In what year did two engineers first create the plastic sheeting that would later become known as bubble wrap?

General Knowledge

What decorative product was bubble wrap originally designed to be when it was invented in 1957?

Bubble wrap was invented as wallpaper in 1957, but failed until it was repurposed as protective packaging for fragile goods.

General Knowledge

What existing communication system inspired Norman Woodland to design the barcode's pattern of bars?

The barcode was inspired by Morse code. Inventor Norman Woodland thought: dots and dashes could become wide and narrow bars.

General Knowledge

What optical instrument did the inventor of Velcro use to closely study the burrs stuck to his dog's fur?

Velcro was invented by a Swiss engineer who noticed burrs stuck to his dog after a hunting trip and examined them under a microscope.

General Knowledge

The ampersand symbol evolved from cursive handwriting of which Latin word meaning 'and'?

The ampersand (&) symbol evolved from the Latin word 'et' written so cursively that the letters fused into one unrecognizable squiggle.

General Knowledge

Which animal became the first living creature to orbit the Earth, launched aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957?

Laika the dog, first animal in orbit, survived only five to seven hours in space before her capsule's life support failed.

General Knowledge

What is the length of a nautical mile precisely based on, unlike the standard statute mile?

A nautical mile differs from a regular mile because it's based on Earth's circumference, making it exactly 1/21,600th of the planet.