How sharp is your general science?
Biology, chemistry, a little physics — this trivia quiz mixes school-level facts with a few that trip up even people who did well in science class.
Did you know?
- Honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs, thousands of years old, has been found still perfectly edible.
- The human body has roughly the same number of bones at birth (about 300) as an adult has once many fuse together (206).
- Bananas are naturally slightly radioactive because of their potassium content — though far too little to pose any risk.
The facts behind the questions
A few of these questions hide a common mix-up, which is exactly what makes them interesting rather than just a memory test.
Why diamond is the hardness benchmark
Diamond's hardness comes from how tightly its carbon atoms are bonded in a rigid, repeating lattice structure — it's still the top reference point on the Mohs hardness scale.
Nitrogen, not oxygen, dominates our air
Despite oxygen getting all the attention for breathing, nitrogen actually makes up the majority of the air around us — oxygen is a distant second.
Gold's symbol comes from Latin, not English
Many chemical symbols trace back to Latin or Greek names rather than the modern English word for the element, which is why gold is "Au" and not "Go."