General Knowledge Trivia: Geography, Science & Entertainment

Time named Adolf Hitler as Man of the Year in 1938 for his enormous influence on world events that year, though this choice was controversial as it recognized his impact rather than endorsing his actions. The designation has historically been about influence, not approval.

Bill Gates began programming at age 13 in 1968, using a teletype terminal connected to a GE mainframe computer at his school. He and Paul Allen quickly developed an obsession with programming, leading them to found Microsoft years later.

Robert Downey Jr. portrayed Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 biographical film 'Chaplin,' earning critical acclaim including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His performance captured Chaplin's mannerisms, physical comedy, and personal struggles.

Singapore banned chewing gum in 1992 to maintain cleanliness and prevent gum from being stuck on MRT train doors, causing disruptions. The ban remains in place, with exceptions for therapeutic gum, and fines can be imposed for importing or selling gum.

Thailand was known as Siam until 1939, when the government officially changed the country's name. The name 'Thailand' means 'land of the free,' reflecting the fact that it was never colonized by European powers.

The Birth of a Nation (1915) is widely regarded as Hollywood's first true blockbuster due to its unprecedented commercial success and cultural impact. It grossed millions of dollars at a time when ticket prices were mere cents, making it the highest-grossing film of its era.

Venus is the planet closest to Earth on average. While Mercury has the smallest orbit and can sometimes be closer, Venus's orbit brings it nearer to Earth more often and at smaller average distances than any other planet.

Pluto is the coldest dwarf planet in our solar system, with temperatures dropping to -229°C on average and potentially -240°C in some regions. Its extreme distance from the Sun (average 5.9 billion km) and thin atmosphere cause these frigid conditions. Neptune is the coldest planet, but Pluto remains the coldest overall.

Venus is the planet closest to Earth at its nearest approach, about 38-41 million km away depending on orbital positions. This is closer than Mercury (55-100 million km) or Mars (55-400 million km). Moon is a satellite, not a planet. The distance varies as planets orbit at different speeds.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean covering approximately 63 million square kilometers (about 46% of world's water surface). It spans from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, and separates Asia/Australia from the Americas.

Australia is the smallest continent covering approximately 7.69 million square kilometers. It is the only continent that is also a single country. Asia is largest at 44.5 million sq km, followed by Africa and North America.

The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world covering approximately 2,172,000 square kilometers. It forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, bordered by India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Hudson Bay is second at 1.23 million sq km.

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (now Taj) was established by Jamsetji Tata in 1903 in Mumbai. It was India's first luxury hotel and set new standards in hospitality. Watson Hotel and Hotel President are not associated with the Tatas.

The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was established in 1968 by Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) in memory of Alfred Nobel. Unlike the original Nobel Prizes, it was not created by Alfred Nobel's will. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences selects the laureates.

Marie and Pierre Curie shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 for their research on radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel. Marie Curie later won a second Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911, becoming the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.

Rajashree Birla became the first woman director on L&T's board in 2001, representing the Birla group which had acquired a significant stake in the company. This was a landmark moment for corporate governance in India.

Shahrukh Khan made this comment about supermodel Cindy Crawford in a lighter moment, comparing his lean physique to hers. The remark was part of his characteristic self-deprecating humor about not having a traditionally muscular Bollywood hero's build.