Q 01/05

Which packing material was created by two inventors who were trying to make three-dimensional plastic wallpaper?

A) Shrink wrap

B) Bubble wrap

C) Corrugated cardboard

D) Polystyrene foam

Answer · why

B) Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap flopped on walls, but found its purpose in 1960 when IBM began shipping its new 1401 computers in it.

Q 02/05

Which kitchen appliance did Percy Spencer develop after a snack reportedly melted in his pocket near a radar set?

A) Microwave oven

B) Electric toaster

C) Pressure cooker

D) Food processor

Answer · why

A) Microwave oven

Microwave oven pioneer Percy Spencer went on to test popcorn, and then an egg that exploded in a colleague's face.

Q 03/05

Which fastener did George de Mestral devise after burrs clung to his dog's fur on an Alpine hunting trip?

A) Toggle

B) Press stud

C) Velcro

D) Buckle

Answer · why

C) Velcro

Velcro blends the French words velours and crochet, meaning velvet and hook, after its soft side and its gripping side.

Q 04/05

What was the first product ever scanned with a UPC barcode, at a supermarket checkout in Troy, Ohio?

A) A carton of milk

B) A can of soup

C) A box of cereal

D) A pack of gum

Answer · why

D) A pack of gum

A pack of gum, Wrigley's Juicy Fruit, made history at 8:01 one June morning in 1974, and a facsimile of it went on show at the Smithsonian.

Q 05/05

Which technology for linking gadgets is named after Harald, a tenth-century king who united the tribes of Denmark?

A) Bluetooth

B) Infrared

C) Thunderbolt

D) Ethernet

Answer · why

A) Bluetooth

Bluetooth was a code name proposed by Intel's Jim Kardach, who meant it to unite communication protocols the way the king united his people.