Q 01/05

Which bodily fluid was alchemist Hennig Brand boiling down in 1669 when he accidentally discovered phosphorus?

A) Urine

B) Blood

C) Sweat

D) Saliva

Answer · why

A) Urine

Urine fascinated alchemists, and Brand heated its boiled-down residue until glowing fumes filled his flask. He had been hunting for a substance that w...

Q 02/05

Which toy company owns the Ouija trademark, having inherited the famous talking board from Parker Brothers?

A) Mattel

B) Ravensburger

C) Hasbro

D) Spin Master

Answer · why

C) Hasbro

Hasbro sells Ouija as a board game, and it was seen as a harmless parlor pastime until medium Pearl Curran began using one as a divining tool during W...

Q 03/05

Which English scientist's secret alchemy papers were bought at auction by economist John Maynard Keynes?

A) Robert Boyle

B) Isaac Newton

C) Edmond Halley

D) Michael Faraday

Answer · why

B) Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton's alchemical notes went under the hammer at Sotheby's in 1936, and Keynes also took home the scientist's death mask.

Q 04/05

Which rock guitarist bought Boleskine House, Aleister Crowley's former home on the shore of Loch Ness?

A) Keith Richards

B) Eric Clapton

C) Tony Iommi

D) Jimmy Page

Answer · why

D) Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin collected Crowley memorabilia and thought the decaying house would be a good atmosphere for writing songs.

Q 05/05

Which First Lady organized séances in the White House while grieving the loss of her young son Willie?

A) Mary Todd Lincoln

B) Edith Bolling Wilson

C) Dolley Madison

D) Julia Dent Grant

Answer · why

A) Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln turned to mediums after Willie died of typhoid fever in 1862, and President Abraham Lincoln himself sat in on the sessions.