900 Seconds of Fame Trivia Quiz

Answer: PSY

PSY rose to worldwide attention in 2012 when his energetic single "Gangnam Style" exploded across social media, introducing a comic dance that was copied everywhere from nightclubs to news broadcasts. The song's music video set unprecedented viewing records on YouTube and briefly made him one of the most recognizable entertainers on the planet, though that unmatched global frenzy proved fleeting despite his continued music career.

Answer: Wendell Moore

Wendell Moore was an engineer whose experimental work on individual flight led to the development of a jet-powered backpack aircraft. In 1961, he became momentarily famous after demonstrating the device in public, capturing imaginations with the promise of personal aviation, even though the technology was ultimately too limited for real-world use.

Answer: Joe Carter

Joe Carter achieved instant sports legend status when he delivered a dramatic game-ending home run to clinch the 1993 World Series, sealing victory for the Toronto Blue Jays. While he enjoyed a respectable professional baseball career, that single moment became one of the most memorable plays in MLB history and the primary way he is remembered.

Answer: Gary Dahl

Gary Dahl briefly became a cultural phenomenon in the mid‑1970s after marketing the 'Pet Rock,' a novelty item that turned an ordinary stone into an ironic companion through clever packaging and humour. The craze spread rapidly and made him wealthy in a matter of months, but enthusiasm disappeared just as fast once the joke wore thin.

Answer: Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson dominated headlines in 1988 after winning the Olympic 100‑meter sprint in sensational fashion, only for that triumph to unravel days later when he failed a drug test. The swift reversal transformed his Olympic victory into one of the most infamous doping scandals in sports history, defining his public image almost entirely.

Answer: Janey Cutler

Janey Cutler gained brief international attention after a highly criticized audition on "Britain's Got Talent" in 2010, where her performance was widely mocked and heavily circulated online. Although she later returned to the show with improved abilities, her initial appearance cemented her reputation as a viral curiosity rather than a lasting performer.

Answer: Donald Johanson

Donald Johanson became internationally known in 1974 after uncovering the fossilized remains of "Lucy" - a remarkably preserved early human ancestor discovered in Ethiopia. The discovery resonated far beyond academic circles and briefly made him a household name, illustrating how a single scientific breakthrough can propel a researcher into public visibility.

Answer: Nadya Suleman

Nadya Suleman drew global media attention in 2009 after giving birth to octuplets, an extraordinarily rare medical event that immediately sparked fascination and controversy. The sudden notoriety dramatically altered her life, with public scrutiny far outlasting the brief moment of worldwide attention.

Answer: Richard Hatch

Richard Hatch became a cultural figure at the start of the reality‑television era by winning the inaugural season of "Survivor," introducing audiences to strategic gameplay and alliances. His fame peaked quickly, however, and later legal issues overshadowed his television success, limiting his long-term public profile.

Answer: George Holliday

George Holliday was an amateur videographer whose life briefly intersected with history in March of 1991 when he recorded several minutes of footage showing Los Angeles police officers beating motorist Rodney King after a traffic stop. Holliday turned the tape over to a local television station, and its broadcast ignited national and international outrage, becoming a defining visual document of police brutality and a catalyst for the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the officers' acquittal.

Although the video had an enormous and lasting impact on public discourse, Holliday himself did not seek a public role and soon receded from attention, making his sudden visibility a powerful example of how a single act of documentation can thrust an ordinary person into intense but temporary fame.