Daily Trivia Quiz - Day 118 (2026-02-05)

Question 1

When Ray Tomlinson sent the first networked email in 1971, he needed a way to separate the user from the machine. What symbol did he choose?

Accepted Answer

The @ symbol

Question 2

If you used the internet in the 90s, you remember the screeching sound of a dial-up modem connecting. What was that sound actually doing?

Accepted Answer

The computers were 'talking' to negotiate speed

Question 3

Alchemists spent centuries trying to turn base metals into gold. While they failed at that, what important practice did they accidentally lay the groundwork for?

Accepted Answer

Modern Chemistry

Question 4

In medieval Europe, if a dispute couldn't be settled by a judge, parties were sometimes allowed to fight a duel to determine the winner. What was this legal practice called?

Accepted Answer

Trial by combat

Question 5

To keep its streets perfectly clean, which country famously banned the import and sale of chewing gum?

Accepted Answer

Singapore

Question 6

During a period of catastrophic economic collapse in 2008, which country issued a banknote worth '100 Trillion Dollars'?

Accepted Answer

Zimbabwe

Question 7

In the World Wife Carrying Championship, the winner does not receive a cash prize, but is instead awarded the wife's body weight in what liquid?

Accepted Answer

Beer

Question 8

The short-lived streaming service Quibi lost billions betting that people only wanted to watch 'quick bites' of high-budget movies on what specific device?

Accepted Answer

Smartphone

Question 9

Historical spies often used what common citrus juice as invisible ink because it is clear when wet but turns brown when heated?

Accepted Answer

Lemon juice

Question 10

'Hurricane Hunters' fly directly into tropical cyclones to gather data. They release a tube-shaped instrument attached to a parachute to measure pressure and wind. What is this device called?

Accepted Answer

A dropsonde