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XIYUE INSTITUTE OF AI ALIGNMENT 1

What connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean?

The Panama Canal is not the only water line connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There's a place in Wyoming—deep in the Teton Wilderness Area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest—in which a creek splits in two. Like the canal, this creek connects the two oceans dividing North America in two parts.

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/this-creek-divides-the-us-connecting-the-atlantic-and-p-1565867365

Which president married his cousin?

In 1905, Franklin Delano Roosevelt married Eleanor, his fifth cousin once removed. Eleanor did not have to change her name upon marrying, since her maiden name was also Roosevelt. Her father, Elliot, was the brother of former President Theodore Roosevelt.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-quincy-adams-son-marries-relative-at-the-white-house

Who Invented the Passenger Elevator?

The man who solved the elevator safety problem, making skyscrapers possible, was Elisha Otis, who is generally known as the inventor of the modern elevator. In 1852, Otis came up with a design that had a safety "brake."

http://gizmodo.com/who-invented-the-elevator-1570745196

How long does it take to make an episode of The Simpsons?

The entire process takes 6 months (literally) because of how they go about animating the episodes. The shows are mostly drawn by hand. South park however uses computers which, in turn, allows them to do everything in 5 days. So what the Simpsons does is they prepare a whole season 6-8 months ahead of time.

http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2e93op/til_each_simpsons_episode_takes_68_months_to/

Who was Alexander the Great's mentor?

At the age of thirteen he became a pupil of Aristotle. It was Aristotle who inspired Alexander's great love for literature. Through his mentor Alexander learned the Greek ways of living and the ideals of Greek civilization.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Alexander.html

When was Pensacola founded?

In 1559 Tristan de Luna established a short-lived settlement at Pensacola Bay; it is considered one of the first European-established settlements in what is now the continental United States but was abandoned.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Pensacola,_Florida

What is the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered into outside of the Western Hemisphere.

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nato

When were the pyramids of Giza built?

All three of Giza's famed pyramids and their elaborate burial complexes were built during a frenetic period of construction, from roughly 2550 to 2490 B.C. The pyramids were built by Pharaohs Khufu (tallest), Khafre (background), and Menkaure (front).

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/giza-pyramids/

How hot does it get on Mars?

The temperature on Mars may reach a high of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) at noon, at the equator in the summer, or a low of about -225 degrees Fahrenheit (-153 degrees Celsius) at the poles.

http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/planetary/mars.html

What was the world's first computer called?

ENIAC. ENIAC (/ˈini.æk/ or /ˈɛni.æk/; Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) was the first electronic general-purpose computer. It was Turing-complete, digital, and capable of being reprogrammed to solve "a large class of numerical problems".

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

Which hand do you use to salute?

When wearing headgear without a visor or uncovered and not wearing glasses, on the command of execution ARMS of Present, ARMS, execute the hand salute as previously described, except touch the tip of the right forefinger to the forehead near and slightly to the right of the right eyebrow.

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/customs_and_courtesies/hand-salute-how-to.shtml

Why does Hawaii have interstate highways?

While we'd like to believe Hawaii's Interstate system was created for the sole purpose of annoying the late George Carlin, the name is actually a misnomer. Not all Interstates physically go from one state to another; the name merely implies that the roads receive federal funding.

http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=52834

What football teams have never been to the Super Bowl?

They took their name off the dubious list of teams that had never won the big game with their 43-8 thrashing of Denver. Four franchises - the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars - have never even been to the Super Bowl.

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2014/2/3/5372518/nfl-teams-that-have-never-won-the-super-bowl-bills-among-13

Is squid considered a shellfish?

Shellfish fall into two different groups: crustaceans (like shrimp, crab, or lobster) and mollusks (like clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, octopus, or squid). Some people with shellfish allergies are allergic to both groups, but some might be allergic only to one.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/problems/shellfish_allergy.html

How much does a 4 year old grow in a year?

These kids typically gain about 4-5 pounds (2 kilograms) and grow about 2-3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) per year. An average 4 year old weighs about 40 pounds and is about 40 inches tall.

http://m.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growth/growth_4_to_5.html

Which Led Zeppelin album is Stairway to Heaven from?

"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band's untitled fourth studio album (often referred to as Led Zeppelin IV).

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

What country has the Gobi desert in it?

The Gobi is a large desert region in northern China and southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Tibetan Plateau to the southwest, and by the North China Plain to the southwest.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Asiaweb/factfile/Unique-facts-Asia5.htm

How many capsules are on the London Eye?

The London Eye holds 32 capsules (although it is possible to board capsule number 33 as number 13 has been skipped). Visits last for one rotation, which takes about 30 minutes, and during that time visitors rise to a peak height of 443ft (135m). From there, it's possible to see up to 25 miles (40km) away.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/10801520/London-Eye-complete-visitor-guide.html

Who was the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize?

The first woman to win a Nobel Prize was Marie Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 with her husband, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel. Curie is also the only woman to have won multiple Nobel Prizes; in 1911, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

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

Where was cricket invented?

Origin. No one knows when or where cricket began but there is a body of evidence, much of it circumstantial, that strongly suggests the game was devised during Saxon or Norman times by children living in the Weald, an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England that lies across Kent and Sussex.

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

When was the smiley face invented?

In 1963, Harvey Ball, an American commercial artist, was employed by State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester, Massachusetts (now known as Hanover Insurance) to create a happy face to raise the morale of the employees.

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

Can a shark swim backwards?

Unlike fish, sharks cannot stop suddenly or swim backwards. A shark's pectoral fins cannot bend upwards like a fish, limiting its swimming ability to forward motion. If a shark needs to move backwards, it uses gravity to fall, not swim backwards.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Swimming.shtml

Where does the word robot come from?

The word robot was introduced in 1920 in a play by Karel Capek called R.U.R. , or Rossum's Universal Robots. Robot comes from the Czech word robota, meaning forced labour or drudgery. In the play, human-like mechanical creatures produced in Rossum's factory are docile slaves.

http://robots.open.ac.uk/minicourse/

Do all babies have blue eyes when first born?

Most Caucasian babies are born with dark blue eyes and their true eye colour -- be it brown, green, hazel or blue -- may not reveal itself for a few months. The colour of your baby's eyes in the first minutes after birth won't last -- exposure to light changes a baby's initial eye colour.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a178/what-a-newborn-looks-like

What team won the first Super Bowl ever?

The winning team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won the first two Super Bowl games and three of the five preceding NFL championships in 1961, 1962, and 1965.

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

How fast is a lightning bolt?

Its can depend on air conditions, but the typical lightning bolt moves at 224,000 mph -- or about 3,700 miles per second. However, the light you see from the lightning obviously travels at the speed of light, which is roughly 670 million mph, or 186,000 miles per second.

http://www.komonews.com/weather/faq/4347976.html?mobile=y

Who played Captain Kirk on Star Trek?

Shatner was first cast as Captain James T. Kirk for the second pilot of Star Trek, titled "Where No Man Has Gone Before". He was then contracted to play Kirk for the Star Trek series and held the role from 1966 to 1969.

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

What element burns in contact with water?

This page describes the reactions of the Period 3 elements from sodium to argon with water, oxygen and chlorine. Sodium has a very exothermic reaction with cold water producing hydrogen and a colourless solution of sodium hydroxide. Magnesium has a very slight reaction with cold water, but burns in steam.

http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/period3/elementsreact.html

Who voiced the Iron Giant?

IRON GIANT Vin Diesel Voice Over. Transcript. Right before his ground breaking role in Saving Private Ryan, Vin did this voice over directed by Brad Bird who went on to work on Pixar movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1-vzNh2d14

How much does an Indy race car weigh?

Indy cars are also much lighter. Current specifications mandate they weigh 1525 pounds, not including driver and fuel. NASCAR rides can weigh 3200 pounds and up to 3400 pounds, including fuel and driver.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/899925-dan-wheldon-crash-why-indycar-is-far-more-dangerous-than-nascar

What animals change colors?

Furthermore, odds are that when you do see a chameleon change its color, it's probably trying to broadcast its mood rather than evade predators. Nevertheless, the animal kingdom is filled with amazing color-changers, several of which dramatically outdo the chameleon clan in the skill of rapid-fire camouflage.

http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=51225

What was Thomas Edison's nickname?

Edison developed the phonograph and the first light bulb in this factory in Menlo Park. Earning him world recognition and the nickname, "The Wizard of Menlo Park."

http://alg.umbc.edu/rogers/edison/edison.htm

Do ears grow all your life?

Bones, stop growing after puberty and muscle and fat cells also stop dividing. But cartilage - that's the plastic-like stuff in ears and noses - cartilage continues to grow until the day you die. Not only does cartilage grow, but the earlobes elongate from gravity. And that makes ears look even larger.

http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/arthur-perry-md/noses-and-ears-continue-grow-we-age

How long ago was the formation of the moon?

The moon was formed ~4.5 billion years ago, about 30–50 million years after the origin of the Solar System, out of debris thrown into orbit by a massive collision between a smaller proto-Earth and another planetoid, about the size of Mars.

http://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nasa-scientist-jen-heldmann-describes-how-the-earths-moon-was-formed/

What was the roman army called?

There were about 30 legions in the Roman army. Each legion had between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers, called legionaries. Each legion had ten cohorts. Each cohort was made up of six troops of about 80 legionaries, called centuries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/the_roman_army/

Which US president was famous for his fireside chats on the radio?

The fireside chats were a series of thirty evening radio addresses given by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1944.

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

Which country first adopted time zones?

On November 2, 1868, the then-British colony of New Zealand officially adopted a standard time to be observed throughout the colony, and was perhaps the first country to do so. It was based on the longitude 172°30′ East of Greenwich, that is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.

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

How many senses does a human body have?

Most children are taught that the human body has five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. But many neurologists identify nine or more senses, and some list as many as 21.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/10/05/how-many-senses-do-you-really-have.aspx

How long is a bear's life span?

Weight: Males weigh an average of 150-300 lbs (68-158 kg), females are smaller. Exceptionally large males have been known to weigh 500-600 lbs (227-272 kg). Lifespan: Average lifespan is around ten years, though black bears can live upward of 30 years in the wild.

http://www.defenders.org/black-bear/basic-facts

Which country first adopted time zones and when?

On November 2, 1868, the then-British colony of New Zealand officially adopted a standard time to be observed throughout the colony, and was perhaps the first country to do so. It was based on the longitude 172°30′ East of Greenwich, that is 11 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.

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

Where did New York get its name from?

The English took over the colony in 1664 during the second Anglo-Dutch War. They changed the name to New York, to honor the Duke of York, who later became King James II of England. The Dutch surrendered Nieuw Amsterdam without fighting.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City

Is there a right side of aluminum foil?

Actually, it makes no difference which side of the aluminum foil you use both sides do the same fine job of cooking, freezing and storing food. The difference in appearance between dull and shiny is due to the foil manufacturing process.

http://www.reynoldskitchens.com/media/10246730/reynolds_wrap_faq.pdf

What is the document that replaced the Articles of Confederation?

The need for a stronger Federal government soon became apparent and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The present United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html

When did we stop backing the dollar with gold?

If, however, one considers the gold standard as a monetary system in which the unit of money is backed by gold even if the monetary unit cannot be converted into gold, one could argue that the United States went off of the gold standard on August 15, 1971 when President Nixon announced that the U.S. dollar would no ...

https://www.richmondfed.org/faqs/gold_silver/

How old is Romeo in the play Romeo and Juliet?

It is much more likely that, given his immature responses to problematic events in the play, that he is probably about sixteen or seventeen years old. In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the exact age of Romeo is never explicitly stated. Juliet's age is 13, and she is almost about to turn 14.

http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/hi-just-want-know-exact-age-difference-between-20625

What animal has four stomachs?

Ruminating mammals include cattle, goats, sheep, giraffes, bison, moose, elk, yaks, water buffalo, deer, camels, alpacas, llamas, and antelope. Ruminants differ from non-ruminants (called monogastrics) because they have a four-chambered stomach.

https://www.boundless.com/microbiology/textbooks/boundless-microbiology-textbook/microbial-ecology-16/microbial-symbioses-196/the-rumen-and-ruminant-animals-988-4904/

Are turkeys from Turkey?

Though it is native to eastern Africa, the guinea fowl was imported to Europe through the Ottoman Empire and came to be called the turkey-cock or turkey-hen. When settlers in the New World began to send similar-looking fowl back to Europe, they were mistakenly called turkeys.

http://blog.dictionary.com/turkey/

What color was the first Model T Ford?

In 1914, Ford produced 308,162 cars, more than all other automakers combined. It was also in 1914 that the Model T, in the interest of streamlining production, was no longer available in red, blue, green or gray; it was now available in "any color so long as it is black."

http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/heritage/heritage-news-detail/672-model-t

When did Sir Edmund Barton Become Prime Minister?

Barton was appointed Prime Minister by Governor General Lord Hopetoun on 1 January 1901. He resigned from the position as Prime Minister in September 1903, because of health concerns. He then became a High Court Judge, a post he held till his death on 7 January 1920.

http://www.ebc44.com/edmund.htm

Is olive oil flammable?

Extra-virgin olive oil ought to be flammable enough to keep an oil lamp burning. It will also burn without producing any noticeable smoke. So, if your olive oil will not keep a wick lit (or if it can, but produces a lot of smoke), you can trust that it is fake olive oil. However, other oils can keep a wick lit, too.

http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-tell-if-your-olive-oil-fake/

Is Elton John a knight?

In 1996, Elton was appointed a CBE (Commander of the British Empire). On 24 February 1998 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming Sir Elton John, in recognition of his contribution to music and fund-raising for AIDS charities.

http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/elton-john.html

What do the three monkeys mean?

The three monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil. There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action.

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

How many nitrogen bases are needed to code for one amino acid?

In order to be able to code for 20 amino acids, it is necessary to use three bases (which offer a total of 64 coding combinations) to code for each amino acid. These triplets of nucleotides that make up a single coding group are called codons or genes.

http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/biology/chapter6section2.rhtml

When did the first microwaves come out?

Raytheon later licensed its patents for a home-use microwave oven that was first introduced by Tappan in 1955, but these units were still too large and expensive for general home use. The countertop microwave oven was first introduced in 1967 by the Amana Corporation, which was acquired in 1965 by Raytheon.

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

Is Greenland larger than Australia?

The Mercator projection portrays Greenland as larger than Australia; in actuality, Australia is more than three and a half times larger than Greenland. As on all map projections, shapes or sizes are distortions of the true layout of the Earth's surface. The Mercator projection exaggerates areas far from the equator.

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

How high is the golden gate bridge above the water?

The Golden Gate Bridge's clearance above high water averages 220 feet (67 m) while its towers, at 746 feet (227 m) above the water, were the world's tallest on a suspension bridge until 1998 when bridges in Denmark and Japan were completed.

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

Do any other mammals lay eggs?

Only two kinds of egg-laying mammals are left on the planet today—the duck-billed platypus and the echidna, or spiny anteater. These odd “monotremes” once dominated Australia, until their pouch-bearing cousins, the marsupials, invaded the land down under 71 million to 54 million years ago and swept them away.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/extreme-monotremes/

What causes muscles to be sore after workout?

Lactic acid is a normal byproduct of muscle metabolism, but it can irritate muscles and cause discomfort and soreness. Muscle soreness associated with exercise is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=78966

How were microwave ovens developed?

Percy Spencer invented the first microwave oven after World War II from radar technology developed during the war. Named the "Radarange", it was first sold in 1946.

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

Who was the mother of Romulus and Remus?

The Legend of Romulus and Remus. The kingdom of Alba Longa was ruled by the wicked king, Amulius. Amulius fought his brother, Numitor, and sent him into exile. Amulius forced Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin.

http://www.myread.org/romulus_remus.htm

How many electoral votes did Obama win in 2012?

The president won the popular vote in 26 states and the District of Columbia, totaling 332 electoral votes, or 62 more than the 270 needed to win the presidency. Romney won 24 states with 206 electoral votes. Obama won 365 electoral votes in 2008.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-03/final-tally-shows-obama-first-since-56-to-win-51-twice.html

What law was passed as a result of the Jungle?

Within months, two pieces of legislation resulted from Sinclair's novel: The Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, both signed into law on June 30th, 1906. Sinclair was an instant celebrity and a Socialist hero, and was finally financially stable.

http://faculty.uml.edu/sgallagher/jungle.htm

Do animal cells have a cell wall?

Animal Cell Structure. Animal cells are typical of the eukaryotic cell, enclosed by a plasma membrane and containing a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Unlike the eukaryotic cells of plants and fungi, animal cells do not have a cell wall.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/animalcell.html

Where did tiramisu come from and how did it come about?

Some sources claim that tiramisu can be traced all the way back to the 17th Century. A layered dessert similar to tiramisu was created by chefs in the Italian province of Tuscany to celebrate the visit of Grand Duke Cosimo di Medici to the region.

http://www.lifescript.com/diet-fitness/articles/archive/diet/eat-well/tiramisu_a_traditional_italian_dessert.aspx

What percent of calories does the brain use?

While a brain takes up about twenty percent, or 300, of a resting body's 1300 calories a day, and while it has the potential to burn more, it's estimated that most actual thinking only changes the amount of calories that the brain burns by around twenty to fifty calories per day.

http://io9.com/5920970/how-many-calories-does-thinking-burn

Why do you vote on Tuesday?

In 1845, the United States was largely an agrarian society. Farmers often needed a full day to travel by horse-drawn vehicles to the county seat to vote. Tuesday was established as election day because it did not interfere with the Biblical Sabbath or with market day, which was on Wednesday in many towns.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Day_(United_States)

How big is the head of the Statue of Liberty?

Total overall height from the base of the pedestal foundation to the tip of the torch is 305 feet, 6 inches. Height of the Statue from her heel to the top of her head is 111 feet, 6 inches. The face on the Statue of Liberty measures more than 8 feet tall.

http://www.statueofliberty.org/fun_facts.html

When was the original Annie made?

The film musical was a dying breed in 1982, when Columbia Pictures and producer Ray Stark took on the adaptation of the popular comic strip Little Orphan Annie. Whether Stark made the right choice in hiring John Huston to direct his first film in the genre -- at the tender age of 76 -- has been debated ever since.

http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/189033%7C0/Annie.html

How long do you boil an egg to make egg salad?

Cook for a further minute if you like your soft boiled eggs a little firmer. For a hard-boiled egg, start the egg in cold water and bring up to the boil. Once the water is gently boiling, set the timer for between 7-10 minutes depending on how well cooked you like your eggs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/techniques/how_to_boil_eggs

What holiday drink is made with sugar milk and eggs?

Eggnog. Eggnog, or egg nog ( pronunciation (help. info)), is a sweetened dairy-based beverage traditionally made with milk and/or cream, sugar, and whipped eggs (which gives it a frothy texture). Spirits such as brandy, rum or bourbon are often added.

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

What mountain range runs through Pennsylvania?

Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the Appalachian mountain range in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mountain_(Pennsylvania)

How much is the most expensive coffee in the world?

Although kopi luwak is a form of processing rather than a variety of coffee, it has been called the most expensive coffee in the world with retail prices reaching €550 / US$700 per kilogram.

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

Where do aardvarks live?

Aardvarks live in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is suitable habitat for them to live, such as savannas, grasslands, woodlands and bushland, and available food (i.e., ants and termites). They hide in dark underground burrows to avoid the warm weather.

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

How many paintings are in the Louvre Museum?

Today it is one of the world's largest museums (with 70,000 pieces of art spread across more than 650,000 square feet of gallery space) and the most visited (it takes 2,000 employees to maintain the museum and its artwork for the Louvre's 8.8 million annual visitors).

http://www.history.com/news/six-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-louvre

How old is the Methuselah tree?

The oldest LIVING tree is called "Methuselah" and is 4,765 years old. This tree is nearly 1,000 years older than any other bristlecone alive today. It lives in a secret location in the White Mountain range of eastern California.

http://www.nps.gov/brca/naturescience/bristleconepine.htm

Why did President Grant change his name?

Grant's parents named him Hiram but called him by his middle name, Ulysses, or "Lyss" for short. When he entered West Point in 1839, his name was mistakenly changed to U. Simpson. He then became known as U.S. Grant, rather than H.U. Grant, which stood for the initials for his given name, Hiram Ulysses.

http://www.cr.nps.gov/logcabin/html/usg7.html

Is it a dominant trait to have 6 fingers?

Having more than five fingers is a little more complicated because it can be a dominant or recessive trait, depending on what genes are involved. If polydactyly is caused by just a single gene that only affects the number of fingers or toes and nothing else, then it is typically a dominant trait.

http://genetics.thetech.org/ask-a-geneticist/polydactyly

How did the bazooka get its name?

Officially titled the M9A1 Rocket Launcher, it was called bazooka after a crude horn of that name used by radio comedian Bob Burns. The bazooka was developed chiefly for attacking tanks and fortified positions at short range.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/57023/bazooka

How did the United States get the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor on June 19, 1885, as a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States. Sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi's Liberty Enlightening the World measures 151 feet high and has come to symbolize freedom and democracy nationwide.

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/gilded/jb_gilded_liberty_1.html

What percent of people are right handed?

Most humans (say 70 percent to 95 percent) are right-handed, a minority (say 5 percent to 30 percent) are left-handed, and an indeterminate number of people are probably best described as ambidextrous.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-more-people-right/

Do water and ice weigh the same?

The ice cup will weigh the same as when it was in liquid form but the volume of ice in the cup will be larger than what it was in liquid form. This is because when ice crystallizes into its hexagonal structure the water molecules are farther apart than when they are in the liquid state.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/classroom/w2icebergs.html

What countries have banned microwaves?

Although the Soviet Union may have banned the ovens for a short period, Schardt reports, no countries ban them today. “The 'evidence' that microwaved foods cause cancer boils down to Hans Hertel's and William Kopp's claims,” Schardt goes on to say.

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/02/26/jane-says-everything-you-know-about-microwaves-wrong

How long is an exact year?

A solar year is the time it takes the Earth to complete its orbit around the Sun — about one year. But the actual time it takes for the Earth to travel around the Sun is in fact a little longer than that—about 365 ¼ days (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, to be precise).

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/leapyear2.html

How many is in a peck of pickled peppers?

When Peter Piper picked his peck of pickled peppers, he picked the equivalent of 1/4 of a bushel. While no one knows the origin of this word nor how it came to be a unit of measurement, we do know that Peter's peck of pickled peppers amounted to the equivalent of 2 gallons of dry weight, or 10 to 14 pounds.

http://m.voices.yahoo.com/how-much-bushel-peck-1899378.html

Who was the first Spaniard to set foot on what is now the United States?

Ponce de Leon had sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. He explored and conquered Puerto Rico and became its governor. He later sailed to North America landing in present day Florida searching for the Fountain of Youth. He was the first Spaniard to set foot in what is today the United States.

http://classroom.jc-schools.net/collinsj/social%20studies/Leon%20and%20soto.ppt

When did Cape Canaveral change its name?

On November 28, 1963 President Lyndon B. Johnson announced in a televised address that Cape Canaveral would be renamed Cape Kennedy in memory of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated six days earlier. President Johnson said the name change had been sanctioned by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names.

http://www.spaceline.org/capehistory/3a.html

Who is the biggest traitor in American history?

Benedict Arnold, American traitor, born — History.com This Day in History — 1/14/1741. January 14. Crime. Benedict Arnold, the American general during the Revolutionary War who betrayed his country and became synonymous with the word "traitor," was born on this day in 1741.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benedict-arnold-american-traitor-born

What does the t mean in t minus?

T-minus refers to a countdown method used by NASA and the military. It translates to time minus. For example, when a shuttle is getting ready for liftoff, it will be lifting off at a specific time. If that time is 30 seconds away, they will say "T-minus 30 seconds."

http://answers.reference.com/information/terminology/what_does_t_minus_mean

What is the only country in the world that is situated in all four hemispheres?

Kiribati consists of about 32 atolls and one solitary island (Banaba), extending into the eastern and western hemispheres, as well as the northern and southern hemispheres. It is the only country that is situated within all four hemispheres.

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

Why is wedding soup called wedding soup?

The term "wedding soup" is a mistranslation of the Italian language phrase "minestra maritata ("married soup")," which is a reference to the fact that green vegetables and meats go well together. The minestra maritata recipe is also prepared by the families of Lazio and Campania during the Christmas season (a tradition

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

What was Uncle Sam's real name?

On this day in 1813, the United States gets its nickname, Uncle Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-nicknamed-uncle-sam

What is the stretch of water between Turkey and Greece?

The Aegean Sea (/ɨˈdʒiːən/; Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος [eˈʝeo ˈpelaɣos] ( listen); Turkish: Ege Denizi or Adalar Denizi ) is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey.

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

When Did The Chipmunks first appear?

Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., for a novelty record in 1958.

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

What country does the Sahara Desert cover?

Oases support some life forms in extremely arid deserts. The Sahara covers large parts of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia, extends over 9,000,000 km² (over 3,475,000 sq mi) and it covers about 1/4 of the African continent.

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

Who invented peanut butter?

While he may have made peanut butter, the preparation arose in other cultures independently. The Aztecs were known to have made it from ground peanuts in the 15th century, and Marcellus Gilmore Edson was awarded U.S. Patent 306,727 (for its manufacture) in 1884, when Carver was 20.

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

What plant does vanilla come from?

Vanilla comes from orchids of the genus Vanilla. While the major species of vanilla orchids are now grown around the world, they originally came from Mesoamerica, including parts of modern day Mexico and Guatemala. The vanilla orchid is a vine-like plant that grows up trees.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/vanilla-comes-from_n_5021060.html

Why is it bad luck to walk under a ladder?

An open ladder forms a triangle, and triangles were once considered a symbol of life, so walking through that shape was considered tempting your fate. It is also thought that because it has three sides, the triangle symbolizes the Holy Trinity, and “breaking” it by entering the triangle is bad luck.

http://glo.com/living/the-meaning-behind-common-superstitions-7020.gallery?photoId=42446

What animal has the most dense fur?

Unlike most other marine mammals, the sea otter has no blubber and relies on its exceptionally thick fur to keep warm. With up to 150,000 strands of hair per square centimeter (nearly one million per sq in), its fur is the densest of any animal.

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

What is the name of the first space station?

Two names, Earth-Star and Starlight, referred to the Station's likely bright star-like appearance in the skies of Earth, while another, Skybase, was said to build on “the tradition of Skylab,” the first U.S. space station, which had reached orbit in 1973.

http://www.wired.com/2013/07/naming-the-space-station-1988/

How many cells are there in an adult's body?

The mean volume of a mammal cell is estimated to be 4 billionths of a cubic centimeter. (To get a sense of that size, check out The Scale of the Universe.) Based on an adult man's typical volume, you might conclude that the human body contains 15 trillion cells.

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/23/how-many-cells-are-in-your-body/