Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

The vitamin that works with calcium

Vitamin D is best known for helping the body absorb calcium, which is why it is often paired with calcium in supplements and why a deficiency can affect bone health. What makes it unusual is that the body can make it itself: sunlight on the skin triggers its production, so diet is only part of the story. Oily fish, egg yolks and fortified foods are among the main dietary sources.

Melville's whale of a book

Herman Melville published "Moby-Dick" in 1851, and it was not a success at the time. The novel blends a whaling adventure with long digressions on cetology, philosophy and life aboard ship, narrated by the wandering sailor Ishmael. Its opening line, "Call me Ishmael," is among the most recognisable in English literature. Melville died largely forgotten as a writer, and the book's reputation only soared in the twentieth century.

The Titanic and its brief life

The Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in April 1912 during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. The ship had been described as unsinkable, which made the disaster all the more shocking to the public. More than 1,500 people died, partly because there were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. The wreck was not located until 1985, resting deep on the Atlantic seabed.

A small statue with a big wardrobe

Manneken Pis, the bronze fountain figure of a urinating boy in Brussels, stands only about 60 centimetres tall, yet it is one of the city's best-loved symbols. The current statue dates from 1619, though earlier versions existed. One of its stranger traditions is a wardrobe of hundreds of costumes, which are changed on special occasions and displayed in a dedicated museum nearby.

Why sulfuric acid matters

Sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄, is one of the most produced industrial chemicals in the world, used in fertilisers, batteries and metal processing. It is a strong acid and highly corrosive, so it demands careful handling. Its importance to manufacturing is so great that production volume is sometimes used as a rough indicator of a country's industrial strength.