Daily Trivia Quiz - Day 94 (2026-01-12)

Question 1

When restoring 'The Night Watch' by Rembrandt, experts found the painting wasn't actually set at night. What made it dark?

Accepted Answer

Layers of dirty, oxidized varnish

Question 2

Before the Renaissance, art looked flat. The rediscovery of 'Linear Perspective' allowed artists to create the illusion of depth by having all lines converge at a single what?

Accepted Answer

Vanishing point

Question 3

Mirrors are made by coating glass with a reflective metal. Today we use aluminum or silver, but historically, mirrors were made with a toxic mixture of tin and what?

Accepted Answer

Mercury

Question 4

In the 1840s, Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that handwashing drastically reduced death rates in maternity wards. How did the medical community react?

Accepted Answer

They rejected and mocked him

Question 5

Goosebumps are a vestigial reflex in humans. In our hairy ancestors, this reflex served two main purposes: to trap heat and to do what?

Accepted Answer

Look bigger to intimidate predators

Question 6

From the 16th to the 19th century, a popular pigment called 'Mummy Brown' was used by artists. What was the main ingredient?

Accepted Answer

Ground-up Egyptian mummies

Question 7

Before the modern zipper was perfected in the 1910s, it had a major flaw that prevented it from replacing buttons. What was it?

Accepted Answer

It kept popping open

Question 8

In 1963, a volcanic eruption off the coast of Iceland created a brand new island that scientists have studied ever since. What is it named?

Accepted Answer

Surtsey

Question 9

Many people believe sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams. Why is this technically impossible?

Accepted Answer

They are in deep dreamless sleep

Question 10

Antarctica does not have a government, but many countries have tried to claim parts of it. How is the continent actually ruled?

Accepted Answer

By an international treaty