General Knowledge Quiz

[TheEdge]

No on both counts.

 

[Cowley]

I have a bit of an interest in this kind of thing(once sold such stuff for a living) I read recently that there were Zircons found in Australia that were over 4 billion years old?

 

[TheEdge]

When I fact checked this before setting it I too thought it was as the Australian zircon but I was wrong. While the zircon that has been found is the oldest material known on the planet the rock itself is not as old. The rock they are part of is only 3 billion years measured from when it actually aggregated together.

The answer I am looking for is for a rock formation where the appropriate date of aggregation makes it the oldest rock in the world that you can actually go and pick up in your hand rather than the minerals within it.

 

[Cowley]

I know that some of the Grand Canyon is very old, I think a couple of billion years old maybe. Not sure where is older.

 

[TheEdge]

The Grand Canyon is a newborn compared to these rocks.

Clue; Cratons and Shields are enormous stable continental crust components. That's wuere you need to be looking. Age wise, these rocks straddle the boundary of the Hadean and Archean eons

 

[DaleCooper]

You would think a naval historian would know the answer.

 

[Gathursty]

I think the answer is somewhere in Canada, let me guess with Baffin Island. I'll also guess with 4.2 billion years old.

 

[Cowley]

You would think a naval historian would know the answer.

This is land based.
Actually he seems to be on moderation again...

 

[TheEdge]

I think the answer is somewhere in Canada, let me guess with Baffin Island. I'll also guess with 4.2 billion years old.

I'll accept that. The Acasta Gneiss formation in Northern Canada is the oldest dated rock in the world, ranking between 3.6 and 4.1 billion years old.

Your floor

 

[Gathursty]

Which artist was responsible for the more famous A-side to this B-side: "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT"?

 

[fowler9]

Which artist was responsible for the more famous A-side to this B-side: "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT"?

Spike Milligan?

 

[Phil.]

Ha-Hah. I don't his real name but that was the artist known as Napoleon IV. About 1965 I believe.

 

[Gathursty]

Ha-Hah. I don't his real name but that was the artist known as Napoleon IV. About 1965 I believe.

Close enough - The artist is Napoleon XIV, not his real name (Jerry Samuels). Over to you.

 

[Phil.]

Many African countries changed their name after independence. What country did the major part of Bechuanaland become?

 

[theageofthetra]

Botswana.

 

[DaleCooper]

The clock has ticked on this, a day and a half with no reply. I suggest theageofthetra sets a question as "Botswana" was probably correct.

 

[Phil.]

Botswana.

Correctomundo.

 

[theageofthetra]

Given the great success of the GB track cyclists- what unique safety feature did the old petrol powered Durny (the little motorbike used to pace the Keirin race) have not found on a conventional bike? - presumably the new electric one has it too.

 

[DaleCooper]

Dead man's handle?

 

[theageofthetra]

Not that I'm aware of but it is safety related.

 

[Marton]

A mechanism to prevent a sudden stop in case of engine failure, the originals being petrol, which could otherwise occur with a fixed gear system.

 

[theageofthetra]

Correct- the drive train had a component that would break in the event of an engine failure to prevent the cyclists smashing into the back of it- I wonder if this is needed with the electric hub motor?-if that suddenly lost power it would still suddenly slow down with same consequences. Your floor.

 

[Marton]

Thank you.

Sickle, round and waggle are types of dance; who does them and why?

 

[DaleCooper]

Bees, to indicate direction to nectar source?

 

[Marton]

Getting there.
One vital part missing, another too restrictive.

 

[theageofthetra]

Female bees to indicate direction of sun

 

[DaleCooper]

Worker bees, communication?

 

[Marton]

All on the right area, just not enough detail.

DaleCooper was closest, just missing a vital extra piece of data.

 

[deltic1989]

To indicate the location of a food source relative to the direction of the sun.
E.g. if the bee turns 50 degrees then the food source is 50 degrees off the sun.
I'm also given to understand that the direction of the dance indicates weather the food is to the left or right of the sun.

 

[Marton]

Correct. The three terms I sought were
Food source. I'd not just nectar as it's often pollen
Distance
Direction

Your floor