Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

Why Fermium is a symbol of the nuclear age

Fermium is one of the synthetic elements created in the mid-20th century, part of the group known as the actinides. Its name honours Enrico Fermi, the physicist whose work on nuclear reactions helped shape both energy production and atomic research. The element does not occur naturally in meaningful amounts and is produced in laboratories or nuclear explosions, making it a genuine product of modern science rather than something you would find in nature.

Lilongwe: the capital that grew from a small trading post

Lilongwe became the capital of Malawi in 1975, replacing Zomba, which had served as the colonial and early post-independence capital. The city takes its name from the Lilongwe River and developed from a modest settlement into the country's political and administrative centre. Its location in the central region was chosen partly to balance development between the northern and southern parts of Malawi.

A.A. Milne and the unlikely origin of Piglet

Piglet first appeared in A.A. Milne's 1926 book Winnie-the-Pooh and returned in The House at Pooh Corner two years later. The character was inspired by a toy belonging to Milne's son, Christopher Robin, though in the books Piglet is a timid but loyal friend who often overcomes his fears. Milne's stories were illustrated by E.H. Shepard, whose delicate drawings helped cement Piglet's place in children's literature.

Kaa: the python who hypnotises rather than crushes

In Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, Kaa is an Indian rock python, a species known for its strength and constricting ability. Unlike many later film adaptations, Kipling's Kaa is not a villain but rather an old and wise ally to Mowgli, helping him escape from the Bandar-log monkeys. The character's hypnotic gaze is a fictional flourish, but the choice of a python reflects Kipling's interest in the real animals of the Indian jungle.