Sunday, December 19, 2010

ArcaMax trivia: Paved Streets, and Temperature Extremes


When were the streets first paved?
In Rome, the world's first paved streets were laid out in 170 B.C. The new streets were popular as they were functional in all types of weather and were easier to keep clean, but they amplified the city's noise level.



Which planet has the biggest temperature extremes?
Temperature variations on Mercury are the most extreme in the solar system, ranging from 90 K to 700 K.



Where is the U.S. official time ball?
The official time ball for the U.S. is on top of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. As early as 1845, the U.S. Navy dropped a time ball every day at noon from atop a building on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. People from many miles away could set their watches at noon. Ships anchored in the Potomac River could check their chronometers.


Did Sitting Bull jump the badger?
Chief Sitting Bull was originally named "Jumping Badger." Among some American Indian tribes, it was customary to give newborn males temporary names. The names were changed later, as the boys developed character and showed courage in manhood.

Celebrating Silvester, Paved Streets, and Temperature Extremes

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