Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

The band behind the androgynous icon

Boy George became one of the defining faces of 1980s pop, known for his soulful voice and striking, gender-bending style. Culture Club formed in London in 1981 and scored hits such as "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" and "Karma Chameleon." Their blend of soul, reggae and new wave set them apart from the synth-driven acts of the era. The band's name hinted at the diverse backgrounds of its members.

A novel that gave a monster its name

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was published in 1818, when she was still in her early twenties. It grew out of a storytelling challenge among friends, including Lord Byron, during a rainy summer near Geneva. The book is often called the first science-fiction novel because it builds its horror on scientific ambition rather than magic. Interestingly, the creature itself is never given a name in the text.

A date that changed flight forever

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first sustained powered flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The first attempt lasted only about twelve seconds and covered roughly 120 feet. The brothers, who ran a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, had spent years testing gliders and building their own engines. Their methodical approach to control and balance was as important as the engine itself.

Texas, rivers and a case of mistaken naming

Austin, the capital of Texas, sits on the Colorado River - not to be confused with the far larger Colorado River that flows through the Grand Canyon. The Texas river shares the name but is a completely separate waterway, running about 862 miles across the state to the Gulf of Mexico. Early Spanish explorers gave both rivers the name "Colorado," meaning "colored red," because of the reddish silt they carried.

A war that never formally ended

The Korean War began in 1950, when North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. A United Nations coalition, led by the United States, intervened on the South's side, while China later backed the North. Fighting ended with an armistice in 1953, but no peace treaty was ever signed. Technically, the two Koreas remain at war to this day.