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XIYUE INSTITUTE OF AI ALIGNMENT 1

What school does Harry Potter go to?

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "The finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world."

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hogwarts_School_of_Witchcraft_and_Wizardry

Who ran the first 4 minute mile?

Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4 minute mile 60 years ago today. Sixty years ago on Tuesday, Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old medical student completed what at the time* seemed to be impossible: A sub-four minute mile.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/roger-bannister

Where did Elvis go to high school?

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi.He had a twin brother that was a still born. In September 1948 when Elvis was 13, he and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he attended Humes Highschool.

http://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000062/bio

How much does it cost to leave a light on for 24 hours?

A “normal” incandescent bulb costs about 0.75cents per hour, and LEDs or CFLs cost only one-sixth of that – so leaving the lights on (either overnight or while you're at work for the day, say both are about 8 hours) costs you roughly 6 cents for a normal light and a bit over 1 cent for modern bulbs.

http://theenergycollective.com/vbugnion/306361/what-do-our-bad-energy-habits-cost-us

What was google originally going to be called?

Yep, when Larry Page and Sergey Brin begun work on their search engine, it wasn't originally called Google. They went with the rather obscure Backrub, only changing it a year into development and yes, the hand in the logo was Larry Page's, scanned.

http://thenextweb.com/2009/06/03/google-originally-called-interesting-facts-googles-humble-beginnings/

How do snakes hear if they dont have ears?

When people and most animals hear, sound waves strike the eardrum and go to the inner ear, which is sensitive to the sound waves or vibrations. Snakes do not have eardrums, but their skins, muscles, and bones carry the sound waves to the inner ears.

http://www.highlightskids.com/science-questions/how-do-snakes-hear

Who is considered the father of the modern periodic table?

Mendeleev. The next milestone in the development of the periodic table was set by the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, who is generally acknowledged as the “father” of the modern periodic table.

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0905215.html

What kind of fish is Nemo?

Ocellaris clownfish. Amphiprion ocellaris, also known as the ocellaris clownfish, false percula clownfish or common clownfish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae which includes clownfishes and damselfishes. Amphiprion ocellaris are found in different colors, depending on where they are located.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocellaris_clownfish

Why is it called the qwerty keyboard?

The arrangement of the first six letters in the top alphabet row of a standard keyboard QWERTY goes way back. The layout was created in 1873 when Christopher Latham Sholes made improvements to his earlier typewriter models in order to design a quicker and more efficient typewriter for E. Remington and Sons.

http://www.livescience.com/32304-why-are-keyboards-qwerty.html

What does it mean to have diplomatic immunity?

Diplomatic immunity is a special law that covers people who work in embassies or consulates. The people are called diplomats. The diplomatic immunity means that although they live and work as a visitor inside a "host country", they are not ruled by the law of that country.

http://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity

What was the first Disney animated movie?

The studio produced its first feature-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 and as of 2014 has produced a total of 53 feature films. Beginning with Toy Story in 1995, The Walt Disney Studios also released animated films by Pixar Animation Studios, which became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2006.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_theatrical_animated_features

Where is curling from?

Curling was invented in medieval Scotland, with the first written reference to a contest using stones on ice coming from the records of Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire, in February 1541.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curling

What does c est la vie mean in French?

c'est la vie. An expression used to play down some minor disappointment: “So we lost a softball game by twenty-two runs. What can you do; c'est la vie.” From French, meaning “that's life.”

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/c'est+la+vie

When was the last 2 dollar bill printed?

The new design maintained the portrait of Jefferson on the face but the back was changed from Monticello to a vignette of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The most recent printing of the $2 note has the Series 2003 date.

http://www.moneyfactory.gov/small2denom.html

What did Walt Disney originally want to name Mickey Mouse?

When Walt Disney was in the process of creating Mickey Mouse, he suggested the name of his new character to be Mortimer Mouse. However, his wife, Lillian Disney, felt the name sounded too pompous, and suggested Mickey, instead.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mortimer_Mouse

Where do they use stones to measure weight?

The stone (abbreviation st) is a unit of measure equal to 14 pounds avoirdupois (about 6.35 kg [nb 1]) used in Great Britain and Ireland for measuring human body weight. In many Northwestern European countries the stone was formerly used for trade, with a value ranging from about 5 to 40 local pounds (3 to 15 kg).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_(unit)

When was the hot air balloon invented?

On November 21, 1783 the first free flight carrying a human occurred in Paris, France. It was in a hot air balloon made of paper and silk made by the Montgolfier brothers. The balloon carried two men, Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent, Marquis of d' Arlanders.

http://www.nationalballoonmuseum.com/Exhibits/BallooningHistory.aspx

What is a meet cute?

A meet-cute is a scene in film, television, etc. in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time in a way that is considered adorable, entertaining, or amusing. This type of scene is a staple of romantic comedies, commonly involving contrived, unusual, or comic circumstances.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_cute

How long is the Indy 500 track?

The Indianapolis 500 is held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5 mile oval circuit. The race consists of 200 laps, run counterclockwise around the circuit, for a distance of 500 miles. Since its inception in 1911, the race has always been scheduled on or around Memorial Day.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500

Why does fruit ripen faster in a paper bag?

Placing fruit in a paper bag helps to concentrate the levels of ethylene gas which is what helps induce the ripening of the above mentioned fruits (bananas/avocados, etc.). In fact, avocados and pears must be picked in order to ripen.

http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/109/why-does-a-brown-paper-bag-speed-ripening

What animal is the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast?

The Beast is not of any one species of animal, but a chimera, a mixture of several animals. He has the head structure and horns of a buffalo, the arms and body of a bear, the eyebrows of a gorilla, the jaws, teeth, and mane of a lion, the tusks of a wild boar and the legs and tail of a wolf.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Beast

How many words did Shakespeare make up?

Words Shakespeare Invented. The English language owes a great debt to Shakespeare. He invented over 1700 of our common words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising words wholly original.

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordsinvented.html

Where can you find alligators and crocodiles?

Alligators are mostly found in the southern United States and the crocodiles in Africa, India, South America, and southern United States. They are among the largest reptiles. Their bodies are covered with scales and they have webbed toes. They live in swamps and along the banks of rivers.

http://www.mcwdn.org/Animals/AliCroc.html

How many miles do you have on Empty?

Some popular car models can make it between 30 and 50 miles after the fuel light goes on, according to a study by Pick Analysis. The average Chevrolet Silverado will continue for about 33 miles beyond empty. Smaller cars like the Volkswagen Jetta average about 43 miles and the Toyota Corolla tops the list at 47 miles.

http://www.post-gazette.com/auto/2014/04/24/Running-on-empty-How-far-can-you-really-go/stories/201404240117

Who was the first person to take a photograph?

The First Photograph, or more specifically, the earliest known surviving photograph made in a camera, was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827. The image depicts the view from an upstairs window at Niépce's estate, Le Gras, in the Burgundy region of France.

http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/firstphotograph/

Who did Johnny Depp play in Pirates of the Caribbean?

Johnny Depp portrayed Captain Jack Sparrow in various Pirates of the Caribbean media, including the films and The Legend of Jack Sparrow video game, as well as the Disneyland ride and The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow attraction.

http://pirates.wikia.com/wiki/Johnny_Depp

Where is Glenfiddich made?

Glenfiddich is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky owned and produced by William Grant & Sons in Dufftown, Scotland. Glenfiddich means 'Valley of the Deer' in Scottish Gaelic, hence the presence of a stag symbol on Glenfiddich bottles.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenfiddich

Where is the United Nations?

The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Headquarters

Can you eat eggs after the expiration date?

A: According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, eggs in the shell will maintain freshness for three to five weeks beyond the carton's stamped expiration date, provided that you keep them refrigerated at a temperature of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

http://blogs.ajc.com/better-health/2010/04/27/ask-dr-h-eggs-safe-to-eat-weeks-after-expiration/

Where did Beowulf come from?

In the poem, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats in Scandinavia, comes to the aid of Hroðgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall (in Heorot) has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf

Is the femur the strongest bone in the body?

The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur articulates with the tibia and patella forming the knee joint. By most measures the femur is the strongest bone in the body. The femur is also the longest bone in the body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femur

What was Pablo Picasso's first word?

It's like Picasso was born an artist: his first word was "piz," short of lápiz the Spanish word for 'pencil.' His father Ruiz, an artist and art professor, gave him a formal education in art starting from the age of 7. By 13, Ruiz vowed to give up painting as he felt that Pablo had surpassed him.

http://www.pablopicasso.org/picasso-facts.jsp

Why is it called Big Ben?

The origin of the nickname Big Ben is the subject of some debate. The nickname was applied first to the Great Bell; it may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell, or after boxing's English Heavyweight Champion Benjamin Caunt.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben

Why is salt spread on the roads in winter?

The biggest reason for pouring salt on icy roads is that salt lowers the freezing point of water. Water normally freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but when you add salt, that threshold drops to 20 degrees (or even 2 degrees) Fahrenheit.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/54305/why-do-we-put-salt-icy-roads

What countries border the Black Sea?

The Black Sea is an inland sea located between far-southeastern Europe and the far-western edges of the continent of Asia and the country of Turkey. It's bordered by Turkey, and by the countries of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/blacksea.htm

How many half steps are in an octave?

Octaves can be perfect, augmented or diminished. Below you can see that the number of steps determines the quality of the interval: Perfect octave, 6 whole steps or 12 half steps: Augmented octave, 6 1/2 whole steps or 13 half steps:

http://www.teoria.com/reference/num/8va.php

When was the model t invented?

On October 1, 1908, the first production Model T Ford is completed at the company's Piquette Avenue plant in Detroit. Between 1908 and 1927, Ford would build some 15 million Model T cars. It was the longest production run of any automobile model in history until the Volkswagen Beetle surpassed it in 1972.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-motor-company-unveils-the-model-t

Who invented the Internet CERN?

Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, about 20 years after the first connection was established over what is today known as the Internet. At the time, Tim was a software engineer at CERN, the large particle physics laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland.

http://webfoundation.org/about/vision/history-of-the-web/

Why do people say knock on wood?

One explanation states that the tradition derived from the Pagans who thought that trees were the homes of fairies, spirits, dryads and many other mystical creatures. In these instances, people might knock or touch wood to request good luck, or to distract spirits with evil intentions.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_on_wood

What is the country of Brazzaville?

In order to distinguish between the two African countries with "Congo" in their names, the Republic of the Congo is sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville, as opposed to Congo-Kinshasa (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known from 1971 to 1997 as Zaire, the capital of which is Kinshasa).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazzaville

How much was a gallon of gas in 1971?

Gasoline dropped below 30 cents a gallon for regular gas on Dec. 28, 1971, as an on-again, off-again price war flared in Columbus. In today's money, that bargain-basement price of 29.9 cents a gallon would be equal to $1.70 a gallon, much less than the current price at the pump.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/12/28/gas-war-drops-price-below-30-cents.html

What city has been hit by the most tornadoes?

Oklahoma City has been hit by a staggering 100 tornadoes; the earliest recorded tornado there was in 1893. The most-hit city count can change based on how city limits are defined, but when considering a 20-mile radius around a city of 100,000 or more, Oklahoma City is in the lead, followed by Huntsville, Ala.

http://m.livescience.com/3589-12-twisted-tornado-facts.html

Who developed the first writing system?

The earliest writing systems evolved independently and at roughly the same time in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but current scholarship suggests that Mesopotamia's writing appeared first. That writing system, invented by the Sumerians, emerged in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE.

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/cuneiform-writing-system-ancient-mesopotamia-emergence-and-evolution

Which is the largest landlocked country?

The largest country with no border-access to the open ocean is Kazakhstan, which has an area of 2,724,900 km² (1,052,100 mile²) and is bordered by Russia, China, Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the landlocked Caspian Sea.

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/12000/largest-landlocked-country

How high can you go without oxygen?

We pass out when the pressure drops below 57 percent of atmospheric pressure — equivalent to that at an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters). Climbers can push higher because they gradually acclimate their bodies to the drop in oxygen, but no one survives long without an oxygen tank above 26,000 feet (7925 m).

http://m.livescience.com/34128-limits-human-survival.html

Is Bo Peep in Toy Story 3?

Due to being unable to find a believable spot in the story, Bo Peep only appears at the beginning and end of Toy Story 2. Bo Peep was ultimately written out of Toy Story 3, due to the fact Molly and Andy wouldn't want her anymore, and emblematic of the losses the toys have had over time.

http://pixar.wikia.com/Bo_Peep

Is Israel considered Middle East?

In 1958, the State Department explained that the terms "Near East" and "Middle East" were interchangeable, and defined the region as including only Egypt, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East

How many clicks are there in a mile?

Answer: In military terms, a "klick" means a distance of 1000 meters (one kilometer, or .62 miles). So, if a Soldier radios, "We're 10 klicks south of your position," that means they are 10 kilometers away, or 6.2 miles away.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/f/faqklickdef.htm

How cold is the water in the Antarctic?

Temperatures can plummet to -58°F, which is 90°F below freezing (32°F is freezing). Antarctica is so cold that most of the ice there never melts; the continent is permanently covered in ice. Yet, Weddell seals can live there even in the middle of winter, when the water is at its coldest.

http://williams.eeb.ucsc.edu/teachers/Activities/FREEZING%20IN%20ANTARCTICA.pdf

Is gray a color?

Grey or gray (see spelling differences) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is a color "without color." It is the color of a cloud-covered sky, of ash and of lead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey

What does zip stand for in zip code?

“ZIP” is actually an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan. However, the USPS intentionally chose the acronym to indicate that mail travels more quickly when senders mark the postal code on their packages and envelopes. The general system of ZIP codes used today was implemented in 1963.

http://blog.dictionary.com/zip-code/

How did the word honeymoon originate?

Some believe that the honeymoon originated as an ancient Babylonian practice that involved drinking mead, a honey-based alcoholic drink, for a lunar month after a marriage. The first literary reference to the word honeymoon was in 1552 in Richard Huloet's 'Abecedarium Anglico Latinum'.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/stoi/What-is-the-origin-of-the-word-honeymoon/articleshow/1285765.cms

How many minutes are there in a year?

A common year is 365 days = 8760 hours = 525600 minutes = 31536000 seconds. A leap year is 366 days = 8784 hours = 527040 minutes = 31622400 seconds.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year

What Vitamins Are in Beer?

A 12 ounce bottle of lager sports 0.75 grams of fiber while the same amount of dark beer boasts 1.3 grams. It Provides B Vitamins. That cold one has another hidden health benefit: it's a source of B vitamins such as folate, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12.

http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442463947

How many hours a day does a sloth sleep?

They sometimes remain hanging from branches after death. On the ground, the maximum speed of the three-toed sloth is 2 m or 6.5 ft per minute. Sloths were thought to be among the most somnolent animals, sleeping from 15 to 18 hours each day.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth

How many states are in the Louisiana Purchase?

Today all or parts of the following 15 states were formed from the Louisiana territories: Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Louisiana.

http://www.compromise-of-1850.org/1803-louisiana-purchase/

Why are they called hot dogs?

References to dachshund sausages and ultimately hot dogs can be traced to German immigrants in the 1800s. These immigrants brought not only sausages to America, but dachshund dogs. The name most likely began as a joke about the Germans' small, long, thin dogs.

http://www.hot-dog.org/culture/hot-dog-history

How high are the white cliffs of Dover?

The famous White Cliffs of Dover stand guard at the Gateway to England. Millions pass through Dover each year on their journey to or from the continent. In some places over 300 feet high, the White Cliffs are a symbol of the United Kingdom and a reassuring sight to travellers.

http://www.dovermuseum.co.uk/Information-Resources/Articles--Factsheets/White-Cliffs-of-Dover.aspx

How long can you save a frozen turkey?

Turkey can be stored in the freezer (unopened and uninterrupted) for up to 2-3 years and still be safe to cook. However, for the best quality, we recommend using the frozen turkey within 7 months of storage.

http://www.bhg.com/advice/food/how-to-cook-a-turkey/time-limit-on-frozen-turkey/

Where did hamburgers originally come from?

Another version of the creation of the hamburger is that of German cook Otto Kuasw, who created a very popular sailors' sandwich made of a fillet of beef patty fried in butter, served with a fried egg, between two toasted buns in 1891, at a post in Hamburg, Germany.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_hamburger

What does the term brownie points mean?

Brownie points in modern usage are a hypothetical social currency, which can be acquired by doing good deeds or earning favor in the eyes of another, often one's superior. In New Zealand slang, the expression also carries the derisory connotation of having accomplished something petty or otherwise unimportant.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_points

Where did hieroglyphics develop?

The hieroglyphic system used in ancient Egypt had between 700 and 800 basic symbols, called glyphs. This number grew in the last centuries of ancient Egyptian civilization, because of an increased interest in writing religious texts.

http://history-world.org/hieroglyphics.htm

What year was the first James Bond movie?

In 1962 Eon Productions, the company of Canadian Harry Saltzman and American Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, released the first cinema adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel, Dr. No, featuring Sean Connery as 007. Connery starred in a further four films before leaving the role after You Only Live Twice, which was taken up by ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond

Who was the first actor ever?

Thespis (/ˈθɛspɪs/; Greek: Θέσπις; fl. 6th century BC) of Icaria (present-day Dionysos, Greece), according to certain Ancient Greek sources and especially Aristotle, was the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play (instead of speaking as him or herself).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thespis

What travels faster light or sound?

While both light and sound travel as waves, the speed of light is much, much faster. Light is composed of electromagnetic waves which travel independent of a medium. That is to say, light can travel in a vacuum, such as outer space. Electromagnetic waves travel very fast.

http://www.pa.msu.edu/sciencet/ask_st/072893.html

Which states split their electoral votes?

These states allocate two Electoral Votes to the popular vote winner, and then one each to the popular vote winner in each Congressional district (2 in Maine, 3 in Nebraska) in their state. This creates multiple popular vote contests in these states, which could lead to a split Electoral Vote.

http://www.270towin.com/content/split-electoral-votes-maine-and-nebraska/

Is sign language the same in every language?

The interpretation flow is normally between a sign language and a spoken language that are customarily used in the same country, such as French Sign Language (LSF) to spoken French in France, Spanish Sign Language (LSE) to spoken Spanish in Spain, British Sign Language (BSL) to spoken English in the U.K., and American ...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language

How long do you have before a grenade goes off?

The pin prevents the lever, or "spoon" on the grenade from flipping off and arming the fuse on the grenade. The M67 can be thrown 30 to 35 meters by the average male soldier. Its fuse delays detonation between 4 and 5 seconds after the spoon is released.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M67_grenade

Where was pizza from?

Supposedly, this pizza was first created by the baker Raffaele Esposito in Naples. His creation was immediately a favorite, and Esposito was called to make a pizza for the visit of King Umberto and Queen Margherita of Italy in 1889.

http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/e02.html

How much does a quarter weigh in grams?

Which means one pound of quarters (which individually weigh 5.67g), naturally, adds up to $20. Handy, I thought. Looking at the United States Mint's coin specifications page, I learned that, at 2.268g per dime, one pound of dimes also equals $20. Things get less clean with other coins.

http://lifehacker.com/5804773/quickly-estimate-how-much-moneys-in-your-change-jar-by-weight

Is an orange a berry?

As the interfertility of oranges and other citrus has produced numerous hybrids, bud unions, and cultivars, their taxonomy is fairly controversial, confusing or inconsistent. The fruit of any citrus tree is considered a hesperidium (a kind of modified berry) because it has numerous seeds, is fleshy and soft, derives

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(fruit)

Why do you need to wax a surfboard?

Surfboard wax (also known as surfwax ) is a formulation of natural and/or synthetic wax for application to the deck of a surfboard, bodyboard, or skimboard, to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave. It is also used to increase grip on the paddle of a surf kayak or dragon boat.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfboard_wax

Why are the South Africans called proteas?

The giant or King Protea, South Africa's national flower, is the largest of the proteas species, which make up an important part of the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and Unesco World Heritage site. The South African cricket team got its name from this flower with pink and yellow petals.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/stoi/Why-are-South-Africans-called-the-Proteas/articleshow/5597656.cms

What kind of tree does paper come from?

Wood pulp comes from softwood trees such as spruce, pine, fir, larch and hemlock, and hardwoods such as eucalyptus, aspen and birch. A pulp mill is a manufacturing facility that converts wood chips or other plant fibre source into a thick fibre board which can be shipped to a paper mill for further processing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_(paper)

What was the last country to join the United Nations?

14 July 2011 – The General Assembly today admitted the Republic of South Sudan as the 193rd member of the United Nations, welcoming the newly independent country to the community of nations.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39034

What are the two planets closest to the sun?

Regardless of your view, here's the order of the eight larger planets, starting nearest the sun and working outward through the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

http://www.space.com/16080-solar-system-planets.html

What country has the highest number of spoken languages in the world?

Papua New Guinea has the highest number of spoken languages in the world. There are 820 indigenous languages spoken in this country. The official language is Tok Pisin, or New Guinea Pidgin, and is the most widely spoken language after English, a legacy of the colonial period.

http://www.todayszaman.com/travel_papua-new-guinea-the-country-with-highest-number-of-spoken-languages_200651.html

Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence?

Here are short biographies of all 56 signers of the Declaration. The first, largest, and most famous signature is that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26). Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/

When was the largest tornado?

The largest tornado in recorded history was Friday's May 31, 2013 EF-5 tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma announced on Tuesday. The EF-5 re-classification was based upon Doppler radar data taken by Oklahoma University's mobile RaXPol radar.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/largest-tornado-on-record-the-may-31-el-reno-ok-ef5-tornado

Who invented the granola bar?

MIT's website credits inventor Stanley Mason with creating the first granola bar. This is the guy who invented the first disposable contoured diaper, the squeezable ketchup bottle, and the dental floss dispenser, so it's not hard to picture him coming up with the granola bar.

http://wholegrainscouncil.org/node/5693/print

Where did ping pong originate?

The game originated in England during the 1880s, where it was played among the upper-class as an after-dinner parlour game. It has been suggested that the game was first developed by British military officers in India or South Africa who brought it back with them.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis

Can female fireflies fly?

Male fireflies can fly, but female fireflies often can't because their wings are too short. The female firefly perches itself on a bush or a rock and waits. When a male passes by with a signal the female recognizes, the female flashes back the same signal.

http://mobile.omg-facts.com/Animals/Female-fireflies-often-cant-fly-because/1028

What is the percentage of salt in ocean water?

The concentration of salt in seawater (salinity) is about 35 parts per thousand. Stated in another way, about 3.5 percent of the weight of seawater comes from the dissolved salts; in a cubic mile of seawater, the weight of the salt (in the form of sodium chloride) would be about 120 million tons.

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/whysalty.html

How did the Dum Dum get its name?

A:Dum Dums were originated by Akron Candy Company in Bellevue, Ohio, in 1924. I.C. Bahr, the early sales manager of the company, named the ball-shaped candy on a stick and figured Dum Dums was a word any child could say.

http://m.spanglercandy.com/faqs/general

Is it possible for twins to have different fathers?

In rare instances when twins are conceived by different fathers, it's called heteropaternal superfecundation, which occurs when two or more of a woman's eggs are fertilized by different men within the same ovulation period.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1378184/Woman-discovers-twins-sons-DIFFERENT-fathers-The-Maury-Show.html

How long did the flight to the moon take?

Apollo missions took about three days to reach the moon. But the quickest trip to the moon was the New Horizons probe, which zipped past the moon in just 8 hours 35 minutes on its way to Pluto. However, the spacecraft didn't even slow down or approach lunar orbit.

http://www.space.com/18145-how-far-is-the-moon.html

Who broke Roger Maris home run record in 1998?

In 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs both broke Maris' home-run record. Sosa finished the season with 66 and McGwire finished with 70. Barry Bonds now holds the record with 73.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roger-maris-breaks-home-run-record

Which is the largest bone in the human body?

The head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum in the pelvic bone forming the hip joint, while the distal part of the femur articulates with the tibia and patella forming the knee joint. By most measures the femur is the strongest bone in the body. The femur is also the longest bone in the body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femur

Why do we tickle?

Laughing when tickled in our sensitive spots (under the arms, near the throat and under our feet) could be a defensive mechanism. Research suggests that we have evolved to send this signal out to show our submission to an aggressor, to dispel a tense situation and prevent us from getting hurt.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140131-why-do-we-laugh-when-tickled

What is the narrow strip of land that connects North and South America?

Isthmus of Panama. Isthmus of Panama, Spanish Istmo de Panamá, land link extending east-west about 400 miles (640 km) from the border of Costa Rica to the border of Colombia. It connects North and South America and separates the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean) from the Gulf of Panama (Pacific Ocean).

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/440772/Isthmus-of-Panama

How long is a billion seconds?

Specifically, one billion seconds is 31.69 years or a little more than 11,574 days. And my one billion seconds milestone occurs this coming Sunday, August 18th. A billion seconds sounds like a long time: After all, a billion is a pretty big number.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/08/one-billion-seconds/

Can you feel pain in your brain?

There are no pain receptors in the brain itself. But he meninges (coverings around the brain), periosteum (coverings on the bones), and the scalp all have pain receptors. Surgery can be done on the brain and technically the brain does not feel that pain. With that said, the brain is the tool we use to detect pain.

http://www.brainline.org/content/2012/07/can-the-brain-itself-feel-pain.html

Where was the first Starbucks store?

It was true when the first Starbucks opened in 1971, and it's just as true today. Back then, the company was a single store in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. From just a narrow storefront, Starbucks offered some of the world's finest fresh-roasted whole bean coffees.

http://www.starbucks.com/about-us/our-heritage

Where are apples indigenous?

The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple

What state is bordered by only one other state?

Maine is the only state to border exactly one other state (New Hampshire to the west). Maine is the easternmost state in the United States both in its extreme points and its geographic center.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine

What is the meaning of Kalamazoo?

"Kalamazoo" was originally a Native American name although its exact origin hasn't been pinpointed. Some say it means "the mirage of reflecting river," while others say it means bubbling or boiling water.

http://www.kalamazoomi.com/hisf.htm

When did interleague play start?

For the first time in Major League Baseball history, teams from the American League and National League competed in regular season, head-to-head competition during the 1997 campaign. The first Interleague game was on June 12 as the Texas Rangers hosted the San Francisco Giants at The Ballpark in Arlington.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/interleague/index.jsp

How is the Chief of Justice appointed?

Like the Associate Justices, the Chief Justice is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. There is no requirement that the Chief Justice serve as an Associate Justice, but 5 of the 17 Chief Justices have served on the Court as Associate Justices prior to becoming Chief Justice.

http://www.supremecourt.gov/faq.aspx

Who composed space odyssey music?

2001: A Space Odyssey (score) For the film's actual score, see 2001: A Space Odyssey (soundtrack). The 2001: A Space Odyssey score is an unused film score composed by Alex North for Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_(score)

What is the longest anyone has been in space?

March 22, 1995: Longest Human Space Adventure Ends. 1995: Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov returns to Earth from the longest-ever stay in space by a human. He spent just over 437 days in the Mir space station.

http://www.wired.com/2010/03/0322cosmonaut-space-record/