Question 1

A common belief is that the original Pac-Man game character was designed as a pizza with a slice missing. What actually inspired creator Toru Iwatani's design?

Accepted Answer

A pizza with one slice removed — the story is actually true. In this case the popular story is true — Toru Iwatani has confirmed that he was eating pizza and the shape of the pie with a slice missing sparked the design. He also noted that the Japanese word 'paku-paku,' meaning the sound of a mouth opening and closing, inspired the name Pac-Man.

Question 2

The Amazon River carries more water than any other river on Earth — roughly 20% of all fresh water flowing into the oceans. But which river is actually the longest in the world by most modern measurements?

Accepted Answer

The Nile in Africa. The Nile in Africa holds the title of world's longest river at approximately 6,650 km, though the Amazon at roughly 6,400 km is so close that researchers occasionally dispute it depending on where each river's source is measured. The Amazon decisively wins on volume, discharging more water per second than the next seven largest rivers combined.

Question 3

The Swiss flag is famously square. Which other sovereign nation also has a square national flag — making them the only two square national flags in the world?

Accepted Answer

Vatican City. Vatican City and Switzerland are the only two countries with perfectly square national flags. The Vatican's flag features two vertical stripes — gold and white — with the papal coat of arms. Most national flags are rectangular, typically in a 2:3 or 1:2 ratio.

Question 4

Many people believe that diamonds are made of a rare element. In reality, diamonds are made of which extremely common element?

Accepted Answer

Carbon. Diamonds are pure carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice — the same element as graphite in your pencil and the carbon dioxide you exhale. Their hardness comes entirely from how the carbon atoms are bonded, not from any special chemistry.

Question 5

Which iconic American brand got its name from a founder who wanted something that sounded 'exotic and Scandinavian' — even though the company was founded in the Bronx, New York?

Accepted Answer

Häagen-Dazs. Häagen-Dazs was created by Reuben Mattus in New York City in 1961. The name is completely made up — it has no meaning in any language — but Mattus felt a foreign-sounding name would make the ice cream seem more premium and sophisticated.

July 9, 2026 Trivia

1. A common belief is that the original Pac-Man game character was designed as a pizza with a slice missing. What actually inspired creator Toru Iwatani's design?

2. The Amazon River carries more water than any other river on Earth — roughly 20% of all fresh water flowing into the oceans. But which river is actually the longest in the world by most modern measurements?

3. The Swiss flag is famously square. Which other sovereign nation also has a square national flag — making them the only two square national flags in the world?

4. Many people believe that diamonds are made of a rare element. In reality, diamonds are made of which extremely common element?

5. Which iconic American brand got its name from a founder who wanted something that sounded 'exotic and Scandinavian' — even though the company was founded in the Bronx, New York?