Your Time Has Come Trivia Quiz

Archimedes (c. 287-212 BCE) was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. He made significant contributions to various scientific fields, and his work has had a profound impact on science and mathematics. Some of his groundbreaking discoveries which involve mathematics, physics and engineering are, the principle of buoyancy or Archimedes principle, calculating the areas and volumes of spheres and cylinders, approximating the value of pi, the principle of the lever, and the Archimedes screw, a device for lifting water from a low to a high place.

As a person, Archimedes was eccentric and idiosyncratic, immersing himself in his thoughts, calculations and searches for days at a time, neglecting himself and his well-being. He was very sharp and witty in his conversations with people and many of his aphorisms and shrewd remarks are used even to this day.
His death was as unconventional as his life was. During the capture of his city Syracuse by the Romans, Archimedes was engrossed in mathematical calculations and ignored a Roman soldier's orders, a fact that enraged the soldier who killed him without realizing who the old man in front of him was.

Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1480-1521) was a Portuguese explorer who is best known for leading the first successful circumnavigation of the Earth. A member of the Portuguese nobility, he gained experience as a sailor and naval officer, participating in various expeditions. In 1519, Magellan set out on an ambitious voyage commissioned by the Spanish crown. He aimed to find a westward route to the Spice Islands (also known as the Moluccas), which were highly valued for their spices.

Magellan's fleet consisted of five ships. The fleet sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, passing through South America's treacherous Strait of Magellan, which he discovered. This strait allowed them to enter the Pacific Ocean, which was previously unknown to Europeans. The fleet continued westward, facing numerous challenges such as storms, lack of provisions, and mutiny. They explored several Pacific islands, including Guam and the Philippines, where Magellan was involved in conflicts with local tribes. During a battle on Mactan Island in the Philippines in 1521, Magellan was killed. After his death, one of the ships, the Victoria, managed to complete the circumnavigation under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano. The Victoria returned to Spain in 1522, marking the first recorded circumnavigation of the Earth.

Ferdinand Magellan's expedition significantly expanded the knowledge of the world's geography, demonstrating that the Earth is indeed round. His voyage also paved the way for further exploration and trade routes in the following centuries.

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, mathematician, and philosopher who played a crucial role in the scientific revolution in the fields of astronomy, physics and mathematics. He made significant observations by improving the telescope and using it to discover the moons of Jupiter and observe the phases of Venus, the Moon's craters and the rings of Saturn without being able to identify these last ones at the time.

His discoveries on motion and mechanics laid the foundations for Isaac Newton's laws of motion. He discovered the pendulum by observing the large chandelier in the Cathedral of Pisa and supported Nicolaus Copernicus' heliocentric model even though he was accused of heresy by the Catholic Church. In 1633, Galileo was tried by the Inquisition and forced to recant his support for the heliocentric model. His legendary, albeit unverified, phrase "and yet it moves" expressed his firm conviction that the earth indeed revolved around the sun.
He died while he was under house arrest in Arcerti, near Florence.

Jules Verne (1828-1905) was a French writer best known for his works of science fiction and adventure. He is often referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction" for his imaginative stories and futuristic concepts. He had the extraordinary ability to combine adventure with scientific knowledge while envisioning future technological advancements

Verne's most well-known series of novels is called "Voyages Extraordinaires." This collection comprises over 60 novels, including some of his most famous works like "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Around the World in Eighty Days," and "From the Earth to the Moon." The novels take readers on thrilling journeys to fantastical worlds. Many of his ideas, such as submarines, space travel, and electric-powered submarines, were considered highly innovative and groundbreaking for their time. Verne's ability to anticipate technological advancements earned him a reputation as a visionary writer who is equally enjoyed by younger and older generations of readers. He died at age 77 of a stroke in his home in Amiens.

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928) was a prominent British political activist and leader of the suffragette movement in the early 20th century. She played a crucial role in advocating for women's right to vote in the United Kingdom. Initially, she founded the Women's Franchise League, which in 1894 secured the right to vote in elections to local offices (not to the House of Commons) for married women.

Along with her daughters Christabel and Sylvia, she founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903. The WSPU became one of the most influential and militant suffragette organizations in the UK. Pankhurst and her followers used direct action tactics, including protests, hunger strikes, and civil disobedience, to demand women's suffrage. Pankhurst's efforts, along with those of other suffragettes, were instrumental in achieving partial women's suffrage in the UK, and in 1918 the Representation of the People Act granted voting rights to women over the age of 30 provided they met certain qualifications. It was the first pivotal step toward full suffrage, which was accomplished ten years later.

A few weeks after she died in 1928 equal voting rights for men and women were granted with the Representation of the People Act of 1928.

Marie Curie (1867-1934), née Sklodowska, was a Polish-French physicist and chemist who did groundbreaking research in the field of radioactivity. She became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific disciplines. She won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 with her husband Pierre Curie and Antoine Henri Becquerel and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911.

Curie's pioneering research in radioactivity revolutionized our understanding of atomic physics and led to the discovery of two elements, polonium and radium. Her tireless dedication to her work paved the way for advancements in medicine, particularly in the field of cancer treatment. Furthermore, Curie's steadfast determination and commitment to scientific inquiry shattered gender barriers and inspired women all over the world to pursue careers in science and academia. Her remarkable achievements established Marie Curie as a true icon in scientific history.

She died at age 66 of aplastic pernicious anemia, a hematological condition caused by her chronic exposure to radiation. She and her husband Pierre Curie are interred in the Pantheon, France's national cemetery, in honor of their contribution to science.

Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was an American aviatrix who in her short life accomplished many firsts for women in aviation. She defied gender roles from a very early age, actively participating in playing basketball and repairing cars and while serving as a nurse during WWI she became interested in flying. After the war, she took her piloting license and purchased her first plane, a yellow "Kinner Airster" which she nicknamed the "Canary."

In 1932 she became the first woman and only second person after Charles Lindbergh who crossed solo the Atlantic, from Newfoundland, Canada to Londonderry, Ireland. She was the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the United States, from Los Angeles to New Jersey. In 1935, she was the first woman to fly from Hawaii to California. In 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan set on an eastbound flight aiming to circumnavigate the world. From Miami, they flew over the Atlantic, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia and they were last seen in New Guinea from where they departed with Oakland as their final destination. After a two-week search, the two pilots were declared lost at sea.

Amelia Earhart's legacy as a pioneering figure and an enduring symbol of courage and empowerment inspired generations of women worldwide.

Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013) was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, in South Africa's Eastern Cape. The name Nelson was given to him by his grammar school teacher according to the custom of giving native children "Christian" names. He became involved in politics as a student inspired by the oral traditions of his ancestors' resistance wars and heroic achievements. He obtained a BA from the University of South Africa and together with Oliver Tambo they established the first black-owned law firm in South Africa in the 1950s.

As a member of the National African Congress, Nelson Mandela was forced to go underground when the NAC was banned by the apartheid government in 1960. He was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment during the infamous Rivonia Trial. He spent 27 years on Robben Island and was released in 1990.
Nelson Mandela played a pivotal role in shaping the course of South African history and inspiring change across the globe. As an anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader, he fought passionately against the oppressive system of racial segregation that plagued his country for decades. During his imprisonment, he became a symbol of the struggle for freedom and human rights. Upon his release in 1990, Mandela worked tirelessly to dismantle apartheid peacefully, fostering reconciliation between black and white communities. In 1994, his efforts culminated in the historic democratic elections that made him South Africa's first black president, marking a new chapter in the nation's history.

Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001) was a pioneering South African cardiothoracic surgeon who achieved worldwide recognition for his groundbreaking accomplishments in the field of medicine.

Barnard made history on December 3, 1967, when he performed the world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. The recipient of the heart was 54-year-old Lewis Washkansky suffering from heart failure and diabetes, and the operation's success marked a major milestone in the advancement of modern surgery and organ transplantation. Barnard's revolutionary achievement not only saved the patient's life (he died eighteen days later from pneumonia due to the immunosuppressant drugs he was receiving) but also opened up new horizons for medical science and inspired generations of researchers and practitioners.

Throughout his career, Barnard continued to make significant contributions to the field of cardiac surgery, leaving a lasting legacy as a pioneering figure in the history of medicine. He passed away on September 2, 2001, in Cyprus.

Bill Gates (b. 1955) is renowned for being a pioneering entrepreneur, software developer, and philanthropist. He designed his first software program at age 13 and started developing programs for microcomputers as a sophomore at Harvard with his friend Paul Allen. He co-founded Microsoft with him a few years later and together they played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the personal computer industry in the 1970s and 1980s. Gates' visionary leadership and innovative ideas were instrumental in shaping the modern computing landscape, with Microsoft's operating systems and software becoming ubiquitous worldwide.

Beyond his business insight, Gates is equally celebrated for his philanthropic endeavors through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he has contributed significant resources to address global issues like poverty, healthcare, and education, aiming to improve the lives of millions around the world.
His lasting impact on both technology and humanitarian efforts has solidified his reputation as one of the most influential figures of the modern era.