 million in 2021|The network was first to feature hashtags, in 2007 |Its original limit of 140 characters was increased to 280 in 2017|It was taken over by Elon Musk in 2022 and subsequently renamed X" }, { "id": 10, "publishDate": "2024-11-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which British author was born in British-ruled India, where his father was a civil servant in the opium department?", "solution": "George Orwell", "alternateSolutions": "Orwell|Geroge Orwel|Eric Arthur Blair|Eric Blair", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "He was literary editor for the left-wing weekly Tribune|He fought on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s|His real name was Eric Blair|His best known works are Animal Farm and 1984." }, { "id": 11, "publishDate": "2024-11-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which former footballer was nicknamed Le Professeur in their post-playing career?", "solution": "Arsène Wenger", "alternateSolutions": "Arsene Wenger|Arsene Venger|Arsen Wenger|Arsen Venger|Arsène Venger|Arsene Winger|Arsen Winger|Arsenne Wenger|Wenger", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Before coming to the UK he managed Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight|He was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1949|In 1998, he became the first foreign manager to win a Premier League and FA Cup double|He managed Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, the club's longest serving manager" }, { "id": 12, "publishDate": "2024-11-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was the first woman other than ruling monarchs to appear on a UK banknote?", "solution": "Florence Nightingale", "alternateSolutions": "Nightingale|Florrence Nightingale", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "An innovator in the use of statistics, her surname is a bird|She was responsible for major advances in nursing after witnessing poor hygiene at field hospitals during the Crimean War|She is remembered by a statue in the Italian city of Florence, where she was born|Her nickname was The Lady with the Lamp " }, { "id": 13, "publishDate": "2024-11-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which metal is used as an antibiotic coating in medical devices?", "solution": "Silver", "alternateSolutions": "Silvver|Sylver|Selver|Silber|Sylber|Sylvar|Silvar|Sliver", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is the most conductive metal on earth|It is given as a present for 25th wedding anniversaries|According to folklore, a bullet made from this is needed to kill a werewolf|It represents 2nd place in Olympic events." }, { "id": 14, "publishDate": "2024-11-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which European capital city constructed a monument to the nuclear age during the 1950s which was originally intended to be temporary?", "solution": "Brussels", "alternateSolutions": "Brussel|Brussells|Brusells|Bruxelles|Brussles|Brusselss|Brusels", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is also home to a statue of a boy urinating |It is officially bilingual but mainly French-speaking|It gave its name to a divisive brassica|It hosts institutions including the European Council and Nato" }, { "id": 15, "publishDate": "2024-11-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which former world leader has half-siblings called Auma and Samson?", "solution": "Barack Obama", "alternateSolutions": "Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Hussein Obama II|Obama|Barrack Obama|Barak Obama", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "He lived in Indonesia as a child|His initials spell the name of his late Portuguese water dog|He was born in Honolulu to an American mother and a Kenyan father|He served as the 44th President of the US from 2009 to 2017" }, { "id": 16, "publishDate": "2024-11-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "\"A flamboyance\" is the collective noun for which type of creature?", "solution": "Flamingo", "alternateSolutions": "Flamengo|Flamingoe|Flamingow|Phlamingo|Flemingo|Flamingu|Flamino|Phoenicopterus|Flamingos|Flamenco|the flamingo", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It can drink near-boiling water|Its flesh was a delicacy in ancient Rome|Its name comes from the Spanish and Portuguese for 'flame-coloured'|Beta-carotene in foods such as shrimps gives the bird its pink colour" }, { "id": 17, "publishDate": "2024-11-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which classic novel, published in 1818, was written as part of a contest among friends?", "solution": "Frankenstein", "alternateSolutions": "Dr Frankenstein|Frankenstein's Monster|Frankenstien|Frankensteen", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "It was one of six science fiction novels by British authors chosen for a 2021 series of UK stamps|Written by Mary Shelley, it was subtitled The Modern Prometheus|Film versions of the story have included a 1931 movie starring Boris Karloff|The title character is a scientist who creates a monster " }, { "id": 18, "publishDate": "2024-11-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which race, when held for the first time, was won by a horse named Lottery? ", "solution": "The Grand National", "alternateSolutions": "Grand National|The Grand National Steeplechase|Aintree Grand National", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It is the most valuable jump race in Europe with a prize fund of over £1m|It is run over 4 miles and 2 1/2 furlongs, jumping fences including Becher's Brook and The Chair|Past winners include Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019 and Red Rum three times in the 1970s|It is held once a year in April at Aintree racecourse in Liverpool" }, { "id": 19, "publishDate": "2024-11-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which landlocked Balkan state uses the Euro despite not being an EU member? ", "solution": "Kosovo", "alternateSolutions": "Kosova|Republic of Kosovo|Kossovo|Cosovo", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its name derives from a term for \"Blackbird Field\", the site of a 1389 battle between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire|Its population is mainly ethnic Albanian and overwhelmingly Muslim|Its independence, declared in 2008, is recognised by around half of the UN's member states |Singers Rita Ora and Dua Lipa and footballer Xherdan Shaqiri are members of its diaspora" }, { "id": 20, "publishDate": "2024-11-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What 20th century structure was officially called the \"anti-fascist protection rampart\"?", "solution": "The Berlin Wall", "alternateSolutions": "Berlin Wall|Berliner Mauer", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It stretched to 155 km long and over 3 m high |It was built in 1961 and lasted for 28 years|An estimated 100-200 people were killed trying to cross it|Its demolition began in November 1989, paving the way for the reunification of Germany " }, { "id": 21, "publishDate": "2024-11-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was named by Guinness World Records in 2015 as the UK's most successful songwriter?", "solution": "Paul McCartney", "alternateSolutions": "Sir Paul McCartney|Sir Paul MacCartney|Paul MacCartney|Paul Macartney|Sir Paul Macartney", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "Hits include one of the world's most covered songs, whose working title before its 1965 release was \"Scrambled Eggs\" |His song Blackbird, inspired by the US civil rights movement, was covered by Beyonce in 2024|Collaborations include Say Say Say with Michael Jackson and Ebony and Ivory with Stevie Wonder|He is co-credited with John Lennon on about 180 Beatles songs" }, { "id": 22, "publishDate": "2024-11-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which popular toy was originally based on a German doll named Bild-Lilli?", "solution": "Barbie", "alternateSolutions": "Barbie doll|Barby|Barbey|Barbi|Barbey|Barbee", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "Creator Ruth Handler said it was important that the doll had an adult appearance|It was the subject of a 1986 Andy Warhol painting that sold for more than £700,000|It is one of the best-selling toys ever, with more than a billion sold in its first 50 years|A Hollywood movie based on the doll was the highest-grossing film of 2023 " }, { "id": 23, "publishDate": "2024-11-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country apart from the Vatican, hosts a Pope?", "solution": "Egypt", "alternateSolutions": "Egipt|Egyt|Eygpt|Eygat|Egypht|Egipte", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "One of its best known landmarks was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 1000 years|It has Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts|Africa's longest river reaches the sea here|Its Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven wonders of the world." }, { "id": 24, "publishDate": "2024-11-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which animal was gifted by Louis IX to Henry III in 1215 and kept in the Tower of London?", "solution": "Elephant", "alternateSolutions": "The elephant|Elefant|Elephent|Elliphant|Elefent|Eliphant|Eliphent", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "They are one of the only mammals which cannot jump|They can communicate using sounds too low for humans to hear|Its males are known as bulls, females as cows, and young as calves|It uses its long trunk to bring food and water to its mouth." }, { "id": 25, "publishDate": "2024-11-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which planet rotates so slowly on its axis that its day is longer than its year?", "solution": "Venus", "alternateSolutions": "Vinus", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is the hottest planet in the solar system |It is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon and can often be seen in daytime too|It is named after the Roman goddess of love|It is the first name of a US tennis player, a former number 1 at singles and doubles" }, { "id": 26, "publishDate": "2024-11-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The four members of which band first performed together during a holiday in Cyprus in 1970, to an audience of UN soldiers?", "solution": "Abba", "alternateSolutions": "Aba|Abbaa", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "They won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974|The bestselling band band from continental Europe, they had eight consecutive UK No 1 albums|The 2008 film Mamma Mia! featured more than 20 of their songs|Their first new album in 40 years, Voyage, was released in 2021 in conjunction with a concert tour featuring avatars of the band" }, { "id": 27, "publishDate": "2024-11-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was the only English monarch to rule part of Belgium?", "solution": "Henry VIII", "alternateSolutions": "Henry the Eighth|Henry Tudor|King Henry VIII|Henry 8th|King Henry 8th|King Henry the Eighth", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He is credited with establishing the Royal Navy|He lost to the king of France in a wrestling match|His disagreement with the Pope led to the English reformation|Of his six wives, he divorced two and had two executed." }, { "id": 28, "publishDate": "2024-11-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which English writer bequeathed his \"second-best bed\" to his wife when he died?", "solution": "William Shakespeare", "alternateSolutions": "Shakespeare|Shakespear|Will Shakespeare|The Bard|The Bard of Avon|Shakespear|Shakespere|Shakespearre|Shakspeare|Shakespere|Shakespier", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "He was born and died in Warwickshire|He is estimated to have coined 1700 English words, although his name is an anagram of \"I am a weakish speller\"|He wrote around 39 plays and 154 sonnets|Among his best known works are Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet." }, { "id": 29, "publishDate": "2024-11-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which American singer has the middle name Pirate?", "solution": "Billie Eilish", "alternateSolutions": "Billie Ilish|Billie Ayelish|Billy Eilish|Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell|Billie Eilish O'Connell", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "She has synesthesia and attributes particular colours to some of her songs|Her second No 1 single featured in the Barbie movie|She sang the theme tune for the James Bond film No Time To Die|She has released the fragrances Eilish, Eilish No 2 and Eilish No 3." }, { "id": 30, "publishDate": "2024-11-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the most abundant element in the universe?", "solution": "Hydrogen", "alternateSolutions": "Hyrogen|Hidrogen|Hydrogin|Hydrogn|Hydrrogen|Hydorgen|Hyrdogen", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It exists in a metallic state under intense pressure, for instance, in the core of Jupiter|It makes up about 10 per cent of the body by mass|It is the lightest element and the first in the periodic table|Represented by the symbol H, it combines with oxygen to make H2O, or water" }, { "id": 31, "publishDate": "2024-11-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the first movie musical to be given an X certificate? ", "solution": "Cabaret", "alternateSolutions": "Cabbaret|Kabaret|Cabarett|Kabarett", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It was centred around and named after a form of entertainment originating in 19th-century Paris|Based on a novel by British writer Christopher Isherwood, it is set in Berlin in the 1930s|Much of the action takes place in the Kit Kat Club|The 1972 film version features Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles" }, { "id": 32, "publishDate": "2024-11-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which animal featured in a 1980s video game as the villain up against a character initially known as Jumpman?", "solution": "Gorilla", "alternateSolutions": "gorrilla|gorillas|gorrillas|the gorilla", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Similar to human fingerprints, these animals have unique noseprints allowing for easy identification|Mature males are known as silverbacks after the patch of grey hairs on their backs|Its name is derived from a word meaning \"hairy people\"|It is the largest living primate and is known for displays of chest-beating." }, { "id": 33, "publishDate": "2024-12-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which material used in insulation shares its name with a city in Ireland? ", "solution": "Cork", "alternateSolutions": "cork tree|cork oak|Quercus suber|Korc", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It floats on water, weighing just 0.24 grammes per cubic centimetre|About half of the world's supply comes from Portugal|The bark of a tree, it can be harvested every 9 to 12 years |It has long been used as an airtight stopper for wine bottles." }, { "id": 34, "publishDate": "2024-12-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which London building has a \"geometric staircase\" that featured in the film of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?", "solution": "St Paul's Cathedral", "alternateSolutions": "St Pauls|St Paul's|St Pauls Cathedral|the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It was London's tallest building from its construction in 1710 until 1963 |Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, its attractions include the Whispering Gallery |Events held there have included the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer|The domed cathedral is one of the most recognisable sights on the London skyline" }, { "id": 35, "publishDate": "2024-12-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US sportsman rode a horse through Harlem in the 1972 documentary Black Rodeo?", "solution": "Muhammad Ali", "alternateSolutions": "Cassius Clay|Mohammad Ali|Mohamed Ali|Muhamad Ali|Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "He won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics|In 1999 he was named Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC|He was stripped of his boxing titles for refusing to be drafted during the Vietnam War|He was nicknamed \"The Greatest\"" }, { "id": 36, "publishDate": "2024-12-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which art work inspired a poster for the 1990 movie Home Alone featuring Macaulay Culkin?", "solution": "The Scream", "alternateSolutions": "Scream|Edvard Munch's The Scream|Skrik", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The painting was first exhibited in Munich in 1893 under the German name 'Der Schrei der Natur'|Its creator's 1910 version of the work was stolen from an Oslo museum in August 2004|The Norwegian artist said his inspiration came after walking along beside a fjord when suddenly the sky turned red|An emoji used to represent a horrified reaction was created to resemble the subject of the painting." }, { "id": 37, "publishDate": "2024-12-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which former king of England was commonly known as \"the bastard\"?", "solution": "William I", "alternateSolutions": "William the First|William Ist|William the Conqueror|William the Bastard|William 1|William 1st|William the 1st|William the Ist|William 1", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The illegitimate son of Robert I of Normandy, he is buried in Caen, northern France|Under his reign hundreds of castles were built in England and Wales|He commissioned a survey of England that became known as the Domesday Book|His forces defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066" }, { "id": 38, "publishDate": "2024-12-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which canine breed gets its name from the Welsh words for 'dwarf' and 'dog'?", "solution": "Corgi", "alternateSolutions": "Welsh corgi|Korgi|Corgie|Corghi|corgis", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "There are two distinct breeds named after the neighbouring Welsh counties Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire|Originally a cattle-herding dog, it has short legs|It gave its name to a make of toy car in the UK|Queen Elizabeth II owned more than 30" }, { "id": 39, "publishDate": "2024-12-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What travels 500 miles (and 500 more) in the time it takes to listen to the Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)", "solution": "International Space Station", "alternateSolutions": "ISS|The International Space Station|The ISS", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "Launched in 1998, it is a similar length to a football pitch|280 people from 23 countries have travelled on it|It circles the earth 16 times in 24 hours|Astronauts stay on it for months at a time, doing experiments and conducting spacewalks" }, { "id": 40, "publishDate": "2024-12-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which edible seed forms the basis of a spread popularised at the World's Fair in St Louis in 1904? ", "solution": "Peanut", "alternateSolutions": "Peanuts|groundnut|groundnuts|Monkey nut|Earthnut", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Unlike other legumes, it grows in pods underground|Originating in South America, it was an important crop for the Incas|Its plural is the name of a popular comic strip|Its salted and dry roasted forms are a common pub snack" }, { "id": 41, "publishDate": "2024-12-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the world's largest island that is not considered a continent in its own right?", "solution": "Greenland", "alternateSolutions": "Kalaallit Nunaat|Grønland|Green land", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is part of North America but its citizens are EU citizens|Its capital and largest city is Nuuk|With fewer than 57,000 inhabitants, it is the least densely populated region in the world|Despite its name, more than 80% of this island neigbouring Canada is covered by a permanent ice sheet" }, { "id": 42, "publishDate": "2024-12-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which song knocked Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen off the No 1 spot in January 1976?", "solution": "Mamma Mia", "alternateSolutions": "Mamma Mia!|Mama mia", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The rhythmic tick tock sound of the intro before was created using a marimba|The two word title is an Italian exclamation!|The phrase featured coincidentally in the song lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody|It was the title of a 2008 romantic comedy film based around the songs of Abba " }, { "id": 43, "publishDate": "2024-12-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which scientist served two terms as MP for Cambridge University?", "solution": "Isaac Newton", "alternateSolutions": "Izaak Newton|Isaak Newton|Newton|Sir Isaac Newton", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "As Master of the Royal Mint from 1699–1727, he led a crackdown on forgers and coin-clippers|His picture figured on the reverse of the UK pound note until it was withdrawn in 1988| His contributions to science and mathematics included his three laws of motion |His theory of gravity was said to be inspired by seeing an apple fall from a tree" }, { "id": 44, "publishDate": "2024-12-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which other creature is the biggest killer of humans?", "solution": "Mosquito", "alternateSolutions": "mozzy|mozzie|Culicidae|mosquitos|mosquitoes|the mosquito", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Deadly species of this creature find us by detecting body heat and the carbon dioxide we breathe out|The female sucks the blood of humans and animals through its proboscis|This tiny insect gets its name from the Spanish for \"little fly\"|More than 700,000 deaths a year are caused by diseases it spreads, such as malaria and dengue" }, { "id": 45, "publishDate": "2024-12-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which mausoleum was named in 2007 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World?", "solution": "Taj Mahal", "alternateSolutions": "The Taj Mahal|The Taj Mahal Mausoleum|Taj Mahall|Taj Malal|Tadj Mahal|Taaj Mahal", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Unesco designated it a world heritage site in 1983, calling it \"the jewel of Muslim Art in India\"|A famous photograph taken in 1992 showed Princess Diana sitting on her own outside it|The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had it built to house the tomb of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal.|Often described as a \"monument to love\", it was built in Agra between 1632 and 1648" }, { "id": 46, "publishDate": "2024-12-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "On winning his first Premier League title, which footballer said he would celebrate by \"creosoting the fence\"?", "solution": "Alan Shearer", "alternateSolutions": "Shearer|Allan Shearer|Allen Shearer|Sheerer|Allan Shearer|Allen Shearer|Alan Sheerer", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "In 1996, Newcastle United paid a world-record transfer fee of £15 million for him|His 34 goals in the 1994-1995 season were instrumental to Blackburn Rovers winning the Premier League|He remains the Premier League's leading scorer with 260 goals|Since 2006 he has partnered his fellow former England striker Gary Lineker providing analysis on BBC's Match of the Day." }, { "id": 47, "publishDate": "2024-12-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which West End musical was premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Barbican Theatre in 1985?", "solution": "Les Miserables", "alternateSolutions": "Les Mis|Les Misérables", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It was originally conceived as a concept album in French|It is based on a novel written in 1862 by Victor Hugo|It went on to become the longest running musical in West-End history|A 2012 film adaptation starring Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as Javert won three Oscars" }, { "id": 48, "publishDate": "2024-12-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US politician wrote his doctoral thesis about British appeasement of Nazi Germany and the Munich agreement of 1938?", "solution": "John F Kennedy", "alternateSolutions": "JFK|JF Kennedy|John Kennedy|John Fitzgerald Kennedy", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He made a famous speech in Berlin in 1963, saying in German \"Ich bin ein Berliner\"|His wife Jackie was named Time magazine's woman of the year in 1962|One of New York City's airports is named after him|He was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963" }, { "id": 49, "publishDate": "2024-12-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which classic novel was first published in 1847 under the name of Ellis Bell?", "solution": "Wuthering Heights", "alternateSolutions": "Wuthering Hights|Wuthering Hytes|Wuthering Hieghts", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The author was one of three sisters from Yorkshire who all became celebrated novelists|The book inspired a song of the same name released in 1978 by Kate Bush|It was the only novel by Emily Bronte, who died the year after its publication |Set in the Yorkshire moors, the novel concerns the doomed love affair between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff and its consequences" }, { "id": 50, "publishDate": "2024-12-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the female athlete with the highest estimated lifetime earnings in history?", "solution": "Serena Williams", "alternateSolutions": "Serena|Serina Williams|Serena Willaims|Sarena Williams|Serrena Williams|Serina Willams|Serenna Williams", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "She has made cameo appearances in films and music videos, including for Beyoncé's Sorry|She has won 23 Grand Slam singles tennis titles|She reached her 10th Wimbledon final in 2018 less than a year after giving birth to her daughter Alexis|She has also won 14 doubles titles playing with her sister Venus" }, { "id": 51, "publishDate": "2024-12-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which body did film director Danny Boyle describe as \"the institution which more than any other unites our nation\"?", "solution": "National Health Service", "alternateSolutions": "the National Health Service|The NHS|NHS", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "It accounts for around 40 per cent of public sector carbon emission in the UK|It was launched in 1948 by Labour health secretary Aneurin Bevan|It is the largest employer in Europe with more than 1.5 million staff across England|The service provides hospital care and GP services to 1.3 million people a day" }, { "id": 52, "publishDate": "2024-12-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which musician's 2017 debut single, Bruises, made him the fastest ever unsigned artist to reach 25 million plays on Spotify?", "solution": "Lewis Capaldi", "alternateSolutions": "Louis Capaldi|Lou Capaldi|Capaldi|Lewis Cappaldi", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "Born in Glasgow of Scottish, Irish and Italian ancestry, he shares his first name with a place in the Outer Hebrides|His albums Divinely Inspired to a Hellish Extent and Someone You Love, between them, occupied the No 1 position on the UK Albums Chart for 13 weeks in 2019 |In 2020 he won Brit awards for song of the year and best new artist.|His cousin Peter starred in The Thick of It and in Dr Who, as the 12th Doctor" }, { "id": 53, "publishDate": "2024-12-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which major British retailer began life as a stall in Kirkgate Market, Leeds with the slogan: \"Don't ask the price, it's a 'Penny\"?", "solution": "Marks and Spencer", "alternateSolutions": "M&S|M and S|Marks and Sparks|Marks|Marks and Spenser|Marks and Spencers|Marks and Spensers", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "In 1998, the company became the first British retailer to make a pre-tax profit of over £1 billion|Brands used by the company have included St Michael and Per Una|A long-running advertising campaign featured the slogan \"This is not just food, this is ______ food\"|It is colloquially known as Marks and Sparks" }, { "id": 54, "publishDate": "2024-12-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which item of clothing was first mentioned in print in a 1920 story by F Scott Fitzgerald?", "solution": "T-shirt", "alternateSolutions": "T shirt|tee|tee shirt|tee-shirt|T-shirts|t shirts|tees|tee shirts|the t-shirt|the tee shirt", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "About two billion are sold globally every year|It was issued to US navy sailors as an undergarment in 1913|It gained popularity after being worn by Marlon Brando and James Dean in movies of the 1950s|It is commonly worn with a slogan or picture printed on it as a form of marketing or self-expression" }, { "id": 55, "publishDate": "2024-12-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which German-born physicist failed parts of his polytechnic entrance exam in Zurich aged 16?", "solution": "Albert Einstein", "alternateSolutions": "Einstein|Einstien|Albert Einstien", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "He was working as an examiner in a Swiss patent office when he began to publish papers on physics|He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for work including the discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect|His formula for mass-energy equivalence has been called \"the world's most famous equation\"|He is best known for developing the theory of relativity" }, { "id": 56, "publishDate": "2024-12-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which communications system was named after an inventor whose surname is also a word for a walrus?", "solution": "Morse Code", "alternateSolutions": "Morse|Morse system", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "The code was sometimes known as iddy-umpty, which is the origin of the word \"umpteen\"|The inventor used it to send the first telegraph from Washington to Baltimore in 1844, reading \"What hath God wrought?\"|The name was given to a fictional detective in the UK, and the code featured in the theme music of the television adaptation |It renders the letters of the alphabet as sequence of dots or dashes" }, { "id": 57, "publishDate": "2024-12-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the best-known resident of Rovaniemi, Finland?", "solution": "Santa Claus", "alternateSolutions": "Santa Claus|Santa|Father Christmas|Saint Nicholas|Sint Niklaas|Santaclaus|Santa Klaus|Kris Kringle|Kris Kringel|Saint Nick|St Nick|St Nicholas|St. Nicholas|St. Nick|Kriss Kringle|Kriss Kringel", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "18,112 people dressed as him took part in a parade in Kerala, India in 2014, setting a world record|This popular cultural figure has his origins as a 4th century saint from Myra in modern Turkey|The popular image of the red-suited character owes much to a 1931 Coca-Cola advertising campaign|He is credited with bringing presents to children in many parts of the world" }, { "id": 58, "publishDate": "2024-12-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which European royal was assassinated outside Moritz Schiller's delicatessen?", "solution": "Franz Ferdinand", "alternateSolutions": "Archduke Franz Ferdinand|Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|Franz Ferdinand of Austria|Archduke Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria|Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Born in 1863, he was the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne|The archduke was killed by a Bosnian Serb nationalist opposed to Austrian rule|His name was adopted by a Glasgow band whose debut album won the 2004 Mercury Prize|His killing in Sarajevo in 1914 led to the outbreak of the First World War" }, { "id": 59, "publishDate": "2024-12-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What has three hearts and nine brains?", "solution": "Octopus", "alternateSolutions": "octopi|octopuses|the octopus|octopoda|An octopus|The octopus", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "The female typically stops eating after laying eggs and dies once the young have hatched|This sea creature is highly intelligent and can recognise shapes and patterns and navigate mazes|It is eaten in many parts of the world, including the Mediterranean region and east Asia|It has eight limbs" }, { "id": 60, "publishDate": "2024-12-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country has the highest crime rate per capita but has no prisons?", "solution": "Vatican City", "alternateSolutions": "Vatican City|The Vatican|Vatican|Vatican City State|The Vatican City State|The Vatican City", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It has an area of 0.49 sq km and a population under 1000|It has no taxes, being funded by donations, museum admission fees and sale of stamps, souvenirs and publications|The smallest country in the world, it became independent of Italy in 1929|It is ruled by the Pope as the head of the Catholic Church" }, { "id": 61, "publishDate": "2024-12-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "This band's name originates from a phrase meaning 'kiss my arse' in English", "solution": "The Pogues", "alternateSolutions": "The Pogue|Pogue|The Poges|Poges|The Pogs|Pogs|The Puges|Puges|The Pogs|Pogs", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "Joe Strummer of the Clash temporarily joined the band in 1991|They are considered pioneers of the Celtic punk genre|Their lead singer, Shane McGowan, who died in 2023, was known for his gritty and emotional style|Their duet \"Fairytale in New York\", featuring Kirsty MacColl, is a classic alternative Christmas song" }, { "id": 62, "publishDate": "2024-12-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "This snack was shared by Ross and Rachel in the pilot of the sitcom Friends", "solution": "Oreo", "alternateSolutions": "Oreos|the oreo|oreo cookie|orio|orios|orio cookie", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Variants include Birthday Cake, Mint, Peanut Butter, and Pumpkin Spice|Beloved by US crossword compilers for its vowel density, this is one of the most frequently used clues in the NYT crossword|A well-known marketing campaign told consumers to \"twist, lick, and dunk\" it|Introdued by Nabisco in 1912, the black and white sandwich biscuit went on general sale in the UK in 2008 " }, { "id": 63, "publishDate": "2024-12-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What metal was used to make the tiles that coat the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao?", "solution": "Titanium", "alternateSolutions": "Ti|Titainium|Titinium|Titainum|Titaniam|Titanum|Titainiam|Titianium|Titaniom|Titainiom|Titainiom", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is used for the case of the iPhone 15|It is the name of a song featuring Sia that topped the UK singles chart in February 2012|Its atomic number is 22 and its chemical symbol is Ti|It shares its first six letters with a ship that sank after hitting an iceberg" }, { "id": 64, "publishDate": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What it is the middle name of Isambard Brunel?", "solution": "Kingdom", "alternateSolutions": "Kindgom|Kingdome|Kngdom|Kingdm|Kngdome|Kingdon|Kingdomm|Kingdum|Kingdome", "hints": "It is the taxonomic rank that sits above 'phylum'|A 2012 Wes Anderson film was called Moonrise this|It is what Richard III offered to trade for a horse in the Shakespeare play|It is what the K stands for in UK" }, { "id": 65, "publishDate": "2025-01-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the world's most populous island, with 153 million people?", "solution": "Java", "alternateSolutions": "Pulau Jawa|Jave|Jawa", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The first Homo erectus fossil was found here and named after this island|It is the name of a programming language developed by James Gosling in 1991|It is a US slang term for coffee|It is the four-letter island where Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, is located" }, { "id": 66, "publishDate": "2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Where was a broken laser pointer the first item sold?", "solution": "eBay", "alternateSolutions": "e bay|ebey", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "It was created in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar|It was originally called AuctionWeb|The company bought PayPal in 2002|It is the world's largest consumer-to-consumer auction website" }, { "id": 67, "publishDate": "2025-01-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which constituency had the narrowest majority at the 2024 general election of just 15 votes?", "solution": "Hendon", "alternateSolutions": "Henden|Hendan|Hendin|Hendun", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "It is the area of London in which rugby club Saracens plays|It is where the Metropolitan Police training college is, and also its nickname|It begins with a farmyard animal|It is hidden in 'Southend-on-Sea'" }, { "id": 68, "publishDate": "2025-01-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the collective term for unicorns?", "solution": "Blessing", "alternateSolutions": "A blessing of unicorns|blessin|blesssing", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is a religious rite performed by a priest|It is a given name for men and women particularly in Nigeria and Zimbabwe|It rhymes with the last name of British author and Nobel laureate Doris|You may offer this if someone sneezes" }, { "id": 69, "publishDate": "2025-01-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which station on the London Underground shares its name with a Paris Metro station?", "solution": "Temple", "alternateSolutions": "Temple Station|Tempel|Tempal", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is on the district and circle lines|It is on the bank of the River Thames|It is named for a church and two Inns of Court|It is a word for a religious building and is also a part of the forehead" }, { "id": 70, "publishDate": "2025-01-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "An ancestor of Unisys, which company produced the first commercially successful typewriter?", "solution": "Remington", "alternateSolutions": "Remmington|Reamington", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "It was the first to use the 'Qwerty' keyboard|It was founded in 1816 in Ilion, New York state by a man with the first name Eliphalet|The company still makes firearms under its original name|It rhymes with Leamington, as in Leamington Spa" }, { "id": 71, "publishDate": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What country other than Liechtenstein is doubly landlocked (ie it is landlocked and so are all its neighbours)?", "solution": "Uzbekistan", "alternateSolutions": "Uzbekstan", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is in Asia|It ends in -stan|Its capital is Tashkent|It begins with U" }, { "id": 72, "publishDate": "2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What painting by Klimt and sculpture by Rodin have the same name in English?", "solution": "The Kiss", "alternateSolutions": "Kiss|The Kiss", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The painting is in Vienna and the sculpture is in Paris|They both depict two people|They are called Der Kuss and Le Baiser in their original languages|They are both of a man and woman embracing" }, { "id": 73, "publishDate": "2025-01-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who caused a 0.8 magnitude earthquake in London on 21 June 2024?", "solution": "Taylor Swift", "alternateSolutions": "T-Swift|Tay Tay", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The epicentre was at Wembley Stadium|It was one of a series of tremors over three days caused by the crowd reaction to an event|Ironically it was not Shake it Off that caused the greatest tremor|The event was part of the Eras Tour" }, { "id": 74, "publishDate": "2025-01-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which mammal lays eggs other than the platypus?", "solution": "Echidna", "alternateSolutions": "The echidna|echidnas", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It lives in Australia and New Guinea|One called Millie was a mascot for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney|It is also known as a spiny anteater|It is an anagram of 'chained'" }, { "id": 75, "publishDate": "2025-01-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What six-letter word denotes the dot on a lower-case i or j?", "solution": "tittle", "alternateSolutions": "tittle", "hints": "It is mentioned once in the Bible - 'one jot or one _____ shall in no wise pass from the law' (Matthew v, 18)|There is a Beatrix Potter story called The Tale of Mrs ______mouse|It is the first half of a hyphenated word meaning gossip|It rhymes with little" }, { "id": 76, "publishDate": "2025-01-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What has only one word, 'bar' and only one number, 7?", "solution": "Fruit machine", "alternateSolutions": "Fruit machines|a fruit machine|one-armed bandit|one armed bandit|slot machine|poker machine|pokie", "topic": "VIDEO GAMES", "hints": "Bar' originally meant chewing gum in this context| You may also find cherries here|Getting three the same on this is good|People play it in pubs and amusement arcades" }, { "id": 77, "publishDate": "2025-01-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the professional name of Peter Gene Hernandez?", "solution": "Bruno Mars", "alternateSolutions": "Bruno Mars", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "He is a singer whose first hit was in 2010|The hit was Just the Way You Are|His first name completes the title of the song We Don't Talk About ... from the film Encanto |His surname is a planet" }, { "id": 78, "publishDate": "2025-01-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which animated character is of the marine species Aplysina fistularis?", "solution": "SpongeBob SquarePants", "alternateSolutions": "Sponge Bob Square Pants|Spongebob", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "His species lives on the sea floor, particularly in the Caribbean|The character lives in a pineapple|The character's best friend is Patrick Star|The common name of his species is the yellow tube sponge" }, { "id": 79, "publishDate": "2025-01-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In its original sketches, which item was originally called theWhirlo-Way?", "solution": "Frisbee", "alternateSolutions": "a frisbee|the frisbee|frisbees", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It was first mass produced in the 1950s and around 300 now sells millions worldwide every year|Its name is now a trademark of the Wham-O company|There is an 'Ultimate' sport using this item|It is a plastic disc, the name of which ends in an insect" }, { "id": 80, "publishDate": "2025-01-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A coffee pot was the subject of the world's first what?", "solution": "webcam", "alternateSolutions": "web camera|a webcam|the webcam|online camera|internet camera|webcams", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "The device was developed by the computer science department at the University of Cambridge |It was set up to avoid a wasted trip within the building|The Cambridge one was first connected to the Internet in 1993 and switched off in 2001|You may use the one on your computer for video calls or meetings" }, { "id": 81, "publishDate": "2025-01-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The first recorded use of OMG to mean \"Oh! My God!\" was in a letter to which politician?", "solution": "Winston Churchill", "alternateSolutions": "Churchill|Sir Winston Churchill|Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill|Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill|The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He received the letter from Admiral John Fisher in 1917|He was at the time minister of munitions|He became prime minister in 1940|He won a 100 greatest Britons poll in 2002" }, { "id": 82, "publishDate": "2025-01-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What represented 'S' in The Great British Coin Hunt of 26 alphabetical 10p coins in 1998?", "solution": "Stonehenge", "alternateSolutions": "Stone henge", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Whereas 'Q' was 'queuing', this was a physical thing|In 2024 it was announced that part of it may have come from northeast Scotland|It is particularly popular on 21 June|It is an ancient structure in Wiltshire" }, { "id": 83, "publishDate": "2025-01-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only African country whose main official language is Spanish?", "solution": "Equatorial Guinea", "alternateSolutions": "Republic of Equatorial Guinea|The Republic of Equatorial Guinea|Ecuatorial Guinea|República de Guinea Ecuatorial|Guinea Ecuatorial", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Although most of it is on the mainland, its capital is on an island|Eric 'the Eel' Moussambani competed for this country at the 2000 Olympics|Despite the country's name, it is not on the equator, although one small island is south of the line|It has the initials EG" }, { "id": 84, "publishDate": "2025-01-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Three UK prime ministers in a row had the same first name. What was it?", "solution": "William", "alternateSolutions": "Williams|they were all Williams|all called William", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "They all held office in the early 19th century|The father of one of them had also been prime minister|The most recent prime minister with this name was Gladstone|The current first in line to the throne shares this name" }, { "id": 85, "publishDate": "2025-01-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which current Gladiator is one of only two people to have competed at summer and winter Olympic Games in the same city (Gladiator alias please)?", "solution": "Fire", "alternateSolutions": "\"Fire\"|'Fire'|`Fire'", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The Gladiator competed at Beijing 2008 (athletics 100m and 4x100m) and 2022 (bobsleigh)|She participated in the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing|Her dancing partner on the show was Johannes Radebe|Her Gladiator name in the TV series is one of the four classical 'elements'" }, { "id": 86, "publishDate": "2025-01-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country's flag used to be all one colour?", "solution": "Libya", "alternateSolutions": "Lybia|the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya|Libyan Republic|Republic of Libya", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The colour was green|The country is in Africa|The country borders the Mediterranean|The country used to be ruled by Colonel Gaddafi" }, { "id": 87, "publishDate": "2025-01-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which novel, despite its title, begins 'There were four of us'?", "solution": "Three Men in a Boat", "alternateSolutions": "3 men in a boat", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "In the book the protagonists go from Kingston to Oxford and back|There are three people and a dog involved|The book is by Jerome K Jerome|The title refers to their mode of transport" }, { "id": 88, "publishDate": "2025-01-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only chemical element named after somewhere in the UK?", "solution": "Strontium", "alternateSolutions": "Strontium", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It was isolated from a local mineral in 1808 by Humphry Davy|One of its isotopes is a dangerous by-product of nuclear fallout|It is named after a village in the west of Scotland|It is element number 38 with the symbol Sr" }, { "id": 89, "publishDate": "2025-01-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the name of James Bond author Ian Fleming's estate in Jamaica?", "solution": "GoldenEye", "alternateSolutions": "Golden Eye|Goldeneye|goldeneye", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It is a type of duck, of genus Bucephala|It is the name of one of the James Bond films|In the film it was the name of a space-based weapon|It starts with 'gold'" }, { "id": 90, "publishDate": "2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "According to the UK Official Charts in November 2023, what is the best selling single released after the year 2000? It has a one-word title", "solution": "Happy", "alternateSolutions": "Happy", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It and its video won Grammys, and it was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar|It was written and sung by Pharrell Williams|It was written for Despicable Me 2|It is the name of one of Walt Disney's seven dwarfs" }, { "id": 91, "publishDate": "2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which 1944 film gave its name to a recently popular psychological buzzword?", "solution": "Gaslight", "alternateSolutions": "Gas light", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It starred Ingrid Bergman as Paula, whose husband Gregory was eventually arrested|Gregory secretly turns the thing referred to in the title up and down|The title word as a verb in the past tense was the name of a 2022 TV miniseries about Watergate starring Julia Roberts|As a verb it now means to try to persuade someone that something untrue has happened" }, { "id": 92, "publishDate": "2025-01-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only country named after a woman?", "solution": "Saint Lucia", "alternateSolutions": "St.Lucia|St Lucia|Sent Lisi|Saint Lucea|Saint Lucya|Saint Lusia|St. Lucea|Saint Lucy", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "She is believed to have lived from 283-304 AD|The country is in the Caribbean|Sprinter Julien Alfred won the country's first Olympic medals in Paris in 2024|The woman was a saint" }, { "id": 93, "publishDate": "2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is Captain James T Kirk's middle name?", "solution": "Tiberius", "alternateSolutions": "Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus|Tiberius I|Tiberius 1|Tiberius the first|Tiberius 1st|Tiberius the 1st|James Tiberius Kirk|Tiberious|Tiberus|Tiberus|Tyberius|Tiberias", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It is the name of someone who lived from 42BC-AD37|That someone was a Roman emperor|Its first five letters are the river that runs through Rome|It is an anagram of BEIRUT IS" }, { "id": 94, "publishDate": "2025-01-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which six-letter English word in common use is derived from Greenlandic?", "solution": "Anorak", "alternateSolutions": "Anorack|Anarak|Anorac|Anorack", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "It is relevant that it is cold in Greenland|Although Greenland has no railways the word can also mean 'train spotter'|It is an item of clothing|It begins with a and ends with k" }, { "id": 95, "publishDate": "2025-02-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Just one of the teeth of which mammal grows to be up to three metres long?", "solution": "Narwhal", "alternateSolutions": "Monodon monoceros|the narwhal|narwal|the narwal|narwhale|the narwhale|tusk whale|Narwhal whale|Narwahl|Narwaal", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It generally lives within the Arctic Circle|It is a marine mammal|It is related to the beluga whale|It is hidden in 'lunar whale'" }, { "id": 96, "publishDate": "2025-02-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which artist had been destined for medical school before being injured in a bus crash, aged 18?", "solution": "Frida Kahlo", "alternateSolutions": "Kahlo|F Kahlo|Frida|Frida Kalo|Frieda Kahlo|Frida Kahloe|Frida Kahlow|Frida Cahlo", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The Louvre's acquisition of The Frame made this person the first 20th-century Mexican artist in its collection|She is used as a character in the Pixar film Coco|She depicted herself with a single eyebrow|Her first name is a day of the week minus the last letter" }, { "id": 97, "publishDate": "2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The use of which six-letter word increased 17,000 per cent in 2012-13 and stayed that popular?", "solution": "Selfie", "alternateSolutions": "Selphe|Selfee", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "Its first published use was in 2002 on an Australian website|It was the OED's word of the year for 2013|Followed by \"stick\" it is a device that was listed in Time magazine's best inventions of 2014 |It means a picture of the picture-taker" }, { "id": 98, "publishDate": "2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A box of what is kept at the door of the House of Commons chamber for any MPs who want it?", "solution": "Snuff", "alternateSolutions": "snuf|Snaff|Snuffe|Snauf|Snauff", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It has been available since 1694|It was introduced when smoking was banned in the chamber|It is thought to have been used first by central and south American peoples|It is a tobacco product that is not smoked" }, { "id": 99, "publishDate": "2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "70% of all footballs are made in which country?", "solution": "Pakistan", "alternateSolutions": "Islamic Republic of Pakistan|the Islamic Republic of Pakistan|Pakistaan|Pakestan|Pakistn|Pakista|Pakeistan", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "This Asian nation has yet to qualify for a football world cup|In December 2024 its men's team was 198th in Fifa's rankings|The footballs are mostly made in the city of Sialkot|The city is in the Punjab province of the country" }, { "id": 100, "publishDate": "2025-02-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which book was the result of a bet that it couldn't be written with a vocabulary of 50 words?", "solution": "Green Eggs and Ham", "alternateSolutions": "Green Eggs & Ham|Green Eggs an Ham|Green Egg and Ham|Green Eggs and Hams|Green Egg & Ham|Green Eggs n Ham", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The only word of the 50 longer than five letters is 'anywhere'|The book starts 'I am Sam'|It was written by Dr Seuss|It has a colour and two foods in its title" }, { "id": 101, "publishDate": "2025-02-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which actor once said he copied Elvis Presley's hairstyle aged 15 and has kept it like that?", "solution": "Christopher Walken", "alternateSolutions": "Chris Walken|C Walken|Walken|Cristopher Walken|Christoper Walken|Christopher Waken|Christopher Walkin|Christopher Wolken", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "His breakthrough role was in a 1978 film for which he won the best supporting actor Oscar|In 2001 he danced in the video for Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice|More recently he has appeared in the TV shows Outlaws and Severance|His surname is an anagram of AL KNEW" }, { "id": 102, "publishDate": "2025-02-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which rock band consists of four members of the Followill family?", "solution": "Kings of Leon", "alternateSolutions": "King of Leon|Kings of Lyon|King of Lyon|Kings o' Leon|Kings ov Leon", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "They come from Tennessee and have had 12 Top 40 UK singles|Their name could describe Ordoño II and Ramiro II|Their best-known hits are Sex on Fire and Use Somebody|They sound like Spanish royals" }, { "id": 103, "publishDate": "2025-02-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The first names of the founder of which high street retailer were, confusingly, Henry Walton?", "solution": "WHSmith", "alternateSolutions": "W.H. Smith|WHS|WH Smiths|WH Smith's|W.H. Smith's|W.H. Smiths|WH Smith|WH Smith's|WH Smiths", "hints": "The first outlet opened in 1792 on Little Grosvenor Street, London|His second son's first names were William Henry|It is a stationer and newsagent|It ends in the commonest British surname" }, { "id": 104, "publishDate": "2025-02-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the third most populous island in the British Isles, after Great Britain and Ireland?", "solution": "Portsea", "alternateSolutions": "Portsea Island|the Isle of Portsea", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It has three road bridges connecting it to the mainland|It is on the south coast of England|The first five of its seven letters are also the first five letters of the city that occupies the island|Its first syllable means harbour and its second is what islands are surrounded by" }, { "id": 105, "publishDate": "2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What cowboy-like word is used for someone who gets a First-class honours degree in mathematics at the University of Cambridge?", "solution": "Wrangler", "alternateSolutions": "A wrangler", "hints": "This usage dates from when students had to argue propositions|It is also a brand of jeans, worn by Freddie Mercury at Live Aid in 1985|It also means a person in charge of animals used in a film|Without the first two letters it means someone who fishes" }, { "id": 106, "publishDate": "2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the largest moon in the solar system?", "solution": "Ganymede", "alternateSolutions": "Ganymede", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is larger than the planet Mercury |It is a moon of Jupiter|It is named after the cupbearer to Zeus|It is an anagram of megadyne" }, { "id": 107, "publishDate": "2025-02-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Keswick in Cumbria has a museum dedicated to which implement?", "solution": "Pencil", "alternateSolutions": "The pencil|pencils|Pensil|Penscil|Pencill", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": " In the 16th century a mineral deposit was found nearby, which led to this implement being manufactured locally|It was thought the deposit was lead, but it wasn't|The mineral is still called lead when part of this implement|The word can precede 'case' or 'skirt'" }, { "id": 108, "publishDate": "2025-02-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The video to which song is the most viewed on YouTube, with over 15 billion views?", "solution": "Baby shark", "alternateSolutions": "Baby shark dance|Babby Shark|Baby Sharke|BabyShark", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "The video was created by South Korean entertainment company Pinkfong|Among other lyrics it contains the same three-letter sound 162 times|The correct term for the eponymous creature of the song title is 'pup'|It means a young predatory fish" }, { "id": 109, "publishDate": "2025-02-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Wincanton in Somerset is twinned with a city in which fictional world?", "solution": "Discworld", "alternateSolutions": "Discworld|The Discworld|Disc World|Diskworld|Disk World|Disqworld|DiscWurld", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The ruler of the city is called the Patrician|The city is called Ankh-Morpork|The world is balanced on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle|It is the creation of Terry Pratchett" }, { "id": 110, "publishDate": "2025-02-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only chemical element named after somewhere in the UK?", "solution": "Strontium", "alternateSolutions": "Sr|Strontyum|Strontiam|Strontion|Strontum", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It was isolated from a local mineral in 1808 by Humphry Davy|One of its isotopes is a dangerous by-product of nuclear fallout|It is named after a village in the west of Scotland|It is element number 38 with the symbol Sr" }, { "id": 111, "publishDate": "2025-02-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the surname of the UK prime minister at the outbreak of the First World War?", "solution": "Asquith", "alternateSolutions": "HH Asquith|H H Asquith|Henry Herbert Asquith|H.H. Asquith|H. H. Asquith|Herbert Asquith|Asquithe|Asqwith|Askwith|Asquithh", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Actresses Anna Chancellor and Helena Bonham Carter are two of his great-granddaughters|He was the Liberal MP for East Fife|His first names were Herbert Henry|He is the only UK prime minister whose name contains the letter Q" }, { "id": 112, "publishDate": "2025-02-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which London underground station does not contain any of the letters of 'underground'?", "solution": "Balham", "alternateSolutions": "Balhem|Balam|Balhamm", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is on the Northern Line|It is south of the River Thames|The area was referred to as 'Gateway to the South' in a sketch featuring Peter Sellers|It is six letters long and begins with B" }, { "id": 113, "publishDate": "2025-02-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was the most recent pope to be canonised?", "solution": "John Paul II", "alternateSolutions": "John Paul 2|John Paul the second|John Paul 2nd|John Paul 11|JPII|Pope John Paul II|Pope John Paul the second|Pope John Paul 2|Pope John Paul 2nd", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He was canonised by Pope Francis in April 2014|He was Pope from 1978-2005|He was Polish|His name, like that of his predecessor, contains the first names of two Beatles" }, { "id": 114, "publishDate": "2025-02-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which letter is in the English alphabet and the Russian alphabet but not the Greek alphabet?", "solution": "C", "alternateSolutions": "The letter C|cee", "hints": "It is sometimes pronounced the same in English as in Russian, but not always|As a word on its own it means 'with' in Russian; it is not a word in English|It appeared three times in the Russian abbreviation for the Soviet Union|It is the 19th letter of the Russian alphabet and the third letter of the English alphabet" }, { "id": 115, "publishDate": "2025-02-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which novel's title could describe what Mrs Dalloway, Ulysses and A Single Man have in common?", "solution": "One Day", "alternateSolutions": "1 Day|Oneday", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "In this novel's case the title refers to 15 July|The novel is by David Nicholls|It was made into a 2011 film and a 2024 TV series|Followed by '... at a Time' it forms the title of a song that was a UK No 1 hit for Lena Martell in 1979" }, { "id": 116, "publishDate": "2025-02-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 2022, a painting by which artist was found to have been hanging upside down for 75 years?", "solution": "Piet Mondrian", "alternateSolutions": "Mondrian|Pete Mondrian|Peet Mondrian|Piet Mondrien|Mondrean", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The painting is called New York City I but was hanging in Düsseldorf|The painting was typical of the artist's work in being yellow, red, blue and white|The artist died in New York City but was born in the Netherlands|The artist's surname is an anagram of NORM AND I" }, { "id": 117, "publishDate": "2025-02-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which seven-letter word cannot be played in Scrabble(TM) despite being permitted by the rules?", "solution": "Pizzazz", "alternateSolutions": "pazzazz|bazzazz|bezzazz|bizzazz", "hints": "There are five seven-letter variants listed by the Collins Scrabble Checker as allowed but none is playable|It has too many of one letter, even using the two blanks|It means energy or smartness|It has four Zs, but you can only play three in the game" }, { "id": 118, "publishDate": "2025-02-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The name of which UK city is made up of letters that are all in the first half of the alphabet?", "solution": "Lichfield", "alternateSolutions": "Lichfield Staffordshire|Lichfield Staffs|Litchfield|Lichfeild", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its cathedral has three spires|It contains a museum dedicated to Samuel Johnson, who was born there|It is in Staffordshire|It is an anagram of 'child life'" }, { "id": 119, "publishDate": "2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The name of which UK city is made up of letters that are all in the second half of the alphabet?", "solution": "Truro", "alternateSolutions": "Truro Cornwall", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "it is at the confluence of the rivers Kenwyn and Allen|It is the southernmost city in the UK|It is in Cornwall|It is five letters beginning with T" }, { "id": 120, "publishDate": "2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "One of what unit corresponds to a length of 9km weighing one gram?", "solution": "Denier", "alternateSolutions": "A denier|deniers|Denyer|Deneir|Denyre|den", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "An item rated at 40 to 70 of these units is described as 'opaque'|The word can also mean gainsayer|The unit is typically used to measure the density of silk|It is six letters beginning with D" }, { "id": 121, "publishDate": "2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which novelist took part in a hoax in which the Royal Navy was tricked into giving a tour of HMS Dreadnought to a group of fake Abyssinian princes?", "solution": "Virginia Woolf", "alternateSolutions": "Woolf|Virginia Wolf|Virginia Wolfe|Wolf|Wolfe|Virginia Stephen|V Woolf|Adeline Virginia Woolf|Virgina Woolf", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The hoax took place in 1910|She was known by her maiden name of Stephen at that time|Her works include To the Lighthouse and A Room of One's Own|Her name completes the title of a play by Edward Albee called 'Who's Afraid of ...' " }, { "id": 122, "publishDate": "2025-02-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only island divided between three UN member states?", "solution": "Borneo", "alternateSolutions": "Borneo island|Kalimantan|Borneao|Borneu", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "One of the countries is just on the island, one is on other islands as well and one is partly on the mainland|The equator runs through the middle of it|It is one of two islands where orangutans are found in the wild|The three countries are Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia" }, { "id": 123, "publishDate": "2025-03-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which painter had a pug called Trump?", "solution": "William Hogarth", "alternateSolutions": "Hogarth|Wm Hogarth", "topic": "ART", "hints": "Trump appears in the 1745 self-portrait The Painter and his Pug|His former house in Chiswick, west London is now a museum and a nearby roundabout is named after him|His works include A Rake's Progress, Beer Street and Gin Lane|His surname begins with H and contains the word 'art'" }, { "id": 124, "publishDate": "2025-03-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Where is an ounce of the ashes of geologist Eugene Shoemaker to be found?", "solution": "The moon", "alternateSolutions": "moon|on the moon|on the surface of the moon|on the moon's surface|the moon's surface|the surface of the moon|Earth's Moon", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "He co-discovered comet Shoemaker-Levy in 1993|The ashes are accompanied by a quotation from Romeo and Juliet including the line 'take him and cut him out in little stars'|He helped train Apollo astronauts but was unable to become one himself due to health problems|The ashes were carried by the Lunar Prospector space probe" }, { "id": 125, "publishDate": "2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the hardest part of the human body?", "solution": "Tooth enamel", "alternateSolutions": "Enamel|Tooth enamal\nTeeth enamel|enamal", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is between steel and titanium on the Mohs hardness scale|It is harder than bone|It is a coating up to 3mm thick|It is in your mouth" }, { "id": 126, "publishDate": "2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the youngest person to have won an Oscar?", "solution": "Tatum O'Neal", "alternateSolutions": "Tatum|Tatum ONeal|Tatum O Neal|Tatum O`Neal|Tatumn O'Neal Tatum O'Neil", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "She won best supporting actress aged 10|She was married to John McEnroe|She won for the film Paper Moon|Her father was Ryan O'Neal" }, { "id": 127, "publishDate": "2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which nom de plume was derived from the pronunciation in French of its owner's initials reversed?", "solution": "Herge", "alternateSolutions": "Hergé", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The author was Belgian|His most famous creation's name is a chemical element doubled|His real name was Georges Remi|His most famous creation is a young reporter with a faithful dog" }, { "id": 128, "publishDate": "2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country's name literally means 'two seas'?", "solution": "Bahrain", "alternateSolutions": "The Kingdom of Bahrain|Bahrein|Bahren", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is an island nation|It is in the Middle East|Its capital is Manama|It ends with a word for precipitation" }, { "id": 129, "publishDate": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which abbreviation has three times as many syllables as the phrase it stands for?", "solution": "WWW", "alternateSolutions": "W.W.W.|W W W", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "It was first used in 1989|It is a term in information technology|It was coined by Sir Tim Berners-Lee|It is the same letter repeated three times" }, { "id": 130, "publishDate": "2025-03-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the sculpture Fountain, created in 1917?", "solution": "Urinal", "alternateSolutions": "A urinal|pissoir|a pissoir|a porcelain urinal|a urinal signed R Mutt|a porcelain urinal signed R Mutt|urinal signed R Mutt|signed urinal|a signed urinal", "topic": "ART", "hints": "In 2004 it was voted the most influential artwork of the 20th century|Musician Brian Eno claimed he used it for its original purpose in 1993|Made from porcelain, it was the work of French artist Marcel Duchamp|You may find similar ones in approximately half of public toilets" }, { "id": 131, "publishDate": "2025-03-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Of what species was Martha the last example in 1914?", "solution": "Passenger pigeon", "alternateSolutions": "passenger-pigeon|Passenger pigion|Pessenger pigeon|Ectopistes migratorius", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Its Latin designation was Ectopistes migratorius|Once the most common bird in North America, it was hunted to extinction|It has two words and the first means someone carried along in a vehicle|Both words begin with p" }, { "id": 132, "publishDate": "2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What sporting item is said to have been originally made from frozen cow dung?", "solution": "Puck", "alternateSolutions": "ice hockey puck|hockey puck|Hocky puck|Puk", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It is made of vulcanised rubber nowadays|It is three inches in diameter and one inch thick|It shares its name with a character in A Midsummer Night's Dream|It is used in the national winter sport of Canada" }, { "id": 133, "publishDate": "2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 1895 soprano Adelina Patti wore a gown encrusted with 3,700 diamonds when playing which character?", "solution": "Aida", "alternateSolutions": "Princess Aida|Ayda|Ada", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The opera was composed by Verdi|The character is a princess|The character is Ethiopian|The character's name can be formed from four of the letters in 'Adelina'" }, { "id": 134, "publishDate": "2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "At 28 metres below sea level, what is the lowest national capital in the world?", "solution": "Baku", "alternateSolutions": "Baki|Bako", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It contains the 12th-century Maiden Tower|It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012|Its country is a former Soviet Republic and contains a Z|It ends in UK backwards" }, { "id": 135, "publishDate": "2025-03-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Incredible Hulk came out green due to a printer malfunction; what colour was he supposed to be?", "solution": "Grey", "alternateSolutions": "Gray|the colour grey|the colour gray|the color grey|the color gray", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The HTML colour name 'gainsboro' is this colour|Any shade of this colour has a 'hue' of 0°|British English and American English spell the colo(u)r differently|There is a book called Fifty Shades of ... this colour" }, { "id": 136, "publishDate": "2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who invented the first 'office chair' with wheels?", "solution": "Charles Darwin", "alternateSolutions": "Darwin|Charles Robert Darwin|CR Darwin|C.R. Darwin|C Darwin|C. Darwin", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "More than 250 species of plants and animals are named after him|A Cambridge college is named after him; he attended another college there|He took a historic voyage aboard HMS Beagle and visited the Galapagos Islands|His book On the Origin of Species expounded the theory of evolution" }, { "id": 137, "publishDate": "2025-03-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In the Halloween horror film series, the villain's mask was of which actor?", "solution": "William Shatner", "alternateSolutions": "W Shatner|Shatner|Bill Shatner", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "Appropriately, on 13 October 2021 this actor flew into space|He starred in a TV show launched in the 1960s but did not appear in its first pilot|He was a pilot himself in a sense, as captain of the starship Enterprise|His surname is an anagram of 'anthers'" }, { "id": 138, "publishDate": "2025-03-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The sport of yukigassen involves throwing what items?", "solution": "Snowballs", "alternateSolutions": "A snowball|snowball|the snowball|balls of snow|Snow Balls|Snow Ball", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The sport originated in Japan and is played in Canada, Finland, and Russia among other countries|A character in George Orwell's Animal Farm is named after the item|It is also the name of a cocktail containing advocaat and lemonade|Children throw these at each other in cold weather" }, { "id": 139, "publishDate": "2025-03-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Titanic had two sister ships, the Britannic and what other?", "solution": "Olympic", "alternateSolutions": "The Olympic|RMS Olympic|The RMS Olympic|Olimpic|Olympique", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Its name also ended -ic|There is a peninsula with this name in Washington State, USA|The name derives from an ancient Greek venue for an event revived in the 19th century|There are summer and winter games every four years that use this adjective in their names" }, { "id": 140, "publishDate": "2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is missing here from the novel Moby Dick and the actor Terry Thomas?", "solution": "Hyphen", "alternateSolutions": "a hyphen|hyphens|the hyphen|the hyphens|dash|a dash|hyfin", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "As now written, this was a 15th-century invention|The previous hint has one|It can be found in Catch-22 and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince|It is a punctuation mark that looks like a minus sign" }, { "id": 141, "publishDate": "2025-03-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What website was originally called BackRub?", "solution": "Google", "alternateSolutions": "Googol|Googel|Goggle", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "Its name is still a trademark but it has also developed into a verb|Its name sounds like, and is based on, a very large number|It has been the most popular website in the world continuously since 2011|It is an anagram of 'geolog'" }, { "id": 142, "publishDate": "2025-03-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What bird features on the logo of the pop group Queen?", "solution": "Phoenix", "alternateSolutions": "A phoenix|the phoenix|phoenixes|pheonix|phenix", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It is part of Coventry's coat of arms as a reference to the city's bombing in the Second World War|The main opera house in Venice is named after it|Fawkes is one in the Harry Potter books|This mythological bird dies in fire and is born again" }, { "id": 143, "publishDate": "2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the surname of the writer with a 'dirty but clean' pen name?", "solution": "Pierre", "alternateSolutions": "DBC Pierre|Pier|Peirre", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The writer won the Booker prize for 'Vernon God Little' in 2003|It is also the name of Marie Curie's husband|As a word, it is French for rock or stone|As a name, it is the French for Peter" }, { "id": 144, "publishDate": "2025-03-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which city was the first building in the world to be taller than the pyramids?", "solution": "Lincoln", "alternateSolutions": "Lincoln cathedral|Lincon|Linkon", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is in the UK and the building is a cathedral |Its football club is nicknamed the Imps|According to legend, Robin Hood's men wore a shade of green named after it|It shares its name with a luxury car and the 16th president of the USA" }, { "id": 145, "publishDate": "2025-03-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What cycling race was designed to get around a legal limit on how long riders could cycle for?", "solution": "Madison", "alternateSolutions": "Maddison|The Madison|Madison racing|Madison race|the Madison race|Madisen", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It is named after the New York venue where it was first invented|Laura Kenny won the first Olympic women's version of this event with Katie Archibald in 2021|It is the surname of the fourth US president|It is an anagram of 'domains'" }, { "id": 146, "publishDate": "2025-03-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the most recent dance to become one of the primary dances on Strictly Come Dancing?", "solution": "Charleston", "alternateSolutions": "The Charleston|Charleton|Charlston|Charelston|Charlstone", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It was popularised in a song of the same name in 1923|It can involve putting one's hands on one's knees and swapping them around|It is associated with flappers|It begins with the King's name" }, { "id": 147, "publishDate": "2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which was the only UK local authority area where more than three quarters of votes were to leave the EU in 2016?", "solution": "Boston", "alternateSolutions": "Boston Borough Council|Boston Borough|Boston Lincolnshire|Boston Lincs|Bostun|Bosten", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its main landmark, nicknamed 'The Stump', is the largest parish church in England|A US rock band called this had a 1977 hit with More Than a Feeling|Its name is a contraction of (St) Botolph's Town|A city elsewhere to which it gave its name had a famous tea party " }, { "id": 148, "publishDate": "2025-03-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the first name of 'Lightning' McQueen, the protagonist of the Disney Pixar Cars movies?", "solution": "Montgomery", "alternateSolutions": "Monty|Montgomrey|Montgommery", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It is the same as that of 'Scotty' in Star Trek|It is also shared with Mr Burns in The Simpsons|Field Marshal Bernard Law this, later Viscount this of Alamein, was a key Second World War figure|It is shortened to 'Monty' in at least the last two cases" }, { "id": 149, "publishDate": "2025-03-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Maurice Sendak changed his book title to Where the Wild Things Are from which animals he was unable to draw?", "solution": "Horses", "alternateSolutions": "A horse|the horse|horse", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "They are able to sleep standing up|They have been domesticated by humans since around 4000BC|They are of the genus Equus|Ridden by humans, they are the only other animal to participate in the summer Olympics" }, { "id": 150, "publishDate": "2025-03-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Great Wall of China was completed in which century?", "solution": "19th", "alternateSolutions": "Nineteenth|Nineteenth century|19th century|19|nineteen|C19|C19th|the nineteenth century|the nineteenth|the 19th|the 19th century|19th-century|1800s|XIX century", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It was during the Qing dynasty|The Opium Wars between China and the UK took place during this century|It is the only century to have had a queen on the British throne for the majority of the time|The Wall was finished 147 years ago" }, { "id": 151, "publishDate": "2025-03-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which species were the first animals intentionally sent into space?", "solution": "Fruit fly", "alternateSolutions": "Fruit flies|the fruit fly|fruit fly|Drosophila melanogaster|common fruit fly|lesser fruit fly. Fruitfly|Fruitfllies", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "They were aboard a rocket on 9 July 1946|They were very small insects|This species is commonly used in scientific and medical research|You may see them around eg oranges or peaches left out in your kitchen" }, { "id": 152, "publishDate": "2025-03-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US state's flag has a Union Jack on it?", "solution": "Hawaii", "alternateSolutions": "Mokuʻāina o Hawaiʻi|State of Hawaii|Hawai'i|Hawai`i|Hawaai", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It has the Union Jack in the corner and eight stripes representing eight geographic features of the state|There is a police TV series whose name is this state plus its number in order of joining the union|It is the furthest south US state|It is the birthplace of Barack Obama" }, { "id": 153, "publishDate": "2025-03-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The first record of golf was its being banned in Scotland in 1457 as a distraction from what other sport?", "solution": "Archery", "alternateSolutions": "The sport of archery|Archary|Archerie|Archry", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Terms in this sport include fistmele, nock and dry loosing|South Korea won all five gold medals in this sport at the 2024 Olympic Games|Sagittarius is a practitioner of this|It is performed with a bow and arrow" }, { "id": 154, "publishDate": "2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which animal (two words) has the thickest fur, at around a million hairs per square inch?", "solution": "Sea otter", "alternateSolutions": "The sea otter|a sea otter|sea otters|see otter|sea oter", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is a mustelid, a member of the weasel family|The collective term for these animals is a 'raft'|However, the group of these creatures that appear in the Disney Pixar movie Finding Dory is known as The Cuddle Party|Its two-word name is an anagram of 'tea store'" }, { "id": 155, "publishDate": "2025-04-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which common word is an anagram of a day of the week?", "solution": "Dynamo", "alternateSolutions": "dynamos", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is a common word in eastern European sports team names|It is the stage name of magician Stephen Frayne|Monday is the day it is an anagram of|It means an electric generator or an energetic person" }, { "id": 156, "publishDate": "2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "There are 34 Furths in the British Isles; what is the word for their better-known Scottish equivalents?", "solution": "Munro", "alternateSolutions": "Munros|munroes|monro|monroe|monroes|the munros|Scottish munro|munro mountains|munroe|the munroes|munrow", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "England has six Furths, all in Cumbria, Wales has 15 and Ireland 13, while Scotland has 282 of the equivalents|Chris Smith became the first MP to visit all of these in 1989|One of these is at least 50 percent higher than the members of another set called Marilyns|It sounds like Marilyn's surname" }, { "id": 157, "publishDate": "2025-04-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Lake Geneva is part of which river?", "solution": "Rhône", "alternateSolutions": "The Rhone|Rhone|the Rhône|river Rhône|the river Rhône|river Rhone|The river Rhone|Rône|Rhône River|Rhone river", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "This river meets the Saone at Lyon|It gives its name to a wine-making region famous for Chateauneuf du Pape and Beaumes de Venise|Its mouth near Arles in France is a habitat of the grey heron|Its name is an anagram of heron" }, { "id": 158, "publishDate": "2025-04-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which constellation can the star Aldebaran represent a bloodshot eye?", "solution": "Taurus", "alternateSolutions": "Taurus the bull|The Bull|Tuarus|Torris|Tarus", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The Pleiades and the Crab Nebula are in this zodiacal constellation|People of this star sign are said to be patient, hardworking and stubborn|It sounds like a word for a doughnut shape|It is also known as the bull" }, { "id": 159, "publishDate": "2025-04-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which common British man's first name means 'fond of horses'?", "solution": "Philip", "alternateSolutions": "Phillip|Phil|Phillippe|Filip|Philipe|Philippe", "hints": "A famous man with this name in Britain died in 2021 aged 99|Another man with this name wrote The Man in the High Castle and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|Another, who used the short form of the name, was the drummer and later also the lead singer of Genesis|The 99-year-old was married to Queen Elizabeth" }, { "id": 160, "publishDate": "2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which fictional creature's tail is commonly believed to be black at the end, but isn't?", "solution": "Pikachu", "alternateSolutions": "Peekachu|Pickachu|Pikkachu|Pikachoo|Pickachoo|Pikachou", "topic": "VIDEO GAMES", "hints": "It is number 25 in a set of 1025|It is a yellow and black mouse-like creature|It is a Japanese video game character|It is the most well-known Pokémon" }, { "id": 161, "publishDate": "2025-04-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What 1955 book and 1999 film of the same name are set in the fictional Italian town of Mongibello?", "solution": "The Talented Mr Ripley", "alternateSolutions": "The Talented Mister Ripley|Talented Mister Ripley|The Talented Mr Ripley|Talented Mr Ripley", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The title character was played by Matt Damon in this film|Andrew Scott played the character in a 2024 TV series named just the last word of the book/film|This last word is a surname often seen followed by \"'s Believe It or Not!\"|The book was by Patricia Highsmith and the second word of its title is 'talented'" }, { "id": 162, "publishDate": "2025-04-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What animal produces cube-shaped faeces?", "solution": "Wombat", "alternateSolutions": "Wombats|bare-nosed wombats|common wombats|bare-nosed wombat|common wombat|Wombatt|Wommbat|Wombet|Wombate|Wombatt marsupial", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It lives in Australia|When first seen by European settlers it was often confused with a badger|In adverts, Carl is one, a 'nephew' of meerkats|Its name ends in a three-letter flying mammal" }, { "id": 163, "publishDate": "2025-04-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the surname of the man who patented the design used for the first commercially successful ballpoint pen?", "solution": "Biro", "alternateSolutions": "Laszlo Biro|László Bíró|Birro", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "He sold the patent to Marcel Bich, who founded the company Bic|He was a Hungarian who later lived in Argentina|His first name was Laszlo|His surname is a word for a ballpoint pen in the UK" }, { "id": 164, "publishDate": "2025-04-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What did Bob Dylan say is the world's best-selling musical instrument?", "solution": "Harmonica", "alternateSolutions": "Harmonicas|a harmonica|the harmonica|mouth organ|a mouth organ|mouth organs|the mouth organ|gobiron|Harmonnica|Harmonnika|Harmomica", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "Ronald Reagan played it to help him recover after an assassination attempt in 1981|One that was played in space is in the National Air and Space Museum|Its main parts are a comb, reed plates and cover plates|It is unusual among wind instruments in that you play it by breathing in as well as out" }, { "id": 165, "publishDate": "2025-04-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country contains all five vowels exactly once?", "solution": "Mozambique", "alternateSolutions": "Moçambique", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The vowels are in the order oaiue|It is in Africa|Its capital is Maputo|It is named after the trader Mussa Bin Bique" }, { "id": 166, "publishDate": "2025-04-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who has performed at Glastonbury the most times, namely eight?", "solution": "Van Morrison", "alternateSolutions": "Sir George Ivan \"Van\" Morrison|Sir George Ivan Morrison|Sir George Ivan \"Van\" Morrison|George Ivan Morrison|The Belfast Cowboy|Van the Man|Van Morisson|Van Morison|Van Morrisson|Van Morrisen|Van Moreson|Vann Morrison", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The band with which he came to prominence was called Them|He was born in Belfast|His middle name is Ivan|His surname pluralised is the UK's fifth largest supermarket chain" }, { "id": 167, "publishDate": "2025-04-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "On which island was US founding father Alexander Hamilton born?", "solution": "Nevis", "alternateSolutions": "St Kitts and Nevis|Saint Kitts and Nevis|Neves|Nevvis|Saint Nevis|St Nevis|Nevis Island", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It is in the Caribbean|Its name is related to the Spanish for snow|With neighbouring island St Kitts, it forms the smallest sovereign state in the western hemisphere|Its name is the same as part of that of Britain's highest peak " }, { "id": 168, "publishDate": "2025-04-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What novel was originally going to be called First Impressions?", "solution": "Pride and Prejudice", "alternateSolutions": "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice|Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen|Austen's Pride and Prejudice|Pride & Prejudice|Pride and Predjudice|Pride and Predujice|Pride 'n Predujice", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "Its first line concerns marriage and its last line refers to Derbyshire|It was first published in 1813|It was written by Jane Austen|Its first word is the name for a group of lions" }, { "id": 169, "publishDate": "2025-04-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "According to Julius Caesar and Pliny, Gaul was divided into three parts, Celtica, Aquitania and where?", "solution": "Belgica", "alternateSolutions": "Gallia Belgica", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "This part was in the north of Gaul|It is a Latin word similar to the name of the modern-day country this area roughly corresponds to|The modern-day country's capital is Brussels|It has the same ending as Celtica" }, { "id": 170, "publishDate": "2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In the periodic table, aluminium and caesium officially use UK spellings; which element is officially spelt the US way?", "solution": "Sulfur", "alternateSolutions": "Sulphur|Sulfer", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "As with the other two, the American spelling is one letter shorter|Its chemical symbol is S|It is a yellow non-metal|In the UK it is spelt with a ph, in the US with an f" }, { "id": 171, "publishDate": "2025-04-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Prince Regent and future George IV sent a miniature of which part of his body to woo Maria Fitzherbert?", "solution": "Eye", "alternateSolutions": "His eye|the eye|eyes|his eyes|the eyes", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He also received one from her and kept it under his lapel|It became a fad for lovers to exchange these portraits|It is part of the face|It sounds like a letter of the alphabet" }, { "id": 172, "publishDate": "2025-04-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Baltimore American football team's name was inspired by a poem by whom?", "solution": "Edgar Allan Poe", "alternateSolutions": "Poe|E A Poe|Edgar Poe|The Raven by Poe|Poe's The Raven|The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe|Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The poet is buried in Baltimore but was born in Boston in 1809|The poem begins 'Once upon a midnight dreary'|The team is called the Baltimore Ravens|His surname is a word for what he was minus the last letter" }, { "id": 173, "publishDate": "2025-04-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which film has the most quotes in the American Film Institute's 100 top movie quotations?", "solution": "Casablanca", "alternateSolutions": "Cassablanca", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The first words of the quotes are \"here's\", \"Louis\", \"play\", \"round\", \"we'll\" and \"of\"|One of the quotes gave rise to the name of the film The Usual Suspects|The film did not feature the line 'Play it again, Sam'|The name of the film is a city in Morocco" }, { "id": 174, "publishDate": "2025-04-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only national capital city to contain all five vowels exactly once?", "solution": "Port-au-Prince", "alternateSolutions": "Port au Prince|Portauprince", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The vowels are in the order oauie|Its country is in the Caribbean|Its country is Haiti|The name of the city ends in the son of a monarch" }, { "id": 175, "publishDate": "2025-04-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the youngest person to have won the Nobel prize in literature?", "solution": "Rudyard Kipling", "alternateSolutions": "Kipling", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "He was the first English-language recipient of the prize but was born in Bombay|His most famous book was made into a Disney animated film in 1967|He wrote a poem called If—|He shares his surname with a maker of cakes that are branded 'exceedingly good'" }, { "id": 176, "publishDate": "2025-04-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US state shares its name with a former province of France?", "solution": "Maine", "alternateSolutions": "Me|Maine state", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its nickname is the Pine Tree State|The capital of the French province was Le Mans|It is the only state with exactly one neighbouring state|It is the only state with one syllable" }, { "id": 177, "publishDate": "2025-04-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Juventus' black and white football shirts are based on those of which English team?", "solution": "Notts County", "alternateSolutions": "Nottingham County|Nottinghamshire County|Nott County|Notts Co", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "They played Juventus in the first match in the Italian side's new stadium in 2011|The team was one of the 12 founders of the Football League|They play at Meadow Lane|Unlike Nottingham Forest, this team's ground is within the city of Nottingham" }, { "id": 178, "publishDate": "2025-04-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": " What was astronaut Buzz Aldrin's mother's maiden name?", "solution": "Moon", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It would have been an appropriate surname for her son|She shared the name with the late drummer of the Who|It was also the surname of Daphne in the sitcom Frasier|It is the name of the Earth's only natural satellite, on which Buzz was the second to walk" }, { "id": 179, "publishDate": "2025-04-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What ingredient was added to a 1904 play to stop children injuring themselves?", "solution": "Fairy dust", "alternateSolutions": "Pixie dust|pixy dust", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "Children who had seen the play had been trying to copy some of the characters|The children had been jumping off their beds and trying to fly|They had been trying to emulate characters from Peter Pan|Tinker Bell sprinkled the ingredient on the Darling children in the play to allow them to fly like Peter Pan" }, { "id": 180, "publishDate": "2025-04-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which country was Caesar salad invented?", "solution": "Mexico", "alternateSolutions": "Republic of Mexico", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It was invented in Caesar's restaurant in Caesar's Hotel|It was invented while Prohibition was in force in the United States|A lot of US residents would visit this hotel to drink alcohol|The hotel is in Tijuana" }, { "id": 181, "publishDate": "2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which novelist invented a type of clasp used in bras?", "solution": "Mark Twain", "alternateSolutions": "Twain|M Twain", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "He was born in 1835 and died in 1910|He was born in Florida, Missouri and died in Redding, Connecticut|He was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens but we need his pen name|He created the characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" }, { "id": 182, "publishDate": "2025-04-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which bird native to Britain can lay an egg in 10 seconds?", "solution": "Cuckoo", "alternateSolutions": "The cuckoo|a cuckoo|cuckoos|European common cuckoo|common cuckoo|European cuckoo", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "The bird needs to lay her egg quickly before making her escape|She lays her eggs in other birds' nests|This bird's distinctive call is taken as a sign of spring in the UK|There is a type of clock named after this bird" }, { "id": 183, "publishDate": "2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Lalisa Manobal, Mook in season 3 of The White Lotus, is a member of which pop group?", "solution": "Blackpink", "alternateSolutions": "Black pink", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "She is known as Lisa in the group|It is a K-pop group|Fans are known as blinks, a portmanteau of the group's name|The group's name is two colours joined together" }, { "id": 184, "publishDate": "2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The most easterly point in the UK is at the edge of which town?", "solution": "Lowestoft", "alternateSolutions": "Lowestoft Suffolk|Lowestoft in Suffolk|\"Lowestoft|Suffolk\"", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Jack Malik, the main character of the 2019 Richard Curtis film Yesterday lived there|Although it is in East Anglia, its name contains the word \"west\"|The band the Darkness formed there in 2000|Its name starts with the opposite of high" }, { "id": 185, "publishDate": "2025-05-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which sport will appear at the 2028 Olympic Games for the first time since 1900?", "solution": "Cricket", "alternateSolutions": "T20 cricket|Twenty20 cricket", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Great Britain and France were the only competitors in 1900|The format to be played sounds like the year the Tokyo Olympics was meant to take place|It is an eleven-a-side sport|It is also the name of an insect" }, { "id": 186, "publishDate": "2025-05-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "2.5 million books including Mills & Boon romance novels were used in what civil engineering project?", "solution": "M6 Toll", "alternateSolutions": "M6|M6 Toll road|Midland Expressway|M6Toll|M6toll", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "They were mixed into tarmac in 2002-3|The tarmac was used in a 27-mile UK motorway|It was originally going to be called the Birmingham Northern Relief Road|It is an alternative to part of the motorway running from Leicestershire to Cumbria" }, { "id": 187, "publishDate": "2025-05-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 1932 the Australian government declared war on which species?", "solution": "Emu", "alternateSolutions": "Emus|the emu|emeu|an emu|emeus|the emeu", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "The war was largely unsuccessful and there are estimated to be 700,000 of this species alive today|It lives only in Australia|Its name is an abbreviation for a body Eurozone members are part of|It is a flightless bird" }, { "id": 188, "publishDate": "2025-05-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What food product was described by Margaret Thatcher as a 'wartime delicacy'?", "solution": "Spam", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "There is a museum to it in Austin, Minnesota, its main US production site|A Monty Python sketch led to this product gaining another meaning related to electronic communications|The sketch mentions this product at least 132 times|It is thought to be a portmanteau of spiced pork and ham" }, { "id": 189, "publishDate": "2025-05-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "James Pimm created his 'No. 1 Cup' as an accompaniment to which foodstuff?", "solution": "Oyster", "alternateSolutions": "An Oyster|Oysters|the oyster|Oyester", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Pimm's was to aid digestion of this food at his seafood bar in the City of London|It is often eaten with mignonette sauce|It is opened by being shucked with a special knife|It gave its name to a travel pass in London" }, { "id": 190, "publishDate": "2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which book is described on its title page as 'Translated from the Original Equine'?", "solution": "Black Beauty", "alternateSolutions": "Black Beauty|Black Beuty|Black Beautie|Black Beautty", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "Its author lived in Norfolk and died five months after its publication|It was intended for adults but is regarded as a children's book|Its author was Anna Sewell|It is the name of a horse starting with its colour" }, { "id": 191, "publishDate": "2025-05-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which olympic sport uses the largest diameter ball?", "solution": "Basketball", "alternateSolutions": "hoop|hoops|Basket ball|basktball|basquetball|basketbal", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "A size 7 ball is 23.88cm in diameter|The game is called pallacanestro in Italian|The sport was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts|It is played on a court with a hoop at each end" }, { "id": 192, "publishDate": "2025-05-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was the first ethnic minority woman elected to the UK Parliament?", "solution": "Diane Abbott", "alternateSolutions": "Abbott|Diane Abbot|Abbot|Dianne Abbott|Dianne Abbot|Diane Julie Abbott|Ms Diane Abbott", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "She was first elected in 1987|She was shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn|She is the current Mother of the House|She is the first MP in alphabetical order of surname" }, { "id": 193, "publishDate": "2025-05-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Agostino di Duccio originally started which famous sculpture?", "solution": "David ", "alternateSolutions": "Michelangelo's David|David by Michelangelo|the statue of David|David statue|Michelangelo's statue of David|Davide|davidd|daivd", "topic": "ART", "hints": "It can be seen in Florence|It was completed by Michelangelo|It is of a naked man holding a sling|He is about to defeat Goliath" }, { "id": 194, "publishDate": "2025-05-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Barthélemy de Chasseneuz made his name as a criminal lawyer in the Middle Ages for defending which kind of animal?", "solution": "Rats", "alternateSolutions": "The rat|rat|sewer rat|sewer rats", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "They were accused of destroying a crop of barley in Autun in France|He argued that they could not attend court due to fear of attack by cats and dogs|They were widely blamed for spreading the Black Death around Europe|The Pied Piper of Hamelin was also concerned with these animals" }, { "id": 195, "publishDate": "2025-05-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which musical instrument's name literally means 'jumping flea'?", "solution": "Ukulele", "alternateSolutions": "Ukelele|uke|Ukeleles|ukes|Ukuleles|the Ukulele|the Ukelele|the uke", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It was played by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole for his medley of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World|It was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants|It is a small four-stringed instrument|Its first two letters are the abbreviated form of a country" }, { "id": 196, "publishDate": "2025-05-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which modern-day country is believed to have been first visited by humans between AD1250 and AD1300?", "solution": "New Zealand", "alternateSolutions": "Aotearoa|NZ|Newzealand|New Zeland|New Zelandia", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "They arrived in canoes called waka|Later settlers named the country after a Dutch province|It is known alternatively as Aotearoa|People and some birds and fruit from there are called kiwis" }, { "id": 197, "publishDate": "2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Pizza inspired the design of which video game character?", "solution": "Pac-Man", "alternateSolutions": "pacman|pac man|packman|Puck-Man", "topic": "VIDEO GAMES", "hints": "The eponymous game was created in 1980 in Japan|The game has other characters called Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde|Pizza gave the main character its distinctive shape|The game and the character were originally called Puck Man" }, { "id": 198, "publishDate": "2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The U2 song Shadows and Tall Trees was named after of a chapter of which book?", "solution": "Lord of the Flies", "alternateSolutions": "The Lord of the Flies|Lord of Flies|Lord of the Flys|Lord of Flys", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "It was made into a film in 1990 starring Balthazar Getty as Ralph|The book's title is the meaning of Beelzebub|It was written by William Golding|It is about boys stranded on a desert island" }, { "id": 199, "publishDate": "2025-05-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The pupil of a cuttlefish's eye is shaped like which letter of the alphabet?", "solution": "W", "alternateSolutions": "A W|double-u|double u|double-you|the w|w shaped", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is the shape of one of the 12 pentominoes|It is the meaning of 'Dubz' in hip-hop group N-Dubz|It is the chemical symbol for tungsten|It is the middle initial of former president George Bush (2001-2009)" }, { "id": 200, "publishDate": "2025-05-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which cocktail was mixed as the world's largest, at nearly 40,000 litres?", "solution": "Margarita", "alternateSolutions": "A margarita|Margerita|Marguarita|Margarita Cocktail|Margereta", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It was made in Sacramento, California in 2012 in a giant cocktail shaker|It has triple sec as one of its ingredients|Its name was the birth name of actress Rita Hayworth|Its name is the Spanish equivalent of Margaret" }, { "id": 201, "publishDate": "2025-05-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US city's airport code is MSY, standing for Moisant Stock Yards?", "solution": "New Orleans", "alternateSolutions": "NOLA|New Orlean|New Orleens|New Orlins", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The airport is now named after Louis Armstrong|Hurricane Katrina devastated this city in 2005|The name of the state it is in also starts with Louis|One of the city's nicknames is NOLA" }, { "id": 202, "publishDate": "2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the word for three strikes in a row in ten-pin bowling?", "solution": "Turkey", "alternateSolutions": "A turkey|Turky|Turkee|Terkie", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It is the name of a bird|Conversely, it also means a complete failure|It is the name of a country on the Mediterranean|It is traditionally served at Thanksgiving in the US and Christmas in the UK" }, { "id": 203, "publishDate": "2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country gives its name to a kind of neckwear?", "solution": "Croatia", "alternateSolutions": "the Republic of Croatia|Coratia|Croacia|Kroatia", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It adopted the euro in 2023|Its coat of arms features a red and white checkerboard pattern|The neckwear item is called a cravat in the UK|The country is Hrvatska in its own language" }, { "id": 204, "publishDate": "2025-05-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which Unicef children's ambassador has a boyfriend called Dear Daniel?", "solution": "Hello Kitty", "alternateSolutions": "Kitty White", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "She lives in a London suburb|She is five apples tall and has a twin sister called Mimmy|She is a 'global marketing phenomenon' originating in Japan|She might be what you say when you meet a cat" }, { "id": 205, "publishDate": "2025-05-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What crop does singer-songwriter Jason Mraz grow on his farm?", "solution": "Avocado", "alternateSolutions": "avocados|avocadoes|the avocado|an avocado", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "He supplies over 13 tons of this crop to the Chipotle chain of restaurants in California|In French, the word for this foodstuff is the same as for 'lawyer'|It used to be called an alligator pear|It is used to make guacamole" }, { "id": 206, "publishDate": "2025-05-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which fashion house supplied the tent that Roald Amundsen took to the South Pole?", "solution": "Burberry", "alternateSolutions": "Burberrys|burberries", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "The company was founded in 1856 in Basingstoke|Its logo is a charging knight with 'prorsum' (forwards) on his banner|It makes raincoats and uses a distinctive black, white, camel and red check pattern|Its first three letters mean a prickly seed case and last five a small fruit" }, { "id": 207, "publishDate": "2025-05-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What number of points was originally awarded for a try in rugby?", "solution": "Zero", "alternateSolutions": "nothing|nil|0|none|nought|naught|no points", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Italian mathematician Fibonacci is credited with introducing this number to Europe|It is one of two digits used in binary systems|The name for a score of this in tennis comes from 'l'oeuf', the egg in French|In cricket a score of this is known as a duck" }, { "id": 208, "publishDate": "2025-05-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What pet did Lord Byron keep in his rooms at university?", "solution": "Bear", "alternateSolutions": "the bear|a bear|bears", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "This animal's eight species live across habitats ranging from the arctic to the equator|There are great and little constellations of this animal|It is the symbol of Russia, Berlin, California and Warwickshire|A fictional one is named after a London railway station" }, { "id": 209, "publishDate": "2025-05-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Where is the only place in the UK that Elvis Presley is confirmed to have visited?", "solution": "Prestwick airport", "alternateSolutions": "Prestwick|Prestwick Ayrshire|Ayrshire|Glasgow airport|Glasgow Prestwick|Glasgow Prestwick Airport", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is in Scotland|It is an airport where his plane was refuelling|A campaign to rename it after local poet Robert Burns was rejected by the Scottish government in 2014|Its name sounds like part of a candle that has been flattened" }, { "id": 210, "publishDate": "2025-05-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the word for a member of the first City of London livery company in order of precedence?", "solution": "Mercer", "alternateSolutions": "Mercers|a mercer|the mercers", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Treatment of cotton with sodium hydroxide is this plus 'isation'|It is the surname of two former Conservative MPs, both also former British army officers|It means a merchant, specifically dealing in textiles|It begins with an abbreviated name for a German make of car" }, { "id": 211, "publishDate": "2025-05-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Frozen oxygen is a shade of which rainbow colour?", "solution": "Blue", "alternateSolutions": "the colour blue", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The hexadecimal colour code 0000FF represents this colour|Versions of this colour include Prussian, cobalt and Egyptian|One of Gainsborough's best-known works is 'The ____ Boy' of this colour|It is the next word in the rhyme that starts 'Roses are red, violets are'" }, { "id": 212, "publishDate": "2025-05-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the only person to have won Oscars for both writing and acting?", "solution": "Emma Thompson", "alternateSolutions": "Emma Thomson|Dame Emma Thompson|Dame Emma Thomson", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "Her father wrote and narrated The Magic Roundabout|She was a member of the Cambridge Footlights revue group in 1981|Her Oscars were for acting in Howards End and for the screenplay of Sense and Sensibility|She played Sybil Trelawney in the Harry Potter films and the title role in Nanny McPhee" }, { "id": 213, "publishDate": "2025-05-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which flower was planted at Chernobyl and Fukushima because of its ability to neutralise radiation?", "solution": "Sunflower", "alternateSolutions": "sunflowers|the sunflower|a sunflower", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Kansas has this flower as its nickname|Lanyards with it indicate hidden disabilities in the UK|It is called 'tournesol' in French|Van Gogh painted a number of different paintings of vases containing several of them" }, { "id": 214, "publishDate": "2025-05-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Composer Arnold Schoenberg called his opera Moses und Aron, not Moses and Aaron, because of his fear of what?", "solution": "The number thirteen ", "alternateSolutions": "Thirteen|13|the number 13", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The fear of this has affected tall building design|The fear of this is called triskaidekaphobia|Schoenberg died on Friday 13 July 1951|He named the opera to avoid the title having this number of letters" }, { "id": 215, "publishDate": "2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the longest river in Scotland?", "solution": "Tay ", "alternateSolutions": "River Tay|the river Tay|the Tay", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It runs through Perth|A bridge over it collapsed in 1879, as commemorated in a poem by William McGonagall|It was the name of a Twitter chatbot launched in 2016 but rapidly dropped for offensive content|It is an Irish word for 'tea'" }, { "id": 216, "publishDate": "2025-06-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the only woman to have appeared on US paper money?", "solution": "Martha Washington", "alternateSolutions": "Mrs Washington|Mrs George Washington|George Washington's wife", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Her maiden name was Dandridge, one of the politically prominent First Families of Virginia|She is buried at Mount Vernon|Her husband appears on the one dollar bill|She was the first first lady, although the term was not yet in use" }, { "id": 217, "publishDate": "2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the surname of the Frenchman who popularised the flying trapeze?", "solution": "Leotard", "alternateSolutions": "Jules Leotard|Léotard|Jules Léotard|Leotarde|Leoterd|Leo Tard", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The item of clothing he invented for his act is named after him|He called it a maillot. It wasn't named after him until after his death|It is a skin-tight unisex garment that covers the torso|It is one letter different from a big cat native to Africa and Asia" }, { "id": 218, "publishDate": "2025-06-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In the 2019 meme of Brittany Broski hating and then liking something, what was she trying?", "solution": "kombucha", "alternateSolutions": "kombucha tea|komboocha|kombusha|comboocha|combucha|combusha|Kombutcha|Kambucha", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It is a drink|It originated in China|It is a type of fermented tea|It is an anagram of 'cab hokum'" }, { "id": 219, "publishDate": "2025-06-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which company makes the most tyres per year in the world, more than 300 million?", "solution": "Lego", "alternateSolutions": "legos|the Lego group|leggo", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "Its motto is 'only the best is good enough'|The tyres are small and made from plastic|It is a toy company founded in 1932|The company name comes from the Danish for 'play well'" }, { "id": 220, "publishDate": "2025-06-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the surname of Woody in the Toy Story films?", "solution": "Pride ", "alternateSolutions": "pryde", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It is the name of a 2014 British historical comedy-drama film|It is often associated with the LGBTQ community|It is the collective name for a group of lions|It is said to come before a fall" }, { "id": 221, "publishDate": "2025-06-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is Volkswagen part number 199 398 500 A?", "solution": "currywurst", "alternateSolutions": "wurst|sausage|bockwurst|Currybockwurst|Volkswagen currywurst|VW currywurst|curry wurst|curryworst", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "8.5 million were sold in 2024, more than Volkswagen cars|It is edible|It comes in two sizes, 13cm long and 25cm long, and says 'Volkswagen Originalteil' along its side|It is a sausage served with spicy tomato sauce" }, { "id": 222, "publishDate": "2025-06-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": " Which national capital's name is believed to derive from 'Danish town' or 'Danish castle'?", "solution": "Tallinn", "alternateSolutions": "tallin|talinn|talin|Tallyn", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is on the Gulf of Finland|Its country became independent in 1991 following the 'singing revolution'|Its country's flag is blue, black and white|Its country is Estonia" }, { "id": 223, "publishDate": "2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Cancer medicines vincristine and vinblastine are derived from which flowering plant?", "solution": "periwinkle", "alternateSolutions": "perriwinkle|perrywinkle|Peri Winkle|Periwinkles|Madagascar Periwinkle|Vinca|Vinca Periwinkle|lesser periwinkle", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is sometimes called bright eyes or old maid|It is a ground cover plant that has given its name to a shade of blue|It is also the name of a small seashell|The first four letters describe Gilbert & Sullivan's Iolanthe and the rest complete 'Rip Van ...'" }, { "id": 224, "publishDate": "2025-06-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Griffon Bruxellois dog breed was used as the basis for which fictional creatures?", "solution": "Ewok", "alternateSolutions": "ewoks|the ewok|the ewoks|ewoq", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "They featured in a 1983 film|They lived on a moon called Endor|Star Wars director George Lucas based the look of the creatures on his own dogs|Lucas took the name from another Star Wars creature, 'wookiee', but swapped the syllables" }, { "id": 225, "publishDate": "2025-06-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Mongolian and Siberian nomads used bricks of what as currency?", "solution": "Tea", "alternateSolutions": "tea leaves|black tea", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Tasseography is a method of divination using this|It comes from the species Camellia sinensis|The clipper Cutty Sark carried this as cargo|It sounds like a letter of the alphabet" }, { "id": 226, "publishDate": "2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "At a dinner party in 1965, what did George Harrison's dentist secretly add to his and John Lennon's coffee?", "solution": "LSD", "alternateSolutions": "acid|lysergic acid|lysergic acid diethylamide", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It was first synthesised in 1938|It is more usually taken on small pieces of blotting paper|Its three-letter abbreviation was also a term for the UK's pre-decimal currency system|The Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was believed to hint at this substance" }, { "id": 227, "publishDate": "2025-06-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country has the highest lowest point?", "solution": "Lesotho", "alternateSolutions": "Kingdom of Lesotho|the Kingdom of Lesotho|lesoto|Lesothoo|Lesothoh", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "This country's lowest point is higher than the summit of Ben Nevis|Its flag has a hat on it called a mokorotlo|It was formerly called Basutoland|It is an enclave entirely surrounded by South Africa" }, { "id": 228, "publishDate": "2025-06-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What man-made object is currently farthest from Earth?", "solution": "Voyager 1", "alternateSolutions": "Voyager 1 space probe|Voyager 1 NASA space probe|Voyager 1 probe|Voyager 1 NASA probe|Voyagger One", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It was originally going to be called Mariner 11|It and its twin contain records including a medley Sounds From Earth|It was launched 16 days after its twin despite having the number 1|Its first six letters are the name of Abba's virtual concert installation in London" }, { "id": 229, "publishDate": "2025-06-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which actress got her big break through an argument at a bank?", "solution": "Charlize Theron", "alternateSolutions": "Theron|Sharlize Theron|Charlise Theron", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "She has been the face of Dior's J'Adore perfume|She was born in Benoni, South Africa|She won an Oscar for the lead role in the 2003 film Monster|Her surname is an anagram of 'hornet'" }, { "id": 230, "publishDate": "2025-06-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who or what is Major General Sir Nils Olav III?", "solution": "Penguin", "alternateSolutions": "king penguin|a penguin|penguins|a king penguin|king penguins|Pengwin|Penguine", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "He is the mascot of the King's Guard of Norway despite being a king himself|Being a king, he is somewhat smaller than an emperor|He lives in Edinburgh with around 100 others of the same family|He is a flightless bird" }, { "id": 231, "publishDate": "2025-06-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Whose reported last words translate to 'do not disturb my circles'?", "solution": "Archimedes", "alternateSolutions": "Archimedes of Syracuse|Archimedes of Siracusa|Archimides|Archemedes|Arkhimedes", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He lived in what is now Syracuse in Sicily|He invented a 'screw' to raise water from a lower to a higher level|He is said to have jumped out of the bath after one of his discoveries|His name contains the word 'chime'" }, { "id": 232, "publishDate": "2025-06-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "At which university was the first gig where Led Zeppelin used that name?", "solution": "University of Surrey", "alternateSolutions": "The University of Surrey|Surrey University|Surrey", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The building where the concert was held was in Battersea Park Road, London|The university takes its name from the county in which it is based|The (This county) with the fringe on top was a song in Oklahoma!|The university is based in Guildford but the county's cricket club plays at the Oval in Kennington" }, { "id": 233, "publishDate": "2025-06-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which chemical element is named after someone who is still alive?", "solution": "Oganesson", "alternateSolutions": "Og|Oganessian|Oganesan|Oganessonium|Oganesanium", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The forename of the person after whom the element is named is Yuri and he was born in 1933|At number 118 it has the highest number of any element on the periodic table|Its symbol is Og|Its name contains that of a loch famous for its supposed monster" }, { "id": 234, "publishDate": "2025-06-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which Shakespeare play does the title character appear as a ghost?", "solution": "Julius Caesar", "alternateSolutions": "Julius Ceasar|Julius Cesar|Julius Cesare|Julius Ceasar|Julias Caesar|Julious Caesar", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The ghost appears to the character's killer|The title character was a real person|He died in 44BC|The month after June is named after him" }, { "id": 235, "publishDate": "2025-06-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which country is the world's largest football stadium by capacity?", "solution": "North Korea", "alternateSolutions": "Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea|DPRK|N Korea|North Corea", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "This country has participated in only two men's World Cup finals, in 1966 and 2010 |It was the first Asian country to proceed past the group stage|The country is the northern part of a divided peninsula |The stadium is in Pyongyang" }, { "id": 236, "publishDate": "2025-06-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which sign of the zodiac is 'Yay Burcu' in Turkish?", "solution": "Sagittarius", "alternateSolutions": "Saggitarius|sagitarius|saggittarius|archer|the archer|Sagittarious", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This sign's constellation contains an asterism known as the teapot|Yay can also mean 'bow'|This sign is represented by a centaur|A novelist with the first name Jeffrey has its English name as his surname" }, { "id": 237, "publishDate": "2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Whose son recorded his father's occupation as 'wizard' when he enlisted in the army?", "solution": "JRR Tolkien", "alternateSolutions": "Tolkien|Tolkein|JRR Tolkein|John Ronald Reuel Tolkien|J Tolkien|John Tolkien|John Tolkein|J Tolkein|JR Tolkien|J R R Tolkien|J.R.R. Tolkien", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The father was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa|He was a writer and professor of Anglo-Saxon based in Oxford|The first six words of one of his books are 'In a hole in the ground'|The next three words of that book are 'lived a hobbit'" }, { "id": 238, "publishDate": "2025-06-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Salvador Dali created a portait of which singer's brain using chocolate eclairs, ants and diamonds?", "solution": "Alice Cooper", "alternateSolutions": "", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The singer's stage name was previously his band's name|He was born Vincent Furnier in Detroit but the band originated in Phoenix|His most successful single was School's Out|He shares his first name with a Lewis Carroll character who visits Wonderland" }, { "id": 239, "publishDate": "2025-06-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A triangle of land between Wakefield, Leeds and Bradford is famous for what crop?", "solution": "Rhubarb", "alternateSolutions": "rubarb|roobarb", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It is actually a vegetable but is used like a fruit|On stage this word is repeated to represent a crowd murmuring|The name of a cartoon dog on the BBC in the 1970s was a homophone of this|It sounds like the French for 'beard street'" }, { "id": 240, "publishDate": "2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who, along with his wife, paid the hospital bill when Julia Roberts was born?", "solution": "Martin Luther King ", "alternateSolutions": "Martin Luther King Jr|Martin Luther King Junior|MLK|MLK Jr|MLK Junior|Martin Luther King Jnr|Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King|Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "He knew Julia Roberts' parents because they ran a racially integrated theatre troupe in Georgia|His father changed both their names to include the name of a reformation leader after a visit to Germany|He was a civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1968|He gave a speech in 1963 containing the words 'I have a dream' " }, { "id": 241, "publishDate": "2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What boxing weight class between cruiser and heavy was established in 2020?", "solution": "Bridgerweight", "alternateSolutions": "bridger|Bridger Weight", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It was named after a six-year-old boy's first name|If you substitute 'ton' for 'weight' it forms the title of a regency drama that launched in 2020|The part of the word before 'weight' could refer to someone creating a river crossing|The first syllable is a card game involving tricks and trumps" }, { "id": 242, "publishDate": "2025-06-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which fish becomes royal property if it is caught or landed in British waters?", "solution": "Sturgeon", "alternateSolutions": "The sturgeon|sturgeons|a sturgeon|Acipenseridae|Sturgon|Sturgin|Sturgen", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Because they have 'scutes' rather than scales, these fish are not considered kosher by many|The largest fish of this family recorded was 7.2 metres (23ft 7in) long|It is the last name of a former first minister of Scotland|It is the fish that produces caviar " }, { "id": 243, "publishDate": "2025-06-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The first 1km-tall building is being built in which city?", "solution": "Jeddah", "alternateSolutions": "Jedda|Jiddah|Jidda", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "An archaeological site there is supposedly the tomb of Eve|It is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia|It is host to the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Formula 1 race|It is an anagram of 'head DJ'" }, { "id": 244, "publishDate": "2025-06-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "At which building do Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, Edgar, Georgie, Chaos, Henry and Poe live?", "solution": "Tower of London", "alternateSolutions": "The Tower of London|The Tower", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "George used to live there but was dismissed for eating television aerials|Nearly 900,000 ceramic poppies were installed there in 2014|It is said that Britain will fall if this site's resident corvids leave|The Crown Jewels can be seen there" }, { "id": 245, "publishDate": "2025-07-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only British Overseas Territory where one drives on the right?", "solution": "Gibraltar", "alternateSolutions": "Gib|The Rock|Gibralter|Gibralta|Jibralter", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its name derives from the Arabic for 'Mount of Tariq'|It bid to become a city in 2022 but had been granted that status already in 1842|80 per cent of its electorate voted to remain with the European Union|It is built on a rock at the southern tip of Spain" }, { "id": 246, "publishDate": "2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What colour M&Ms did Van Halen forbid in their dressing room?", "solution": "Brown", "alternateSolutions": "brown ones|the brown ones|brown M&Ms", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The Japanese for this colour is cha-iro, 'iro' meaning colour|The family that took in Paddington Bear had this colour as a surname|London's Bakerloo Line is this colour on a tube map|A UK Prime Minister had this colour as a surname" }, { "id": 247, "publishDate": "2025-07-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What does the 's' stand for in the acronym 'taser'?", "solution": "Swift", "alternateSolutions": "the swift", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "The word was taken from the surname of a fictional adventurer in a series of books from over 100 years ago|The word is used as an acronym, for an international money transfer system|It is also the name of a very fast bird|It is the surname of satirist Jonathan and singer Taylor" }, { "id": 248, "publishDate": "2025-07-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What drink was Bill Clinton refused when he ordered it at the Old Bell in Harrogate in 2001?", "solution": "snakebite", "alternateSolutions": "a snakebite|snakebites", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Its name is a word for what caused the grass at Wimbledon to be cut shorter from 1949|Darts player Peter Wright has this nickname|A copperhead or a taipan might give you this|It is a mixture of beer and cider" }, { "id": 249, "publishDate": "2025-07-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What sitcom saved a man from death row after footage from filming confirmed his alibi?", "solution": "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "alternateSolutions": "Curb", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The episode of this sitcom was filmed at Dodger Stadium, where the man had been sitting next to the sitcom's star|This incident was the subject of the 2017 documentary Long Shot|The star of the show is Larry David|The show's three-word title means 'don't get so excited'" }, { "id": 250, "publishDate": "2025-07-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What did Babe Ruth wear a leaf of under his hat to keep cool?", "solution": "cabbage", "alternateSolutions": "Cabbage leaf|cabbage leaves|a cabbage leaf|some cabbage", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It was the first word of a line of dolls launched in 1983|It can be spelt entirely with musical notes|It rhymes with the surname of early computer scientist Charles|It is the main ingredient of coleslaw" }, { "id": 251, "publishDate": "2025-07-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who ate a meal of beef and liver paste and chocolate sauce on 12 April 1961?", "solution": "Yuri Gagarin", "alternateSolutions": "Gagarin|Y Gagarin|Yuri Gaggarin|Gaggarin", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It was served by squeezing tubes containing the food|He was eating the first meal consumed by a human in space|On returning to Earth he was awarded the Order of Lenin|His surname starts with singer Lady ____'s name" }, { "id": 252, "publishDate": "2025-07-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The inventor of candyfloss had what profession?", "solution": "Dentistry", "alternateSolutions": "A dentist|dentist|dental surgeon|dental surgery", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Pierre Fauchard is regarded as the father of this profession|The first UK school of this profession opened in Leicester Square in the 1850s|Laurence Olivier played someone of this profession in the film Marathon Man|This profession is concerned with molars and incisors" }, { "id": 253, "publishDate": "2025-07-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country is in the northern, southern, eastern and western hemispheres?", "solution": "Kiribati", "alternateSolutions": "Kiribass|the Republic of Kiribati|kirabati|kiribata", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its flag is a frigatebird above a sun over the sea|It is an island country in Micronesia, in the Pacific Ocean|At its first Olympics in Athens in 2004, its name was mispronounced by officials in English, French and Greek|It starts with the name of a cocktail made of wine and creme de cassis" }, { "id": 254, "publishDate": "2025-07-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which mammal sleeps the most?", "solution": "Koala", "alternateSolutions": "the koala|a koala|koala bear|a koala bear|the koala bear", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Its name comes from the Dharug for 'no water'|It is not a bear but is often called one|It eats mainly eucalyptus leaves|It lives only in Australia" }, { "id": 255, "publishDate": "2025-07-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which European country's prime minister's surname is the name of another European country?", "solution": "Portugal", "alternateSolutions": "Portuguese|Portugal's|Portugal's prime minister|portugal's PM", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Both countries have a coat of arms on their flags|The prime minister's first name is Luis|His last name is Montenegro|The Algarve is the southernmost region of this country" }, { "id": 256, "publishDate": "2025-07-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The myth that carrots help you see in the dark was popularised to mask advances in what technology?", "solution": "Radar", "alternateSolutions": "The radar|radar technology|radar systems", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "The technology was first used during the Second World War|RAF pilots' success in night battles was due to this technology, not to eating carrots as the Air Ministry said|It was the nickname of a character in the film and TV series M*A*S*H|It is a five-letter acronym and palindrome" }, { "id": 257, "publishDate": "2025-07-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which city did the tradition of singing national anthems before international sports matches originate?", "solution": "Cardiff", "alternateSolutions": "Caerdydd", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The author Roald Dahl was born in this city|Doctor Who was produced there after its relaunch in 2005|At a rugby match in this city in 1905 the All Blacks performed a haka and the home team responded by singing|The song they sang was Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers)" }, { "id": 258, "publishDate": "2025-07-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What term denotes a central Manhattan theatre with a capacity of between 100 and 499 seats?", "solution": "Off-Broadway", "alternateSolutions": "Off of Broadway|Off Broadway|Offbroadway", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The term formerly indicated the location of the theatres|The term is a prefix followed by a street name|The street name can follow Ealing, Fulham and Tooting to make the names of London Tube stations|The prefix is the opposite of on" }, { "id": 259, "publishDate": "2025-07-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the name popularly given to a member of the movement whose motto was 'deeds, not words'?", "solution": "Suffragette", "alternateSolutions": "Suffragettes|a suffragette|Women's Social and Political Union|WSPU|The suffragettes", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The name was mockingly coined by a Daily Mail journalist in 1906|The movement was suspended at the outbreak of the First World War|Actions taken by supporters included chaining themselves to railings, bombing, arson and hunger strikes|The movement's aim of votes for women was later achieved through acts of parliament in 1918 and 1928" }, { "id": 260, "publishDate": "2025-07-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "An old Caribbean word for 'frame of sticks' gives us which English word?", "solution": "Barbecue", "alternateSolutions": "barbie|BBQ|the barbecue|a barbecue|barbeque|a barbeque|the barbeque|a barbie|the barbie|a BBQ|the BBQ", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It is a way to cook food|Other names for it from different countries include asado and braai|It is often abbreviated to three letters, of which it is a near-homophone|Particularly in Australia it is abbreviated to the same name as a popular doll" }, { "id": 261, "publishDate": "2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which artist was born Emmanuel Radnitzky but later refused to acknowledge this?", "solution": "Man Ray", "alternateSolutions": "Ray", "topic": "ART", "hints": "Born in Philadelphia in 1890, he was an innovative photographer as well as a painter|One of his most famous works is a woman's back made to look like a violin|You could make the name by which he is known by removing 11 letters from his real name|His surname means a beam of light" }, { "id": 262, "publishDate": "2025-07-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which bird can fly backwards for a significant time?", "solution": "Hummingbird", "alternateSolutions": "Hummingbirds|the Hummingbird|a Hummingbird|humming bird|a humming bird|the humming bird", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is the name of a 2013 film starring Jason Statham|Types of these birds include topazes, coquettes and mangoes|One species of this is the smallest living bird|It is named after the sound made by the rapid beating of its wings" }, { "id": 263, "publishDate": "2025-07-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which rock band held a concert in Antarctica in 2013?", "solution": "Metallica", "alternateSolutions": "metalica|Metellica|Mettallica", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The band sued Napster for copyright infringement in 2001, contributing to Napster's bankruptcy|The band was formed via a small ad that started 'Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with'|The band's best-performing singles in the UK were Enter Sandman and Until It Sleeps|The band's name is an anagram of 'camel tail'" }, { "id": 264, "publishDate": "2025-07-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A two-euro coin from which country has the word 'France' on it?", "solution": "Slovenia", "alternateSolutions": "Republic of Slovenia|Slovinia|Sloveniya|Slovennia", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "This country joined the euro in 2007|France is the first name of a poet from this country whose surname is 'Prešeren'|It borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia|It is the only country with 'love' in its name" }, { "id": 265, "publishDate": "2025-07-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which children's book was written by James Bond novelist Ian Fleming?", "solution": "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "alternateSolutions": "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang - the Magical Car|Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang|Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang the Magical Car|Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang|the Magical Car|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Magical Car|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Magic Car", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "It was made into a film in 1968|It is largely set in the fictional country of Vulgaria|It features the villain the Child Catcher|The book's subtitle is The Magical Car" }, { "id": 266, "publishDate": "2025-07-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the surname of the man who designed the framework of the Statue of Liberty in New York City?", "solution": "Eiffel", "alternateSolutions": "Gustave Eiffel|Eifell|Eiffell|Eifel|Eifel|Eyfel", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He shares his first name with the author Flaubert|He is better known for another structure, which a US woman 'married' in 2007|This second structure, which is named after him, is the most visited paid attraction in the world|The structure named after him is a tower in Paris" }, { "id": 267, "publishDate": "2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the term for 'veterans' used by some sports, eg rowing, intended to be less pejorative?", "solution": "Masters", "alternateSolutions": "master|a master", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The Bible (Matthew vi, 24) says no one can serve two of these|With an apostrophe, it is a familiar term for a one-year post-graduate degree|A US golf tournament is known by this name|It is the male equivalent of mistresses" }, { "id": 268, "publishDate": "2025-07-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which former island nation fought a war with the UK in 1896 that lasted 38-45 minutes?", "solution": "Zanzibar", "alternateSolutions": "Zanziba|Zanzeebar|Zanaibar island|Zanzabar|Zanziber|Zanzibare", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its main islands are Pemba and Unguja|It is well-known for its spices|It joined with another country in 1964, their new name formed from those of both countries|The other country was Tanganyika" }, { "id": 269, "publishDate": "2025-07-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US president previously co-owned a haberdashery shop?", "solution": "Harry S Truman", "alternateSolutions": "Harry S. Truman|HS Truman|H.S. Truman|Truman|H S Truman|Trueman|Harry S Trueman|Harry Truman|Harry Trueman", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "His shop in Kansas City went bust in 1922|He gave his name to a doctrine that formed the basis for US postwar foreign policy|His middle initial, 'S', doesn't stand for a specific middle name|His surname is the blank in the Jim Carrey film The ___ Show" }, { "id": 270, "publishDate": "2025-07-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which beer can trace the origin of its logo back to 1366?", "solution": "Stella Artois", "alternateSolutions": "Stella|Stella Artios|Stela Artois", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The logo features a hunting horn|The company that first produced the beer was founded in Leuven in Belgium|The beer's first word is the name of Paul McCartney's daughter|From 1982 to 2007 it used the slogan 'reassuringly expensive'" }, { "id": 271, "publishDate": "2025-07-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which city was once called Batmania?", "solution": "Melbourne", "alternateSolutions": "Narrm|Naarm|Melbourn|Melborne|Melburne", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It was named after John Batman in around 1836|It was then renamed after a UK prime minister who was a viscount|It is in Australia|It is Australia's second largest city after Sydney" }, { "id": 272, "publishDate": "2025-07-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which pop single was calculated in 2014 to be the catchiest, being most quickly recognised?", "solution": "Wannabe", "alternateSolutions": "Wannabee|Wanabe|Wannabee|wanna be", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It was released in 1996|It was the debut single from the Spice Girls|It contains the words 'zigazig ah'|Its title means a fantasist, or someone who is trying to be something they are not" }, { "id": 273, "publishDate": "2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "For what artistic medium is New Zealander Maurice Bennett best known?", "solution": "Toast", "alternateSolutions": "pieces of toast|toasts|some toast|bread|slices of toast|a piece of toast|a slice of toast", "topic": "ART", "hints": "He depicted Barack Obama using 4,234 pieces of it|The word has the informal meaning of 'doomed'|It can also mean a wish for good health|It is made from bread" }, { "id": 274, "publishDate": "2025-07-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which sport was once known as poona?", "solution": "Badminton", "alternateSolutions": "the sport of badminton|baddminton", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The current men's singles Olympic champion is Viktor Axelsen of Denmark|This sport got that name from the Indian town of Pune|It is now named after a village east of Old Sodbury in Gloucestershire|The place it is named after was called Madmintune in the Domesday Book " }, { "id": 275, "publishDate": "2025-07-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the name (in English) of the only known albino gorilla?", "solution": "Snowflake", "alternateSolutions": "snoflake|Snow-flake|Snow flake", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It was also the name of a Cadbury chocolate bar discontinued in the UK in 2008|The word can mean a person, usually young, who is fragile and quick to take offence|The word's primary meaning is a product of nature that is roughly hexagonal in shape|It is an individual crystal that may fall in winter" }, { "id": 276, "publishDate": "2025-08-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The average colour of the galaxies of the universe is called cosmic what?", "solution": "latte", "alternateSolutions": "cafe latte|late|cosmic latte|cosmic late", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is a beigeish-white colour|The name was chosen by a group of astronomers in preference to 'cappuccino cosmico'|It is the Italian for milk|It is a one-word term for a milky coffee" }, { "id": 277, "publishDate": "2025-08-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the regnal number of Egypt's last and best-known Queen Cleopatra?", "solution": "VII", "alternateSolutions": "7|seven|seventh|7th|the seventh|the 7th|number 7|number seven|VIIth|the VII", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It is also the latest (2025) version of the strategy game Civilization|Only the names Henry and Edward have reached this regnal number among English/UK monarchs|The Star Wars film with this number is The Force Awakens|It is the number of deadly sins in the Christian tradition" }, { "id": 278, "publishDate": "2025-08-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the first advertisement on Channel 5 for?", "solution": "Chanel No 5", "alternateSolutions": "Chanel no five|chanel no.5|chanel number five|chanel number 5|chanel 5|chanel five|chanel no. 5", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "This product was launched on May 5, 1921|Its creator was a French designer who collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War|It is a well-known perfume|Its name is appropriately close to that of Channel 5" }, { "id": 279, "publishDate": "2025-08-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who is the only British player to have been named player of the month in Spain's 'La Liga' ?", "solution": "Jude Bellingham", "alternateSolutions": "Bellingham|Belingham|Jude Bellingham|Jude Belingham|Jude Victor William Bellingham", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "He signed for Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 for about £90 million|His surname is a village in Northumberland|His younger brother Jobe now plays for Borussia Dortmund|His first name follows 'Hey' in the title of a 1968 Beatles hit single" }, { "id": 280, "publishDate": "2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "According to Ofcom in 2024, an edition of which TV programme has received the most ever complaints?", "solution": "Good Morning Britain", "alternateSolutions": "GMB|Goodmorning Britain|GM Britain|G.M.B.|G M B", "topic": "POP CULTURE", "hints": "It was broadcast on 8 March 2021|It was about an Oprah Winfrey interview|The presenter was Piers Morgan|The programme's three-word name could be a greeting to the country" }, { "id": 281, "publishDate": "2025-08-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "From what items were the soles of Doc Martens boots originally made?", "solution": "tyres", "alternateSolutions": "tires|old tyres|old tires|used tyres|used tires|tire|tyre|rubber tyres|rubber tires|tyre rubber|tire rubber|car tyres|car tires|car tyre|car tire|used car tyres|used car tires", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "This word is spelt differently in the UK and the US|The singular form of the UK spelling is a city in Lebanon|The US spelling means 'exhausts'|Like exhausts, they are parts of a car" }, { "id": 282, "publishDate": "2025-08-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What English word derives from the Latin word for 'concerning maid-servants'?", "solution": "Ancillary", "alternateSolutions": "ancilary|ancilliary|anciliary", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It means auxiliary or subsidiary|It can be followed by staff, services or revenue|It contains a Liverpudlian singer's first name|It is an anagram of cranially" }, { "id": 283, "publishDate": "2025-08-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Syn-Propanethial-S-oxide is an irritant released by what action?", "solution": "Cutting onions", "alternateSolutions": "slicing onions|cutting up onions|chopping up onions|dicing onions|mincing onions|onion-chopping|onion-slicing|onion-cutting|onions|chopping onions|preparing onions|grating onions|peeling onions|onion-peeling|slicing onion|cutting up onion|chopping up onion|dicing onion|mincing onion|chopping onion|preparing onion|grating onion|peeling onion|slicing an onion|cutting up an onion|chopping up an onion|dicing an onion|mincing an onion|chopping an onion|preparing an onion|grating an onion|peeling an onion", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The irritation caused as a result of the action is to the eyes|The irritant released by this action comes from a plant of the Allium genus |Techniques for avoiding irritation from the action include running water or wearing goggles|The action usually involves knives in the kitchen" }, { "id": 284, "publishDate": "2025-08-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which fictional character was originally going to have the surname Puckle?", "solution": "Hermione Granger", "alternateSolutions": "Hermione|Hermione from Harry Potter|Hermoine|Hermoine Granger|Hermione Granger|Hermoine Grainger", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "She shares her first name with the daughter of Helen of Troy and her husband King Menelaus of Sparta|Her actual surname means 'farm bailiff'|She is insultingly referred to as a 'mudblood'|She is friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley" }, { "id": 285, "publishDate": "2025-08-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 2020, the head of state of which country visited Calypso Deep, the deepest point of the Mediterranean?", "solution": "Monaco", "alternateSolutions": "the Principality of Monaco|Principality of Monaco", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "In Italian, a German city has the same name as this country|The head of state is Albert II|People from this country are called Monegasque|It is the world's second-smallest sovereign state and contains Monte Carlo" }, { "id": 286, "publishDate": "2025-08-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which European city has suburbs in two other countries?", "solution": "Basel", "alternateSolutions": "Basle|Basle/Basel|Basel/Basle|Bâle|Bale", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is sometimes spelt in English as an anagram of its German name|It is on the Rhine|It is in Switzerland|It was the venue for the recent Women's Euro 2025 final" }, { "id": 287, "publishDate": "2025-08-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Cotswold Olimpicks includes the sport of kicking what part of the body?", "solution": "shin", "alternateSolutions": "Shins|shinbone|the shin|the shins|the shinbone", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "As a verb, it means to climb|It is a letter of the Hebrew alphabet|The tibia is the bone in this area|It is the lower part of the leg" }, { "id": 288, "publishDate": "2025-08-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What food items were illegal to grow or eat in France between 1748 and 1772?", "solution": "potatoes", "alternateSolutions": "potato|the potato|potatos|potatoe|the potatoe|spuds|taters|tatties", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "At that time in France they were believed to cause leprosy|They are a member of the nightshade family|They were introduced to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century|They can be mashed or chipped" }, { "id": 289, "publishDate": "2025-08-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Known to have been a hoarder, which artist possessed a mummified foot?", "solution": "Andy Warhol", "alternateSolutions": "Warhol|Andrew Warhola Jr|A Warhol|Andy Warhole|Warhole|Warhola|Andy Warhola|Andrew Warhol|Andrew Warhola", "topic": "ART", "hints": "His name, and family, came from what is now Slovakia|He was born in Pittsburgh, where there is now a museum dedicated to him|The quote 'In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes' was wrongly attributed to him|He painted Campbell's Soup Cans" }, { "id": 290, "publishDate": "2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the most common given first name among UK Labour prime ministers?", "solution": "James", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "Three out of seven had this first name but none of those went by it|One of the others did go by it although it was his middle name|It is the name of one of the twelve apostles|An outlaw with the first name Jesse had this as his surname" }, { "id": 291, "publishDate": "2025-08-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which band released the longest UK No 1 single?", "solution": "Oasis", "alternateSolutions": "The Oasis", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The band was originally known as the Rain|The band's single was called All Around the World|The band performed their first show in 16 years on 4 July 2025|Their name means a fertile part of a desert" }, { "id": 292, "publishDate": "2025-08-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which branch of medicine comes from a Latin word that has the meaning 'stand in front of'?", "solution": "Obstetrics", "alternateSolutions": "Obstetric|obstetric medicine", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "Men were not widely involved in it until the 18th century|Originally it was the preserve of midwives|It contains the proofreading word for 'let it stand'|It is what the 'ob' stands for in 'ob/gyn', 'gyn' being gynaecology" }, { "id": 293, "publishDate": "2025-08-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which nation's flag has the most colours?", "solution": "Belize", "alternateSolutions": "Bileez|belice|Beliez|Beleez|Bélize|Bellize", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is the only national flag to feature two people|It is in the Americas|Until 1973 it was called British Honduras|The country name starts with the same three letters as its capital, Belmopan" }, { "id": 294, "publishDate": "2025-08-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was Evelyn Waugh's first wife's first name?", "solution": "Evelyn", "alternateSolutions": "Evelin|Evelyn Gardner|Evelyne|Evalyn|Miss Evelyn Gardner", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "Her maiden name was Gardner and, like Waugh, she was one of the Bright Young Things|Her first name is that of the main character in Everything Everywhere All at Once|It is a man's name as well as a woman's name|Evelyn Waugh was known as He-Evelyn following their marriage" }, { "id": 295, "publishDate": "2025-08-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Iron, nickel and which other element are magnetic at room temperature?", "solution": "Cobalt", "alternateSolutions": "co|Cobolt|Cobaltum", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It gives its name to a business park in North Tyneside|In the 1730s it became the first metal discovered since ancient times|It is named after a German word for a household goblin|Its symbol is Co" }, { "id": 296, "publishDate": "2025-08-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which author owned a civet farm in London?", "solution": "Daniel Defoe", "alternateSolutions": "Defoe|D Defoe|Daniel Defo|Daniel Deffo|Danial Defoe|Daniel Defow|Mr. Daniel Defoe|Daniel Défoe", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "It was a business venture to produce musk for use in perfume|He is seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel|He wrote A Journal of the Plague Year|He also wrote Robinson Crusoe" }, { "id": 297, "publishDate": "2025-08-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The African buffalo shares its nickname with which fatal event in history?", "solution": "Black Death", "alternateSolutions": "The Black Death|Black Deeth|Blak Death|The Black Plague|Black Plague|Black Deth", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The event was a pandemic caused by a disease|The disease comes from the bacterium Yersinia Pestis| It was carried by fleas and lice|It is estimated to have killedup to 50 million people in Europe in the 14th century" }, { "id": 298, "publishDate": "2025-08-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Black pepper is the king of spices but which spice is the queen?", "solution": "Cardamom", "alternateSolutions": "cardamon|cardamum|cardamun|cardemom|cardemon", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Its three main producers are India, Indonesia and Guatemala|Wrigley's Eclipse Breeze Exotic Mint chewing gum contains this|It is often encountered as a whole seed pod in pilau rice or biryani|It starts with a word for thick paper and ends with a word for mother" }, { "id": 299, "publishDate": "2025-08-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which batsman's was the only wicket taken by the writer Arthur Conan Doyle in first-class cricket?", "solution": "W G Grace", "alternateSolutions": "WG Grace|W.G. Grace|W. G. Grace|Grace|William Gilbert Grace", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The batsman was playing for London County against Marylebone Cricket Club in 1900|This player scored over 200 times as many first-class runs as Conan Doyle scored|His first names were William Gilbert|His surname is what you may say before a meal" }, { "id": 300, "publishDate": "2025-08-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which was the first UK restaurant to receive one, two and then three Michelin stars?", "solution": "Le Gavroche", "alternateSolutions": "The Gavroche|Gavroche|Le Gavrosh|Gavroche Restaurant", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It closed on 13 January 2024|It is named after a character in Les Misérables|It was owned by Michel and Albert Roux|It is an anagram of REACH GLOVE" }, { "id": 301, "publishDate": "2025-08-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "An alias used by Paul McCartney was the inspiration for which band's name?", "solution": "The Ramones", "alternateSolutions": "Ramones|Ramons|The Ramons", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "Their logo was based on the seal of the US president with the eagle holding a baseball bat|They were a punk band formed in New York City in 1974|All members adopted stage names with the same surname, of which the band was the plural|The alias Paul McCartney used was Paul Ramon" }, { "id": 302, "publishDate": "2025-08-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country's name is derived from a word meaning 'shrimps'?", "solution": "Cameroon", "alternateSolutions": "Cameron|The Cameroon|Cameroun|Kameroon|Kameroun|Republic of Cameroon|the Republic of Cameroon|Camaroon|République du Cameroun", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It was so named because Portuguese sailors saw many shrimps in the Wouri River|Paul Biya has been president of this country for more than 42 years|Its capital is Yaoundé and largest city is Douala|It was a humorous name for a follower of a 21st-century UK prime minister whose surname it closely resembles" }, { "id": 303, "publishDate": "2025-08-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 1947, a cereal company offered a Lone Ranger Atomic \"Bomb\" Ring containing which radioactive element?", "solution": "Polonium", "alternateSolutions": "Polonium 210|Polonium-210|Po|Pollonium|Palonium|Polonum|Radioactive Polonium", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "A larger quantity of the element caused the death of former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko|The element was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie|The element was named after Marie Curie's birth country|A geographer may be disappointed to find this element does not border Germanium on the periodic table" }, { "id": 304, "publishDate": "2025-08-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The last outlet in the world of which chain is in Bend, Oregon?", "solution": "Blockbuster", "alternateSolutions": "Blockbusters|Blockbuster video|Blockbuster video stores|Blockbuster video rental|block buster|Block busters|Block buster video|Block buster video stores|Block buster video rental", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "Founded in 1985, at its peak it operated more than 9,000 outlets worldwide|In the plural its name was the title of a UK game show that ran from 1983 to 2019|The word comes from a large bomb but also means a successful film|It was a video rental company" }, { "id": 305, "publishDate": "2025-08-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Silvies Valley Ranch in Oregon uses what as novelty golf caddies?", "solution": "Goats", "alternateSolutions": "a goat|some goats|four goats|the goat|Goat caddies|billy goats", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "The current caddies are Bruce, Mike, Peanut and Roundabout|They are animals|Females (like Roundabout) are called does or nannies|Juveniles are called kids" }, { "id": 306, "publishDate": "2025-08-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the name, coined in 1814 by a French chemist, for the acid in the stomach?", "solution": "Hydrochloric acid", "alternateSolutions": "Hydrochloric|Chlorhydric acid|Chlorhydric|acide chlorhydrique|Hydrochloride acid|HCl|HCl acid", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It was formerly known as spirits of salt|Aqua regia is a mixture of nitric acid and this|Its chemical symbol is HCl (with a lower-case 'L', not upper-case 'i')|Its name comes from these elements, namely hydrogen and chlorine" }, { "id": 307, "publishDate": "2025-09-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which comedy film led to the recovery of a painting missing since 1928?", "solution": "Stuart Little", "alternateSolutions": "Stewart Little|Stuart Lyttle|Stewart Lyttle|Staurt Little|Stuart Little Movie", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The painting appeared several times in the background of this film and was spotted by an art historian|The film's title character was voiced by Michael J Fox|The painting appeared on the set of the Little family's home|The title character was a white mouse" }, { "id": 308, "publishDate": "2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In the 1870s, Redditch produced up to 90% of the world's what?", "solution": "Needles", "alternateSolutions": "needle|sewing needle|sewing needles", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "Now a museum, the Forge Mill produced 3.5 billion of these per year at its peak|Large stone ones were sent from Alexandria to London and New York City in the late 1870s|A rock formation off the Isle of Wight is named after these|They are said to be hard to find in haystacks" }, { "id": 309, "publishDate": "2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who directed the 1973 Hovis advert 'Boy on the Bike'?", "solution": "Ridley Scott", "alternateSolutions": "Sir Ridley Scott|Sir Ridly Scott|Ridly Scott|Riddly Scott|Sir Ridley Scot|Sir Ridly Scot|Ridly Scot|Riddly Scot|Ridley Scot|Ridely Scott", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "He decided that the character of warrant officer Ripley in the film Alien would be a woman, not a man|His wife played Russell Crowe's wife in Gladiator|He also directed Alien and Blade Runner|His name rhymes with \"diddly squat\"" }, { "id": 310, "publishDate": "2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What did bank robbers use to try to be invisible on camera in Pittsburgh in 1995?", "solution": "lemon juice", "alternateSolutions": "lemons|lemon|some lemon juice|the juice of lemons|fruit juice|Citrus juice|a lemon", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Their inappropriate use of this substance led to the theory of overconfidence known as the 'Dunning-Kruger effect'|This substance is very acidic, with a pH level between 2 and 3|The bank robbers used it because it is used for invisible ink|There is a brand of this in the UK named Jif" }, { "id": 311, "publishDate": "2025-09-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What stationery item inspired The Very Hungry Caterpillar?", "solution": "Hole punch", "alternateSolutions": "Hole puncher|holepuncher|holepunch|punch|holemaker|hole maker|Paper punch|a Hole puncher|a holepuncher|a holepunch|a punch|a holemaker|a hole maker|a Paper punch", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "International standards specify an 80mm separation between the things it creates|Filofaxes required a special version of this item to be designed|It produces small pieces of paper called chads|Judy's companion is part of this item's name" }, { "id": 312, "publishDate": "2025-09-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The binary star Errai will become what in 1132 years' time?", "solution": "The Pole star", "alternateSolutions": "Pole star|the north star|north star|lodestar|the lodestar|lode star|the lode star|northern star|the northern star|polar star|the polar star|polestar|the polestar|northstar|the northstar|Guiding star", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This is because of Errai's position in the northern constellation of Cepheus|What it will become was formerly referred to as stella maris, star of the sea|The star it will replace in this role is Polaris|To be called this, a star must be the one nearest to Earth's northern axis" }, { "id": 313, "publishDate": "2025-09-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The most expensive work sold by a living artist is a painting of what?", "solution": "The US flag", "alternateSolutions": "US flag|U.S. flag|U.S.flag|stars and stripes|a flag|stars and bars|the stars and stripes|the stars and bars|Old Glory|the american flag|american flag|USA flag|the USA flag|U.S.A. flag|the U.S.A. flag|the flag of the US|the flag of the USA|the flag of the U.S.|the flag of the U.S.A|a US flag|a U.S. flag|a USA flag|a U.S.A flag|a stars and stripes|a stars and bars|the Red|White|and Blue|the star-spangled banner", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The painting's artist Jasper Johns has created more than 40 works depicting this object|Modern versions of the object have two more stars than the one he painted|One of its nicknames is Old Glory|The painting is called Flag" }, { "id": 314, "publishDate": "2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What English adjective is the German word for mobile phone?", "solution": "handy", "alternateSolutions": "a handy|the handy|ein handy|das handy", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "Adding an s to the front of this word makes it a drink|It means convenient or easy to use|Andy Kane on Changing Rooms had this word as part of his nickname|The first four letters of this word (out of five) are a part of the body" }, { "id": 315, "publishDate": "2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In South Korea, what do people say instead of 'cheese' when smiling for a photo?", "solution": "kimchi", "alternateSolutions": "kimchee|kimchy|kimshi|kimshee|gimshi|kim-chee|kim-chi|kim chee|kim chi", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Making this is on the Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage|It is edible|It has similarities to sauerkraut|The word has six letters staring with North Korea's leader's family name" }, { "id": 316, "publishDate": "2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only bird that pees and poos separately?", "solution": "ostrich", "alternateSolutions": "an ostrich|the ostrich|ostriches|an ostritch|the ostritch|ostritches|common ostrich|the common ostrich|Somali ostrich|the Somali ostrich", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Its two species are 'common' and 'Somali'|Hennie from the CBeebies show Hey Duggee is one|It lays the largest eggs of any living land animal|It is flightless but runs faster than any other bird" }, { "id": 317, "publishDate": "2025-09-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the most popular official state beverage among US states?", "solution": "milk", "alternateSolutions": "cow's milk|dairy milk|whole milk|fresh milk|cow milk", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Finland has the highest consumption per capita of this drink|It was the surname of US gay rights activist Harvey|50 years ago more than 90 per cent of UK households had it delivered regularly|Baby mammals drink it" }, { "id": 318, "publishDate": "2025-09-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which Brooklyn-born actor was a New York firefighter for four years?", "solution": "Steve Buscemi", "alternateSolutions": "Steven Buscemi|Buscemi|Steven Vinvent Buscemi|Steven V Buscemi|S Buscemi|Steve Bushemi|Steve Buscime|Steve Busemi|Steve Buschemi|Steven Buschemi|Buschemi|Buscemi", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "He made a cameo appearance in Pulp Fiction dressed as Buddy Holly|His breakthrough role was in Reservoir Dogs|He won a Golden Globe for his role in Boardwalk Empire|His seven-letter surname is an anagram of two consecutive words in \"If music be the food of love play on\"" }, { "id": 319, "publishDate": "2025-09-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Brussels airport sells more of what than any single shopping outlet in the world?", "solution": "Chocolate", "alternateSolutions": "chocolates|chocs|choccies|Chocolat", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The word is believed to come from the Nahuatl language|Quakers founded the three main UK companies producing this in the past 200 years|One of them, Joseph Fry, sold the first product of this for eating rather than drinking|It can be milk or dark" }, { "id": 320, "publishDate": "2025-09-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which former UK prime minister participated in the Normandy landings?", "solution": "Edward Heath", "alternateSolutions": "Heath|Ted Heath|E Heath|Sir Edward Heath|Sir Edward Richard George Heath", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "His parents were a lady's maid and a carpenter|His nicknames included \"The Grocer\" and, after leaving office, \"The Incredible Sulk\"|He helped win the Admiral's Cup yachting regatta while prime minister|His surname means barren open country" }, { "id": 321, "publishDate": "2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A licence is needed to keep an ostrich and which other bird in the UK?", "solution": "Cassowary", "alternateSolutions": "A Cassowary|the Cassowary|Cassowaries|Casowary", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It lives mainly in New Guinea|It has a helmet-like 'casque' on its head|It is flightless|It is an anagram of 'way across'" }, { "id": 322, "publishDate": "2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was mayor of the merchants of Calais in 1407?", "solution": "Richard Whittington", "alternateSolutions": "Dick Whittington|Wittington|Whittington|Richard Wittington|Dick Wittington", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He funded a 128-seat public toilet in London|There is a hospital named after him in north London|There is a statue representing his cat outside the hospital although it is thought unlikely that he had one|He was Lord Mayor of London four times" }, { "id": 323, "publishDate": "2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A tourbillon is used in what device?", "solution": "Watch", "alternateSolutions": "a watch|the watch|wristwatch|a clock|clock|clock or watch|timepiece|watch or clock|a clock or watch|a watch or clock|Chronometer", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "The word 'tourbillon' means 'whirlwind' in French but a tourbillon is used to improve accuracy in this device|Rembrandt had a painting called The Night this|This word fills the blank in the Bob Dylan song title All Along the ____tower|The introduction of quartz caused a crisis for the manufacture of this in Switzerland in the 1970s" }, { "id": 324, "publishDate": "2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country/capital between them contain most letters with none repeated? (Give both, in the form France/Paris)", "solution": "Egypt/Cairo", "alternateSolutions": "Egypt and Cairo|Cairo/Egypt|Cairo and Egypt|Egypt|Cairo|Egypt - Cairo|Egypt & Cairo", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "They are in Africa|They have five letters each|One begins with E, the other with C|The capital is on the River Nile" }, { "id": 325, "publishDate": "2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "To what did the ancient Romans add powdered mouse brain as an ingredient?", "solution": "Toothpaste", "alternateSolutions": "toothpastes|tooth paste|tooth powder|dental paste|dentifrice|dental cream|tooth-paste|Toothpast", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The ancient Egyptians used ox hoof ash in theirs|Triclosan is often added to it now in the UK|Sodium fluoride has become a common additive in it in the past few decades|Colgate and Sensodyne are among the most popular brands in the UK " }, { "id": 326, "publishDate": "2025-09-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the first Western-made film to be shown on North Korean TV, in 2010?", "solution": "Bend it Like Beckham", "alternateSolutions": "Bend it Like Beckam|Bend it Like Beck ham|Bend Like Beckham|Bendit Like Beckham|Bending Like Beckham|Bending it Like Beckham|Bend it Like Beckhem", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It was directed by Gurinder Chada|It starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra|The title refers to a curling free kick technique in football|Its last word is the surname of former England footballer Sir David" }, { "id": 327, "publishDate": "2025-09-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the first document to be digitised by Project Gutenberg?", "solution": "United States Declaration of Independence", "alternateSolutions": "US Declaration of Independence|the United States Declaration of Independence|the US Declaration of Independence|the U.S. Declaration of Independence|U.S. Declaration of Independence|the U.S Declaration of Independence|U.S Declaration of Independence|the U-S Declaration of Independence|U-S Declaration of Independence|the Declaration of U.S. Independence|the Declaration of US Independence|the Declaration of United States Independence|the Declaration of American Independence|Declaration of American Independence|American Declaration of Independence|the American Declaration of Independence|The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America|unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America|Declaration of Independence|United States Decloration of Independence|United States Declaration of Independance|Declaration of Indep.|The Declaration|First Declaration of Independence", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "A copy of this document was found in Chichester in 2015|It has 1337 words, including its title|It is 248 years old|It established the USA" }, { "id": 328, "publishDate": "2025-09-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which word is credited to comedian Harry Enfield in Chambers Dictionary?", "solution": "Loadsamoney", "alternateSolutions": "loadsofmoney|loadamoney|loads of money|loads a money|Lodesamoney", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It has 11 letters|It was the name of a character typifying 1980s greed|He tended to shake a wad of banknotes|It means a great deal of cash" }, { "id": 329, "publishDate": "2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country has the longest name consisting of alternate vowels and consonants?", "solution": "United Arab Emirates", "alternateSolutions": "The United Arab Emirates|UAE|the UAE", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its name is more than twice as long as that of the country with the second longest name|Its name has 18 letters|It is in the Middle East|The Arsenal stadium is named after its airline, the last word of its name" }, { "id": 330, "publishDate": "2025-09-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which country was Hawaiian pizza invented?", "solution": "Canada", "alternateSolutions": "Canadia|Canadian", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The pizza was first made in 1962 at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham-Kent|The country's national dish is not pizza, it is poutine |The country has land borders with one other country|Its capital is Ottawa" }, { "id": 331, "publishDate": "2025-09-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Under its fur, what colour is a polar bear's skin?", "solution": "Black", "alternateSolutions": "the colour black|blak|jet black", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "This colour was the stage name of singer Colin Vearncombe|It is Bellatrix Lestrange's maiden name in the Harry Potter books|It is the Cluedo murder victim's surname|Amy Winehouse went 'back to' this colour" }, { "id": 332, "publishDate": "2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Greek footballer Traianos Dellas scored the only international what?", "solution": "silver goal", "alternateSolutions": "a silver goal|the silver goal|silvergoal", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "He scored it at Euro 2004 in a match against the Czech Republic|He scored it just before the end of the first half of extra time|This was a version of the slightly longer-lived 'golden goal' concept|\"Argentine\" means related to the first word of this two-word phrase" }, { "id": 333, "publishDate": "2025-09-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was American singer and songwriter Norah Jones's father?", "solution": "Ravi Shankar", "alternateSolutions": "Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury|Ravindra Shankar Chowdhury|Ravindra Shankar|Rabindra Shankar|Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury|Ravindra Shankor|Ravi Shankor|Ravi Shaunkor|Ravindra Shaunkor|Ravi Shanker|Ravvi Shankar|Ravi Shancar|Ravi Shanka|Rabindra Shaunkar|Ravindra Shankhar", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "His heritage is reflected in Norah's original first name, Geethali|He received an Oscar nomination for the musical score for Gandhi|He taught George Harrison to play the sitar|His given name in Bengali was spelt Rabindra but he uses a short form spelt with V not B" }, { "id": 334, "publishDate": "2025-09-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "How many Premier League winning managers were born in England?", "solution": "None", "alternateSolutions": "zero|0|no managers|none at all|zip|nada|diddly squat|no one|not one", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Only seven teams have won the title in the Premier League's 33 seasons to date|The seven Premier League-winning teams have been represented by 11 different managers|Those 11 managers of Premier League-winning teams had eight different nationalities|Two were British: Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Kenny Dalglish" }, { "id": 335, "publishDate": "2025-09-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country produces the most cocoa in the world?", "solution": "Ivory Coast", "alternateSolutions": "Cote d'Ivoire|Cote dIvoire|Cote Cote d`Ivoire|The Ivory Coast|the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire|République de Côte d'Ivoire|Côte d'Ivoire", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its official name is in French but the UK government uses the English translation for internal purposes|Its flag is the mirror image of Ireland's|It is in west Africa|Its name contains a banned elephant product" }, { "id": 336, "publishDate": "2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which writer overstayed his welcome at Charles Dickens' house in 1857?", "solution": "Hans Christian Andersen", "alternateSolutions": "Hans Andersen|Christian Andersen|Andersen|Hans Cristian Andersen|Hans C. Andersen|Hans Christian Anderson|Hans C Anderson|Hans Anderson", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "He was born in Odense|He wrote 'But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more'|He is best remembered for his fairy tales|His middle name means a believer in Jesus" }, { "id": 337, "publishDate": "2025-10-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the only UK No 1 hit for the Clash?", "solution": "Should I stay or should I go", "alternateSolutions": "Should I stay or should I go?|Should I stay or go|Should I stay or go?", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "It reached No 1 after being used in a Levi's jeans advert called Pool Hall Clash|The song has backing vocals in Spanish|Its title has seven words|The first and fifth words are 'should'" }, { "id": 338, "publishDate": "2025-10-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What did ancient Egyptians shave when their cats died?", "solution": "eyebrows", "alternateSolutions": "Their eyebrows|The eyebrows|Their eyebrow|The eyebrow|brow|brows|the brow|their brow|the brows|their brows|eyebrow|supercilium|supercilia|the supercilium|the supercilia|their supercilium|their supercilia", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Research has suggested this body part developed for communication rather than protection|The medical name for it is supercilium|The artist Frida Kahlo was a notable example of someone with one of these rather than two|They are above the eyes" }, { "id": 339, "publishDate": "2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère shows the trademark for what company's beer?", "solution": "Bass", "alternateSolutions": "Bass beer|bass ale|bass charrington|bass pale ale|bass pale", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The company's trademark was the first to be registered in the UK|The trademark is a red triangle|The company was founded in Burton-on-Trent|Its name also means a voice below tenor" }, { "id": 340, "publishDate": "2025-10-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "One unit of which country's currency is worth the most?", "solution": "Kuwait", "alternateSolutions": "Kuwaiti dinar|Kuwaiti|Kuwait's|Kuwaite", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "One of this country's dinars is currently worth about £2.40|The country is in the Middle East|It was invaded by a neighbouring country in 1990|Its main petrol company is known as Q8" }, { "id": 341, "publishDate": "2025-10-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The South China giant species of what creature is the world's largest amphibian?", "solution": "Salamander", "alternateSolutions": "A Salamander|the Salamander|Salamanders|sallamander|salamanda|salimander|salemander|Salamandar|Selamander|Salmander", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "This creature has the ability to regrow lost body parts|A newt is a type of this creature|In mythology it is often believed to be fire-resistant|It shares its first four letters with the surname of Liverpool player Mo" }, { "id": 342, "publishDate": "2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who voices Smurfette in the 2025 film Smurfs?", "solution": "Rihanna", "alternateSolutions": "Rihannah|Rianna|Riannah|Riri|Rhianna|Rhiannah|Rhihanna|Rhihannah|Robyn Rihanna Fenty|Rihana|Rihanaah", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "She had a single at No 1 in the UK charts for 10 weeks in 2007|She has a beauty brand called Fenty|She is from Barbados|Her 2007 No 1 single was Umbrella" }, { "id": 343, "publishDate": "2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What colour did New Hampshire require margarine to be in the 1890s?", "solution": "pink", "alternateSolutions": "the colour pink|pinkish|pinky", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The state's supreme court ruled that making it this colour effectively prevented its sale|The colour's name probably derives from the name of a flower|It is the stage name of singer Alecia Moore-Hart|It can be made by mixing red and white" }, { "id": 344, "publishDate": "2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 2001, a US restaurant chain was sued for giving a waitress what as a prize?", "solution": "A toy Yoda", "alternateSolutions": "toy Yoda|a toy of yoda|a yoda toy|yoda toy|a yoda doll|yoda doll|yoda|a yoda|a doll of yoda|yoda model|a yoda model|yoda figure|a yoda figure|yoda figurine|a yoda figurine", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The prize was in place of a Toyota, which the firm had offered for the employee who sold most beer|It was a model of a character famed for his object-subject-verb word order|It was an item of Star Wars merchandise|It sounds like 'Toyota' more in an American accent than it does in a British one" }, { "id": 345, "publishDate": "2025-10-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which racquet sport is to have its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games?", "solution": "Squash", "alternateSolutions": "squash rackets|Squash Racquets", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Its ball weighs about 24 grams, or just under an ounce|It was invented at Harrow School in London|It is the name of an edible type of gourd|It is also the name of a diluted fruit drink" }, { "id": 346, "publishDate": "2025-10-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which fictional land was said by its creator to have been named after a label on a filing cabinet?", "solution": "Oz", "alternateSolutions": "The land of Oz|land of Oz|Ozland|the world of oz|the wizard of oz|the wonderful wizard of oz", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The name was later used by a counterculture magazine issued from 1963 to 1973|It was the nickname of Jimmy Nail's character in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet|The fictional land was divided into Gillikin, Quadling, Winkie and Munchkin countries|Its name is also used as an abbreviation of Australia" }, { "id": 347, "publishDate": "2025-10-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What did publishers Simon & Schuster's first publication contain?", "solution": "Crosswords", "alternateSolutions": "crossword puzzles|cross-words|wordcross|word-cross puzzles|puzzles|crossword|a crossword|Crosswords puzzles|crossword puzzle", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The company was founded after Richard Simon's aunt asked for a book of these|They are almost always in black and white|The Times published its first one in February 1930|The first clue in the Times one was 'Spread unevenly (5)'" }, { "id": 348, "publishDate": "2025-10-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which event prompted the establishment of property insurance in England?", "solution": "Great Fire of London", "alternateSolutions": "The Great Fire of London|The Fire of London|The Great Fire|Fire of London|The Fire of London|London's great fire|London great fire", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The extent of the event was made worse by the inaction of Sir Thomas Bloodworth|The event destroyed thousands of houses but only six verified deaths were recorded |It occurred in September 1666|The Monument in London was erected in commemoration, close to Pudding Lane where it started" }, { "id": 349, "publishDate": "2025-10-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The video game character Mario was created because Nintendo couldn't get the rights to which cartoon character?", "solution": "Popeye", "alternateSolutions": "Popeye the sailor|Popeye the sailor man|pop-eye|Popeye the Sailorman|pop eye|pop-eye the sailor|popey", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "This character's name was also the nickname of the protagonist of The French Connection films|The cartoon character has an anchor tattoo on each forearm|His enemy is Bluto and his girlfriend is Olive Oyl|He gets his strength from eating canned spinach" }, { "id": 350, "publishDate": "2025-10-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country left the European Economic Community in 1962 upon becoming independent?", "solution": "Algeria", "alternateSolutions": "Algerie|Argelia|Alger|Algiers|Algeeria|Aljeria|Algiria|Algeriya", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Its name in English is an anagram of its name in Spanish|It was formerly a French colony|It is in north Africa|It is the first African country alphabetically" }, { "id": 351, "publishDate": "2025-10-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The new logo of the London Museum features what creature?", "solution": "Pigeon", "alternateSolutions": "a pigeon|the pigeon|pigeons|feral pigeon|a feral pigeon", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "Creatures of this type were the first three recipients of the Dickin Medal for animal bravery|There are estimated to be between one and three million of these in London|A clay one is an inverted saucer used for shooting practice|One causes trouble if one puts the cat among these birds" }, { "id": 352, "publishDate": "2025-10-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country is called Yunanistan in Turkish?", "solution": "Greece", "alternateSolutions": "Greek|the Hellenic Republic|Helliniki Dimokratia", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Two of the seven wonders of the ancient world are in this country|It has a 24-letter alphabet|The Turkish word 'Yunan', meaning from this country, is derived from 'Ionian'|The country's name in English sounds like a 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John" }, { "id": 353, "publishDate": "2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The world's most expensive cheese, pule, is made from milk mainly from a rare breed of which animal?", "solution": "Donkey", "alternateSolutions": "A donkey|the donkey|donkeys|ass|asses|an ass|Balkan donkey|Balkan donkeys|a Balkan donkey|mountain donkey. a mountain donkey|the mountain donkey|mountain donkeys", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The male and female of this creature are called a jack and a jenny|It's thought this animal's name may derive from the name Duncan|This was the name of the character played by Eddie Murphy in Shrek|A children's party game involves pinning a tail on a picture of one of these" }, { "id": 354, "publishDate": "2025-10-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The screenplay to which cult film identifies the unnamed title character as Marwood?", "solution": "Withnail and I", "alternateSolutions": "Withnail|Witnail and I|Withnaile and I|Whithnail and I|Whitnail and I|Withnall and I", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The film came out in 1987 and is set in 1969|The named title character has 38 drinks during the film|The two main characters were played by Richard E Grant and Paul McGann|The three-word title ends 'and I'" }, { "id": 355, "publishDate": "2025-10-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the surname of Clarence, founder of the frozen food industry?", "solution": "Birdseye", "alternateSolutions": "Birds-eye|Birds eye|Bird's eye|birdeye|Bird`s eye", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "He learned the technique from Inuit fishermen|The mascot of the comany named after him was an eponymous captain, who was honoured by an 'obituary note' in The Times|The company's most famous product in the UK is fish fingers|Hyphenated, this name is an adjective describing a view from above" }, { "id": 356, "publishDate": "2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which institution is recognised by Guinness as having the world's oldest rugby club?", "solution": "Guy's Hospital", "alternateSolutions": "Guy's|Guy`s Hospital|Guys Hospital|Guys|Guy`s|Guy's Hospital London|Guys Hospital London", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It contains one of the world's tallest hospital buildings|Its founder made his money selling bibles and from the South Sea Bubble|It is close to The Shard and London Bridge station|Its founder's surname is the first name of Mr Fawkes, of the Gunpowder Plot" }, { "id": 357, "publishDate": "2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which novel was claimed by its author to be the first to be written on a typewriter?", "solution": "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", "alternateSolutions": "Tom Sawyer|Tom Soya|Tom Saywer", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The novel starts with the title character's aunt Polly calling for him|The title character's namesake was general secretary of the Labour Party from 1994 to 1998|The author's real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens|The author's pen name was Mark Twain" }, { "id": 358, "publishDate": "2025-10-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "At the 1936 Olympics, Liechtenstein realised its flag was the same as that of which other country?", "solution": "Haiti", "alternateSolutions": "Republic of Haiti|the Republic of Haiti|Repiblik d Ayiti|Haitian Republic", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "This country has since added its coat of arms to its flag|The motto on its coat of arms is L'Union Fait La Force|The country is in the Caribbean|In its most spoken language, this country is called 'Ayiti'" }, { "id": 359, "publishDate": "2025-10-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Googling what five-letter word will make the page tilt?", "solution": "Askew", "alternateSolutions": "asskew|a skew", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "Anne of this surname was burned at the stake in London in 1546|Her name was also spelt Ayscough|This word ends with the location of a London botanical garden|It starts with a three-letter word for request" }, { "id": 360, "publishDate": "2025-10-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The developer of the world's hottest chili peppers is Ed who?", "solution": "Currie", "alternateSolutions": "Curry|Currey", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The cup bearing this name is the main domestic rugby competition in South Africa|Heriot-Watt University is in the Edinburgh suburb bearing this name|Edwina of this surname was a Conservative MP from 1983 to 1997|The name sounds like a dish that is often hot" }, { "id": 361, "publishDate": "2025-10-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What does Hamlet call his play performed in Act 3 Scene 2 of Hamlet?", "solution": "The Mousetrap", "alternateSolutions": "Mousetrap|mouse trap|the mouse trap|a mousetrap|a mouse trap", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "Hamlet wants to use the play to \"catch the conscience of the king\"|A West End play originally performed in Nottingham has the same name|The West End play has been performed more than 30,000 times in a single run|The title refers to a device for catching rodents" }, { "id": 362, "publishDate": "2025-10-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which city had the most international visitors in 2024?", "solution": "Bangkok", "alternateSolutions": "Bang kok|Bankok|Bangcock", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is on the Chao Phraya river delta|The film The Hangover Part II is set there|You can spend baht there|It is in Thailand" }, { "id": 363, "publishDate": "2025-10-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What name was the first word spoken in a mobile phone call?", "solution": "Joel", "alternateSolutions": "Jole", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "Martin Cooper made the call on April 3, 1973 to his main competitor Dr Engel|It is Dr Engel's first name and comes from the Hebrew for 'Yahweh is God'|It is the name of a book in the Old Testament|It is the surname of a singer called Billy" }, { "id": 364, "publishDate": "2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which US band were kicked out of their own album release party for having a food fight?", "solution": "Nirvana", "alternateSolutions": "Nirvanna|Nurvana|Nivana|Nervana", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "One member of the band formed a new band, the name of which sounds related to this event but isn't|The member of the band was Dave Grohl and his later band is Foo Fighters |Their 1991 release, Smells Like Teen Spirit, is certified one of the best selling singles ever|The band name is a word used in Buddhism and Hinduism that means a higher spiritual state or a state of bliss" }, { "id": 365, "publishDate": "2025-10-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Justin Timberlake's mother was briefly legal guardian of which actor?", "solution": "Ryan Gosling", "alternateSolutions": "Gosling|Ryan Gosing|Ryan Golsing|Ryan Goshling|Rian Gosling|Ryan Thomas Gosling|Ryan T. Gosling", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "Born in London, Ontario, he moved to Florida aged 13 for a role in The All-New Mickey Mouse Club|His breakthrough role was in The Notebook in 2004|He received Oscar nominations for Half Nelson, La La Land and Barbie|His surname means a young goose" }, { "id": 366, "publishDate": "2025-10-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the original name of the now standard 32-panel football?", "solution": "Telstar", "alternateSolutions": "Tel star|tellstar|telestar|testa|Tell star|The Telstar", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "It was named after a satellite that it was thought to resemble|The first public broadcast by this satellite included remarks from President John F Kennedy|Its name is an abbreviation of 'telecommunications' plus a four-letter object found in space|It is an anagram of 'rattles'" }, { "id": 367, "publishDate": "2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which Scot was the first person to appear on a commemorative Coca-Cola bottle?", "solution": "Robert Burns", "alternateSolutions": "Rabbie Burns|Burns|Rab Burns|Rob Burns|Robbie Burns|Rabbie Burnes|Burnes|Rab Burnes|Rob Burnes|Robbie Burnes|Robert Burnes|Bobbie Burns|Bobby Burns|Robert 'Rabbie' Burns|Robert Burn|Robbie Burn", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "The bottles were introduced in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth|He wrote the poem To a Louse|He shares his surname with The Simpsons character Montgomery|His 'night' on 25 January is celebrated with recitations and haggis" }, { "id": 368, "publishDate": "2025-11-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What does the German word 'dachs' mean in 'dachshund'?", "solution": "Badger", "alternateSolutions": "A Badger|Badgers|brock|the badger", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is an omnivorous mammal|Trufflehunter in Prince Caspian by C S Lewis is one of these mammals|The male and female are called boar and sow|Dachshunds were used to flush these animals out of their underground setts" }, { "id": 369, "publishDate": "2025-11-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What does the T stand for in ChatGPT?", "solution": "Transformer", "alternateSolutions": "Transformers|Transformers|Tranformer|Transformar", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "It is the name of a 1972 album by Lou Reed|This word is used for a toy franchise of which Optimus Prime is one|This word can mean a device to change voltage levels|It means something that changes to another form" }, { "id": 370, "publishDate": "2025-11-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which film was disqualified from the visual effects Oscar for using computers?", "solution": "Tron", "alternateSolutions": "Tron movie", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "There is a kirk with this name in Edinburgh|The main character of this 1982 film is played by Jeff Bridges|The characters travel around on light-cycles|The name comes from the middle of the word 'electronic'" }, { "id": 371, "publishDate": "2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the name of the tube station between Holborn and Tottenham Court Road that closed in 1933?", "solution": "British Museum", "alternateSolutions": "The British Museum", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It was named after a nearby building|This building received nearly six million visitors in 2023|It holds Athenian sculptures taken from Greece by Lord Elgin|It was the first national public museum" }, { "id": 372, "publishDate": "2025-11-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Pitchblende is a primary ore for which metallic element?", "solution": "Uranium", "alternateSolutions": "U", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This element was discovered in 1789 by German chemist Martin Klaproth|No other element begins with the same letter as this one does|It is named after a planet that was discovered in 1781|Its atomic symbol is U" }, { "id": 373, "publishDate": "2025-11-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which company is the world's largest corporate consumer of wood?", "solution": "IKEA", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "The company was founded in 1943 in a northern European country|The first two letters of the company's name are the initials of its founder|The company is originally Swedish but now has its headquarters in the Netherlands|It is famous for flatpack furniture" }, { "id": 374, "publishDate": "2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "If 404 means 'not found', what does the HTTP status code 418 mean?", "solution": "I'm a teapot", "alternateSolutions": "I am a teapot|teapot|I'm a little teapot", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "This status code was specified on 1 April 1998 as part of the coffee pot control protocol|The answer is three of the four words of the title of a 1939 novelty song (the missing word is 'little')|The song describes the item mentioned in the title as 'short and stout'|The status code self-identifies as a container for a hot drink that is not coffee" }, { "id": 375, "publishDate": "2025-11-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which sport was originally called mintonette?", "solution": "Volleyball", "alternateSolutions": "volley ball|volleball|vollyball", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The 'libero' player was introduced to this sport internationally in 1998|The sport's original name was chosen because of its derivation from badminton|Like basketball, this sport was invented at a branch of the YMCA in Massachusetts|The beach variant of this sport has been an official Olympic sport since 1996" }, { "id": 376, "publishDate": "2025-11-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A chef's hat traditionally has 100 pleats, said to represent the number of ways to cook what?", "solution": "Eggs", "alternateSolutions": "egg|an egg|the egg|hen's eggs", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "Tamagoyaki is a Japanese dish made with these|In the UK they are graded into sizes S, M, L and XL|Brown ones are generally more expensive than white ones |Their shape is ovoid, a word which derives from their Latin name" }, { "id": 377, "publishDate": "2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which country must the names of all officially registered pedigree dogs born in 2025 begin with the letter A?", "solution": "France", "alternateSolutions": "La France|French", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is the world's most visited country|The country is sometimes called \"The Hexagon\" in its own language|It is the country with the most Michelin-starred restaurants|It hosted the 2024 Olympic Games" }, { "id": 378, "publishDate": "2025-11-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Google Images was launched because of the high volume of searches for whose dress?", "solution": "Jennifer Lopez", "alternateSolutions": "Jlo|J-Lo|J Lo|Jaylo. J.Lo|J L O|Jenifer Lopez|Jennie Lopez|Jenny Lopez", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "She wore the green Versace in February 2000|She voiced smilodon Shira in the Ice Age film franchise|She is a singer-songwriter whose name is often abbreviated to three letters|The three-letter abbreviation of her name is normally pronounced rhyme with halo" }, { "id": 379, "publishDate": "2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What does the first M in M&Ms stand for?", "solution": "Mars", "topic": "FOOD/DRINK", "hints": "It is the surname of one of the sweet's co-creators (the other was Murrie)|As a word it means 'spoils'|The confectionery company bearing this name is better known for its bar|It is also the name of a planet" }, { "id": 380, "publishDate": "2025-11-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which two letters of the alphabet did Gian Giorgio Trissino invent?", "solution": "J and U", "alternateSolutions": "U and J|J/U|JU|UJ|U/J|J+U|J&U|U+J|U&J|J U|U J|J + U|J & U|U + J|U & J", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He wanted to distinguish between different pronunciations of two existing letters|The letters Trissino invented are the initials of the American author who wrote the Rabbit novels about Harry Angstrom |The existing letters with different pronunciations that he wanted to distinguish were I and V|The new letters are adjacent to those two letters in the modern alphabet" }, { "id": 381, "publishDate": "2025-11-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "From what substance was the snow in the poppy field scene in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz made?", "solution": "Asbestos", "alternateSolutions": "Asbestus|chrysotile|chrysotile asbestos|abestos|absestos", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The name of this substance comes from the Greek for 'unquenchable'|This substance was first regulated in the UK in 1932 and fully banned in 1999|It was used formerly to make oven gloves and insulating materials|It contains the surname of a Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer called George" }, { "id": 382, "publishDate": "2025-11-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What global event started in Bushy Park in London in the 2000s?", "solution": "Parkrun", "alternateSolutions": "park run|parkruns|park runs|parkrunning|Bushy Park Time Trial", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Its founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt received the CBE in 2014|More than 10 million people have participated on Saturday mornings|It was originally called the Bushy Park Time Trial|Its name now is a seven-letter word starting with one of the words in 'Bushy Park Time Trial'" }, { "id": 383, "publishDate": "2025-11-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which talk show host was born in Highgate tube station?", "solution": "Jerry Springer", "alternateSolutions": "Springer|J Springer|gerry Springer|Geri Springer|Jeri Springer", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "He served a year as mayor of Cincinnati|He appeared in The Masked Singer in the US dressed as a beetle|An opera was written about him by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee|He shares his first name with a cartoon mouse and his surname is a type of spaniel" }, { "id": 384, "publishDate": "2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Coscinomancy is divination using which kitchen item?", "solution": "sieve", "alternateSolutions": "a sieve|strainer|a strainer|sifter|a sifter|sive|seive|a seive", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "For the purposes of divination, the item was suspended from a pair of shears and perhaps a thread|Several portraits of Queen Elizabeth I show her holding this item, as a symbol of chastity|The Jumblies in Edward Lear's poem of that name went to sea in one|If you are forgetful you are said to have a memory like one of these" }, { "id": 385, "publishDate": "2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which chart-topping musician played all 27 different instruments on their debut album?", "solution": "Prince", "alternateSolutions": "Prince Nelson|The artist formerly known as Prince|Prince Rogers Nelson|O(+>)|TAFKAP", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "His surname was Nelson but his stage name was just his first name|The debut album was called For You; his best-selling album was Purple Rain|He changed his name to a symbol during a contractual dispute but later changed it back|His one-word stage name is a royal title" }, { "id": 386, "publishDate": "2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which celebrated author used large, coloured crayons when writing some of his novels?", "solution": "James Joyce", "alternateSolutions": "Joyce|J Joyce|James Joice|Jams Joyce", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "His most famous work was originally banned for obscenity in the UK|His most famous work is commemorated on June 16 each year, the date on which the entire story takes place|His other works include A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners|His most famous work is Ulysses" }, { "id": 387, "publishDate": "2025-11-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which scientist established the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for children?", "solution": "Michael Faraday", "alternateSolutions": "Faraday|M Faraday|Mike Faraday|Michael Farday|Michael Farraday|Michael Faroday|Micheal Faraday", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The scientist's 1848 lecture was entitled The Chemical History of a Candle|The SI unit of electrical capacitance is named after him|A type of protective cage is named after him|The SI unit named after him is the farad" }, { "id": 388, "publishDate": "2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What street has postcode M10 9KC?", "solution": "Coronation Street", "alternateSolutions": "Corronation Street|Coronation St|Corronation St|Coranation Street|Coranation St", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "It runs from Rosamund Street to Viaduct Street|It is not a real street|It is in the fictional town of Weatherfield|It is the name of a television programme that has been running since 1960" }, { "id": 389, "publishDate": "2025-11-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The word 'electric' was first used in English to refer to the attractive properties of what substance?", "solution": "Amber", "alternateSolutions": "succinite|Baltic amber", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This substance is considered a type of gemstone, although it is not a mineral|Insects can be preserved in this substance, as featured in the book and film Jurassic Park|It is the first name of Johnny Depp's second wife|It is the colour of the middle traffic light" }, { "id": 390, "publishDate": "2025-11-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which city name means 'the place of the followers of Snot'?", "solution": "Nottingham", "alternateSolutions": "Notingham", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The city is in central England|Its highest-ranked football club is just outside the city|It is home to a pub claiming to be the oldest in England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem|This city had a famous fictional sheriff" }, { "id": 391, "publishDate": "2025-11-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A 2008 study identified which colour as the most successful for English football team strips?", "solution": "Red", "alternateSolutions": "the colour red|colour red|red colour", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Madder roots were used to make a dye of this colour|It has the longest wavelength of the visible spectrum|Bristol City play in this colour|A famous racehorse was called '(this colour) Rum'" }, { "id": 392, "publishDate": "2025-11-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the name of the railway company LNER's red-haired puppet mascot?", "solution": "Eleanor", "alternateSolutions": "Elanor|Elenor|Elinor|Elleanor", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It was the first name of a US first lady whose maiden name was the same as her married name|Three queens of England have had this first name|The queens were called (this name) of Aquitaine, Provence and Castile|The US first lady was Mrs Roosevelt" }, { "id": 393, "publishDate": "2025-11-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which tissue of the human body produces blood cells?", "solution": "Marrow", "alternateSolutions": "Bone marrow|myeloid tissue|myeloid|red bone marrow|haematopoietic tissue|haematopoietic", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "The blood cells are produced by the red version of this tissue, while the yellow version stores fat|The Italian dish ossobuco traditionally contains the bovine version of this tissue|Ossobuco means 'bone with a hole'|The name given to this tissue is also the name of a vegetable that is like a courgette but bigger" }, { "id": 394, "publishDate": "2025-11-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which country is the town of Mocha, which gave its name to chocolate flavoured coffee?", "solution": "Yemen", "alternateSolutions": "Yemmen|Yeman|Yemon|the Republic of Yemen|Republic of Yemen|Yemeni Republic", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, was born in this country|The country was once called Arabia Felix|Mocha is a port on this country's Red Sea coast|The country's name is an anagram of 'enemy'" }, { "id": 395, "publishDate": "2025-11-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which prime minister was reported to be eating nine bananas a day to kick his KitKat habit?", "solution": "Gordon Brown", "alternateSolutions": "Brown|G Brown|G. Brown|James Gordon Brown", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "He was once in a relationship with the Crown Princess of Romania|He was elected rector of the University of Edinburgh while still a student|Saatchi and Saatchi created an advertising campaign for him using the slogan 'Not flash just (his first name)'|His surname is a colour" }, { "id": 396, "publishDate": "2025-11-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 1814 there was a fatal flood of what at the site of the Dominion Theatre in London?", "solution": "Beer", "alternateSolutions": "Ale|porter|porter beer", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Manufacturers of this product switched away from wood for storage after this disaster|An episode of Blackadder II had this word as a title|It is called piwo in Polish|It is called Bier in German" }, { "id": 397, "publishDate": "2025-11-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country's flag is more than twice as long as it is high?", "solution": "Qatar", "alternateSolutions": "State of Qatar|the state of Qatar", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The number of white 'points' on the flag is the same as the number of spikes on Bart Simpson's head|The flag is maroon and white|The country's only land border is with Saudi Arabia|This country hosted the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup" }, { "id": 398, "publishDate": "2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Leanne Wood AM was censured for calling Elizabeth II what in 2004?", "solution": "Mrs Windsor", "alternateSolutions": "Misses Windsor|Missus Windsor|Mrs Winsor|Mrs. Windsor|Mrs.Windsor", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "The first word (of the two used by Leanne Wood) is the first word in the title of a Virginia Woolf novel|The second word (of the two used by Leanne Wood) is the last word in the title of a Shakespeare play|The second word (of the two used by Leanne Wood) is a town in Berkshire|The first word is a married woman's honorific" }, { "id": 399, "publishDate": "2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What three-letter abbreviation is a compromise between the initials of its French and English translations?", "solution": "UTC", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is a global standard that facilitates communication and navigation|It is used to regulate clocks around the world|It replaced Greenwich Mean Time as the international standard in 1972|It is Coordinated Universal Time in English" }, { "id": 400, "publishDate": "2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which film character used a prop gun that sold for over $1 million at auction in 2022?", "solution": "Han Solo", "alternateSolutions": "Hans Solo|Hans Olo|Hansolo|Hann Solo", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The gun he used was a BlasTech DL-44 heavy blaster|The character's first name is the name of a Chinese dynasty|He used the gun in the first Star Wars film|The character was played by Harrison Ford" }, { "id": 401, "publishDate": "2025-12-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Adi Dassler founded Adidas; what is the name of the rival shoe company his brother Rudolf founded?", "solution": "Puma", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "It is the emblem of the Argentina national men's rugby team|It is the name of a South American mammal| The animal is also called cougar or mountain lion|The name is hidden in Asti Spumante" }, { "id": 402, "publishDate": "2025-12-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which island nation has no official capital?", "solution": "Nauru", "alternateSolutions": "Naoru|Nauro|Naura|Naru|Nuaru|Nuara", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The country's name means 'I go to the beach'|It is the third-smallest country in the world|It is a single island in the Pacific Ocean formerly known as Pleasant Island|In an alphabetical list of countries it comes between Namibia and Nepal" }, { "id": 403, "publishDate": "2025-12-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which composer's head was stolen and not reunited with his body for 145 years?", "solution": "Haydn", "alternateSolutions": "Joseph Haydn|J Haydn|Franz Joseph Haydn|FJ Haydn|Franz Haydn|F J Haydn|J. Haydn|F.J. Haydn|Josef Haydn|Franz Josef Haydn", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "He wrote 104 numbered symphonies|He was Austrian but wrote the tune of the German national anthem|His Symphony No 94 is nicknamed the 'Surprise Symphony'|If you added 'seek' to his surname it would sound like a children's game" }, { "id": 404, "publishDate": "2025-12-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the title of Maurizio Cattelan's artwork of a banana taped to a wall?", "solution": "Comedian", "alternateSolutions": "The Comedian|A Comedian", "topic": "ART", "hints": "A 2002 documentary about Jerry Seinfeld was called this|The ___s was the title of a 1966 novel by Graham Greene set in Haiti|One often performs standing up|This word is an anagram of demoniac" }, { "id": 405, "publishDate": "2025-12-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was the last household purchase to stop being rationed in the UK after the Second World War?", "solution": "Coal", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "District 12 produced this in the Hunger Games books|This product is not a foodstuff|Lignite is a type of this|It is dug by miners" }, { "id": 406, "publishDate": "2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country's Internet domain name changed from .yu to .me?", "solution": "Montenegro", "alternateSolutions": "Monte negro|Montinegro|Montenigro|Montenegra", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "In its own language it is Crna Gora|It was the scene of the poker game in the 2006 film of Casino Royale|It is the most advanced of EU membership applicants|Its name means 'black mountain' in Venetian Italian" }, { "id": 407, "publishDate": "2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which Briton has been credited with inventing the precursor to the mojito cocktail?", "solution": "Francis Drake", "alternateSolutions": "Sir Francis Drake|Drake", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "He was born in Tavistock in Devon and became MP for Camelford in 1581|He 'singed the king of Spain's beard' in 1587|He was allegedly playing bowls when he heard about the Spanish Armada|The precursor to the mojito he created was called 'El Draque' after his nickname in Spain, where he was viewed as a pirate" }, { "id": 408, "publishDate": "2025-12-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which Oregon town is twinned with Dull in Perthshire?", "solution": "Boring", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "Elon Musk founded 'The (this word) company' in 2017|The B in TBM stands for this, as in the TBMs called Phyllis and Ada used in the construction of the Elizabeth Line|The T and M in TBM stand for tunnel and machine|The word is a synonym for 'dull'" }, { "id": 409, "publishDate": "2025-12-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "An underground fuel depot at Inchindown, Scotland is the man-made structure with the longest what?", "solution": "Echo", "alternateSolutions": "longest echo|the longest echo|echoing|reverberation|reverberation time", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This thing is the world's longest in the context of duration|That duration is around 75 seconds|It is one of the 26 Nato alphabet words|It is the fifth Nato alphabet word" }, { "id": 410, "publishDate": "2025-12-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which actress officially opened the Chiswick Flyover in London?", "solution": "Jayne Mansfield", "alternateSolutions": "Jane Mansfield|J Mansfield|Mansfield|Jayne Manfield|Jayne Mansfeld|Jayne Mansfeild", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "She was 26 then, in September 1959|She was often compared to Marilyn Monroe|She shared her first name with Notts skater Torvill and her surname with a Notts town|She had the initials JM" }, { "id": 411, "publishDate": "2025-12-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In which city was Florence Nightingale born?", "solution": "Florence", "alternateSolutions": "Firenze|'Florence|Italy'|Florence in Italy", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The Nightingale family moved from this city to the UK a year after her birth|An adjective derived from the name of this city means 'served with spinach'|The Uffizi Gallery is in this city|Actress Pugh and singer Welch have this first name" }, { "id": 412, "publishDate": "2025-12-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Aha ha' is the taxonomic name for a species of which creature?", "solution": "wasp", "alternateSolutions": "a wasp|wasps", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "The entomologist Arnold Menke named the species of this creature as a joke|A tarantula hawk is another type of this creature|Vespa mopeds are named after the Italian word for this creature|The phrase 'Throw a spanner in the works' contains this word" }, { "id": 413, "publishDate": "2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Pop group the Killers got their name from a music video of which other pop group?", "solution": "New Order", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "The music video was for this group's song Crystal|This group was the successor to Joy Division|The group's name could be used to indicate an anagram in a crossword clue|It is an anagram of 'wonderer'" }, { "id": 414, "publishDate": "2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Ronald Wayne sold his 10 per cent stake 12 days after the founding of which company?", "solution": "Apple", "alternateSolutions": "Apple Inc|Apple Inc.|Apple Computer Company|Apple Computer Company Inc|Apple Computer Company Inc.|Apple Computer|Apple Computers|Apple Computer Inc|Apple Computer Inc.", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "This company's California headquarters is nicknamed 'the spaceship'|This company's logo has a bite out of it, which the designer said was so it cannot be confused with a cherry|Early products from this company included the Lisa and Macintosh|New York City is called 'the Big (this word)'" }, { "id": 415, "publishDate": "2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Filming of Troy was delayed because Brad Pitt injured his what?", "solution": "Achilles tendon", "alternateSolutions": "the Achilles tendon|his Achilles tendon|calcaneal tendon|tendon|Achilles|Achilles' tendon|Achilles` tendon|Achilles's tendon|Achilles`s tendon|heel tendon|Achille's tendon|Achille`s tendon|Achilles heel|achilles' heel|his Achilles heel|his achilles' heel|heel|achilles", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "This part of the body was first given this name in 1693|It is named after a mythological person|The mythological person it is named after was the role Brad Pitt was playing in Troy|It is also known as the calcaneal tendon" }, { "id": 416, "publishDate": "2025-12-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "113 is the emergency number in South Korea to report what nine-letter activity?", "solution": "Espionage", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "Sun Tzu wrote a chapter on this activity in The Art of War|It is a subject of Part 1 of the UK National Security Act 2023|Ian Fleming and John Le Carre wrote novels about it|It is an anagram of sea pigeon" }, { "id": 417, "publishDate": "2025-12-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What were the accidental inventors of bubble wrap actually trying to make?", "solution": "Wallpaper", "alternateSolutions": "wall covering|wallcovering|paper for walls|wall paper|textured wallpaper|3D wallpaper", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "What they were trying to make became popular in England following Henry VIII's excommunication due to reduced trade in textiles|This word, usually followed by an asterisk, is also the name of a design, travel and lifestyle magazine|Flock is a type of this|It covers the sides of a room" }, { "id": 418, "publishDate": "2025-12-21T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The world's oldest surviving what was discovered near Ljubljana in Slovenia?", "solution": "wheel", "alternateSolutions": "the wheel|a wheel|wooden wheel|wood wheel|wooden wheel with axle", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The one in Ljubljana is more than 5000 years old|Michael McIntyre hosts a game show called The (this)|A wagon one of these is the name of a chocolate biscuit|A large one was built by George Ferris in 1893" }, { "id": 419, "publishDate": "2025-12-22T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country has the most pyramids?", "solution": "Sudan", "alternateSolutions": "Soudan|The Sudan|Sudanese Republic|the Republic of the Sudan|Republic of the Sudan", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is the world's largest exporter of crude gum arabic|Its capital shares its name with the decapitated horse in The Godfather|It is the third largest country in Africa and was the largest until 2011|Four of its five letters can be rearranged to make the word 'sand'" }, { "id": 420, "publishDate": "2025-12-23T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A genus of which mammal has the most bones in its neck?", "solution": "sloth", "alternateSolutions": "a sloth|the sloth|Three-toed sloth|the three-toed sloth|a three-toed sloth|Bradypus|three toed sloth|three-toed-sloth|3-toed sloth|3 toed sloth|three-toe sloth|a three toed sloth|a three-toed-sloth|the three toed sloth|the three-toed-sloth|a Bradypus|the Bradypus", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "The elephant-sized megatherium was its ancestor|It is often covered in algae, which helps with camouflage|Its name is a deadly sin|It is a symbol of laziness" }, { "id": 421, "publishDate": "2025-12-24T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Composer Erik Satie gave his lover a necklace made of what foodstuff?", "solution": "Sausage", "alternateSolutions": "Sausages|a sausage", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Fragrance adverts with Johnny Depp have been vandalised by changing a letter in the name of the fragrance to make this word|Varieties of this foodstuff in the UK include Cumberland and Lincolnshire|This word derives from the Latin salsicus, meaning seasoned with salt|A Dachshund is often called a (this word) dog" }, { "id": 422, "publishDate": "2025-12-25T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Violinist Vanessa-Mae represented which country at the Winter Olympics?", "solution": "Thailand", "alternateSolutions": "Thai", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "This country's only other athlete in 2014 was Kanes Sucharitakul|This country's head of state is King Rama X|This country used to be called Siam|Its largest island is Phuket" }, { "id": 423, "publishDate": "2025-12-26T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Michelangelo's Pietà is his only work to feature a what?", "solution": "Signature", "alternateSolutions": "His signature|artist's signature|the signature|the artist's signature|a signature|autograph|name|his name", "topic": "ART", "hints": "John Hancock was known for a particularly large one|A paraph is a flourish added to one|The first challenge in each episode of The Great British Bake Off is a (this word) bake|Illiterate people often write X for this" }, { "id": 424, "publishDate": "2025-12-27T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which chemical element is named after Cyprus?", "solution": "Copper", "alternateSolutions": "Cu|cuprum", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This word was used as a codename for plutonium in the Manhattan Project|This word was the name of the hound in Disney's The Fox and the Hound|Handball and modern pentathlon fencing were held at the (this word) Box Arena at the 2012 Olympic Games|This word is is a nickname for a police officer" }, { "id": 425, "publishDate": "2025-12-28T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The 1984 Star Wars parody Hyperspace inspired which British political candidate?", "solution": "Lord Buckethead", "alternateSolutions": "Buckethead", "topic": "POLITICS", "hints": "This candidate's first and last candidacies were in the 1987 and 2019 general elections|One of this candidate's policies was to nationalise Adele|One candidate using the name stopped using it after a copyright dispute and now stands as Count Binface|The name describes a peer wearing a pail" }, { "id": 426, "publishDate": "2025-12-29T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 2025, the United Nations declared which city to be the world's most populous?", "solution": "Jakarta", "alternateSolutions": "Jakata|DKI Jakarta", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The city's name means 'complete victory', referring to the Banten Sultanate's defeat of the Portuguese in 1527|One of this city's nicknames is The Big Durian|This city is on the island of Java in Indonesia|Its name begins and ends with the same letters as Java" }, { "id": 427, "publishDate": "2025-12-30T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "In 11th-14th century England what fish was used to pay rent instead of money?", "solution": "Eel", "alternateSolutions": "Eels|the eel|an eel", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "Swimmer Eric Moussambani was nicknamed 'Eric the (this word)'|European and American ones spawn in the Sargasso Sea|A young one is called an elver|A cockney dish involves jellied ones, often sold with pie and mash" }, { "id": 428, "publishDate": "2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the name of the Nasa programme aiming to send people to the moon in 2027?", "solution": "Artemis", "alternateSolutions": "Artemis III|Artemis 3|Artemis program|Artemis programme|the Artemis program|the Artemis programme|Artemis mission|the Artemis mission|Artemis III mission|Artemis 3 mission|the Artemis III mission|the Artemis 3 mission", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "It is the first name of the main character in a series of books by Eoin Colfer|It is the name of a Greek goddess whose twin gave his name to previous moon landing missions|The Roman equivalent of the goddess with this name is Diana|It is an anagram of 'smartie'" }, { "id": 429, "publishDate": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "The Pink Floyd album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn takes its name from a chapter in which book?", "solution": "The Wind in the Willows", "alternateSolutions": "Wind in the Willows|Wind in Willows|The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame|Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows|“the Wind in the Willows”", "topic": "LITERATURE", "hints": "This book is a children's book first published in 1908|The author of this book was born in Edinburgh but moved to Cookham in the Thames Valley at the age of five|The book's first sentence is 'The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home'|The title describes air blowing through trees" }, { "id": 430, "publishDate": "2026-01-02T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What was Picasso's first word (translated into English)?", "solution": "Pencil", "alternateSolutions": "a pencil|lapiz|piz", "topic": "ART", "hints": "The Spanish word for this comes from the Latin for stone|The English word for this item formerly referred to a camel-hair brush|It is a drawing and writing implement|The most common version of this implement is classified as HB" }, { "id": 431, "publishDate": "2026-01-03T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which country has the most islands?", "solution": "Sweden", "alternateSolutions": "Sverige|Kingdom of Sweden|the Kingdom of Sweden", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It has more than a quarter of a million islands, of which nearly a thousand are inhabited|This country's royal family is the house of Bernadotte|This country has won the Eurovision Song Contest seven times, equal most with Ireland|This country's most successful Eurovision winner was Abba" }, { "id": 432, "publishDate": "2026-01-04T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Carolyn Davidson was paid $35 for designing which company's logo?", "solution": "Nike", "alternateSolutions": "Nike inc.|Nike inc|Nike|inc|Nike|inc.", "topic": "FASHION", "hints": "She designed this company's logo in 1971 while at Portland State University|This company was originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports|This company is now named after a Greek goddess|This company's logo is known as the swoosh" }, { "id": 433, "publishDate": "2026-01-05T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who actually drew the sketch of Rose shown being drawn by Jack in the film Titanic?", "solution": "James Cameron", "alternateSolutions": "James Francis Cameron|Cameron|J Cameron|James F Cameron|J. Cameron|James F. Cameron|Jim Cameron", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "He was born in Kapuskasing, Canada|He was married to Linda Hamilton, star of The Terminator|He directed Titanic|His first and last names are shared with (different) British prime ministers from within the past 50 years" }, { "id": 434, "publishDate": "2026-01-06T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which county's symbol is a knot?", "solution": "Staffordshire", "alternateSolutions": "Stafford|Staffs|Staffords|Staff", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "The highest village in England is in this county|The smallest park in the UK is in Burntwood in this county|A breed of dog is named after this county|The breed of dog named after this county is a bull terrier" }, { "id": 435, "publishDate": "2026-01-07T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What is the nickname of the Bank of England's £100 million banknote?", "solution": "Titan", "alternateSolutions": "A Titan", "topic": "TECHNOLOGY", "hints": "This is also the name of the tenth largest object in the solar system|Any player for Taunton Rugby Club's first XV is a this|The name of the queen of the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream starts with this word|The name of a ship that sank in 1912 also starts with these five letters" }, { "id": 436, "publishDate": "2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Loved by children, which folklore figure's first mention in text was in The Chicago Daily Tribune in 1908?", "solution": "The Tooth Fairy", "alternateSolutions": "Tooth Fairy|a tooth fairy|toothfairy", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "The items left for this figure in the UK are thrown onto the roof instead in Korea|The equivalent of this figure in many Hispanic countries is el Ratoncito Pérez|This figure leaves money in exchange for the items it takes|According to Money Supermarket's 'Gnash-ional Averages Tracker' this figure pays up to £5 in London and in Scotland" }, { "id": 437, "publishDate": "2026-01-09T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which hard rock band was first to use the 'metal umlaut' in its name?", "solution": "Blue Öyster Cult", "alternateSolutions": "Blue Oyster Cult", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "This band's sole constant member since its founding in 1967 is Buck Dharma|The band's biggest hit is (Don't Fear) the Reaper|The band's name is made up of a colour, a bivalve mollusc and a devotional group|The band's initials are BÖC" }, { "id": 438, "publishDate": "2026-01-10T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Beri-beri is a deficiency of which vitamin?", "solution": "B1", "alternateSolutions": "Vitamin B1|thiamine|thiamin", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This vitamin's name is also the name of a road connecting Downpatrick and Ardglass in Northern Ireland|Wheat flour must be fortified with this vitamin in the UK|It is also known as thiamine|One of the knights starts on this square in chess" }, { "id": 439, "publishDate": "2026-01-11T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "A product for removing soot from wallpaper became which toy?", "solution": "Play-Doh", "alternateSolutions": "playdoh|playdo|playdough|play doh|play do|play dough|play-do|play-dough", "topic": "HISTORY", "hints": "It is the title of a 2014 painted aluminium sculpture by Jeff Koons|This toy's scent is trademarked|This toy is mainly made of water, salt and flour|Its last three letters are an exclamation used by Homer Simpson" }, { "id": 440, "publishDate": "2026-01-12T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Sir Henry Percy, born 1364, is an inspiration for which football club's name?", "solution": "Tottenham Hotspur", "alternateSolutions": "Tottenham Hotspurs|Spurs|Tottenham|Hotspur|Hotspurs", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "Part of this team's name derives from the nickname given to Percy by the Scots, for his speed|This football team is the only one to have won the FA cup as a non-League club |This team's emblem is a cockerel|This team's main rivals are Arsenal" }, { "id": 441, "publishDate": "2026-01-13T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What mathematical term was coined by nine-year-old Milton Sirotta?", "solution": "Googol", "alternateSolutions": "A Googol|the Googol|googols", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This term refers to a very large number|The systematic name of this number would be ten duotrigintillion|The number to which the term refers is a one followed by 100 zeros|A misspelt version of this word is the name of the world's most visited website" }, { "id": 442, "publishDate": "2026-01-14T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who was artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's girlfriend in 1983 before either was famous?", "solution": "Madonna", "alternateSolutions": "Madonna Louise Ciccone|Madonna Ciccone|Madona", "topic": "MUSIC", "hints": "They lived together in SoHo in New York City|She is a singer whose surname is Ciccone|Her first No 1 hit in the US was Like a Virgin|Her name is also applied to the mother of Jesus" }, { "id": 443, "publishDate": "2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Louis X of France died shortly after playing a form of what?", "solution": "Tennis", "alternateSolutions": "Real tennis|jeu de paume", "topic": "SPORT", "hints": "The name of this game comes from the French for 'hold'|According to one theory, this game's word for zero comes from the French 'l'oeuf', the egg|Video game designer Alexey Pajitnov named Tetris in part because he loved this game|It has four letters in common with Tetris" }, { "id": 444, "publishDate": "2026-01-16T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which is the only UK World Heritage Site that is both cultural and natural?", "solution": "St Kilda", "alternateSolutions": "Hiort|St Kilda archipelago|St Kilda islands|S Kilda|Kilda", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It is an archipelago off the coast of Scotland|It was inhabited for thousands of years until 1930|Although its name begins 'St', there is no saint of the name that follows|It is an anagram of 'last kid'" }, { "id": 445, "publishDate": "2026-01-17T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "What chemical element also means an object upon which the safety of a city depends?", "solution": "Palladium", "alternateSolutions": "Pd|paladium", "topic": "SCIENCE", "hints": "This meaning of the word originally applied to Troy|The element called this was named after an asteroid|It is also the name of a London theatre|In Troy's case the object on which the city's safety rested was a statue of Pallas, hence the name" }, { "id": 446, "publishDate": "2026-01-18T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which animals attacked Napoleon after the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807?", "solution": "Rabbits", "alternateSolutions": "Rabbit", "topic": "NATURAL HISTORY", "hints": "They were formerly regarded as rodents|A baby one of these is called a kit|Binky was one of these in the comic strip Life in Hell and also in the Harry Potter books|Bugs Bunny is one of these" }, { "id": 447, "publishDate": "2026-01-19T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Which capital is only the 22nd largest city in its country?", "solution": "Washington DC", "alternateSolutions": "Washington|Washington D.C.|Washington|DC|DC|D.C.|Washington DC.", "topic": "GEOGRAPHY", "hints": "It has a National Bonsai and Penjing Museum|It was designed by Pierre Charles l'Enfant|It has a neighbourhood called Foggy Bottom|It was named after its country's first president" }, { "id": 448, "publishDate": "2026-01-20T00:00:00.000Z", "question": "Who won a Razzie for Worst Actress and then an Oscar for Best Actress the next day?", "solution": "Sandra Bullock", "alternateSolutions": "Bullock|S Bullock|Sandra Annette Bullock", "topic": "FILM/TV", "hints": "The awards were given to this star in 2010| The Razzie was for All About Steve|The Oscar was for The Blind Side|Her surname means a castrated bovine" } ]