GK Test - 52

Dr. Hans von Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle are recognized as the co-inventors of the jet engine. Each was working separately and knew nothing of the others work. Although Whittle started first, von Ohain was first to design and develop a turbojet engine to power an aircraft.

Of the many honors received by both, the most significant honor was probably "The Charles Draper Prize" in 1992 which was given to both Hans von Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle for their efforts and contributions to aviation and mankind. "The Charles Draper Prize" is recognized as the equivalent to the Nobel Prize in technology.

Many people who tried to test the first parachutes died by jumping from high places. One attempt was a parachute hat, but the inventor broke his neck while testing it. The first successful parachute was tested from a hot air balloon in 1797, in France, by Jacques Garnerin.

Who Invented Gunpowder?

• Roger Bacon: Roger Bacon, an English philosopher and Franciscan friar, is credited with the invention of gunpowder. He is believed to have discovered the formula for gunpowder in the 13th century.

Importance of Gunpowder Invention

• Military Advancements: The invention of gunpowder revolutionized warfare by introducing firearms, cannons, and other weapons that changed the dynamics of battles.
• Technological Innovation: Gunpowder also led to advancements in technology and chemistry, paving the way for further scientific discoveries.
• Impact on Society: The introduction of gunpowder had a profound impact on societies around the world, shaping the course of history and influencing geopolitical developments.

Lingering Debate on Gunpowder Invention

• Controversies: While Roger Bacon is widely credited with the invention of gunpowder, there are debates and controversies surrounding the true origins of this explosive substance.


• Alternative Theories: Some theories suggest that gunpowder may have been independently invented in different regions of the world, leading to conflicting claims about its true inventor.

No one knows for sure when the first chocolate bar appeared or even who made it, but an important event occurred in 1828. The Van Houten press was invented, which extracted cocoa butter from the bean - the same press that brought the Cadbury Brothers success with Cocoa Essence.

Alexander Graham Bell's notebook entry of 10 March 1876 describes his successful experiment with the telephone. Speaking through the instrument to his assistant, Thomas A. Watson, in the next room, Bell utters these famous first words, "Mr. Watson -- come here -- I want to see you".

Genetic Engineering, the technique of DNA cloning was perfected by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer in 1973.

The first wireless remote control for television was called Flashmatic. (Remember when you had to get up to change the channel?)

Invented in 1760.
A list of Benjamin Franklin's inventions reveals a man of many talents and interests. It was the scientist in Ben that brought out the inventor. His natural curiosity about things and the way they work made him try to find ways to make them work better.
Ben had poor vision and needed glasses to read. He got tired of constantly taking them off and putting them back on, so he decided to figure out a way to make his glasses let him see both near and far. He had two pairs of spectacles cut in half and put half of each lens in a single frame. Today, we call them bifocals.

McQueen died in 1980 from a rare form of lung cancer.

The stuff was originally intended to be wallpaper cleaner! (I used to eat this as a child)