Snapshots in Time: 2024 Trivia Quiz

Answer: container ship

On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after the container ship Dali lost propulsion and collided with a support pier, killing six construction workers on the bridge. Investigations revealed that the ship experienced multiple power blackouts due to a maintenance error involving a closed engine exhaust damper, low fuel pressure, and tripped electrical breakers, leaving it unable to steer or navigate properly.

These failures caused the ship to drift uncontrollably into the bridge, leading to the collapse of its main spans.

Answer: total solar eclipse

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse swept across North America, providing a breathtaking sight as the Moon completely covered the Sun. This eclipse was particularly special because it was one of the longest total solar eclipses of the century, with some locations experiencing totality for over four minutes.

Its path of totality stretched from Mexico, through the United States, and into Canada, offering millions the chance to witness the event. The eclipse was also significant because it occurred during a period of heightened solar activity, making features like solar flares more visible.

Answer: Labour

On July 4, 2024, the UK held a general election where the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, won a historic landslide victory with 411 seats, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Labour's success was believed to have stemmed from widespread dissatisfaction with Conservative governance, including economic struggles, Brexit challenges, and various scandals.

This result marked a major shift in British politics, giving Labour a strong mandate while leaving the Conservative Party facing its worst defeat in over a century and prompting political restructuring.

Answer: CrowdStrike

On July 19, 2024, a faulty software update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike caused millions of Windows computers worldwide to crash, showing the "blue screen of death." This problem affected critical facilities, such as airports, hospitals, and banks. Flights were delayed or canceled, hospitals struggled with patient records, and many businesses had to pause operations.

The issue was difficult to fix because it required each computer to be repaired manually, even though a hotfix had been released in a relatively short time.

The incident revealed how risky it can be to rely so much on automated updates for critical systems.

Answer: breakdancing

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked the debut of breakdancing, also known as "breaking," as an official sport. Australian athlete Rachael Gunn, nicknamed "Raygun," gave an unconventional performance, featuring moves like the "kangaroo hop," which garnered significant attention on social media.

She received zero points in all her rounds, leading to widespread online criticism and arguments about judging practices leading up to the Olympics. The backlash was so intense that Raygun announced her retirement from competitive breakdancing.

Answer: Ankara, Turkey

The United States and Russia, facilitated by negotiations involving multiple countries, including Germany and Turkey, conducted their largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, involving the release of 26 individuals. The exchange took place at Ankara Esenboga Airport in Turkey. Among those freed were American journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, both of whom had been imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges.

Answer: Helene and Milton

Hurricanes Helene and Milton made history as two powerful storms that struck Florida within weeks of each other, marking the first time in decades that two Category 3+ hurricanes hit the state in a single season. Hurricane Helene caused devastating flooding, especially in the Tampa Bay area, damaging thousands of homes and leaving many residents displaced. Just weeks later, Hurricane Milton brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall to the Sarasota region, resulting in widespread power outages and extreme damage. Together, these storms caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, making 2024 one of Florida's most challenging hurricane seasons in recent memory.

Answer: South Korea

In early December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing threats from "anti-state forces" and accusing members of the opposing political party of supporting "North Korean communists." This unprecedented move led to a series of sudden, widespread protests across the country. Members of the National Assembly (the Korean legislature) were forced to bypass members of the military on their way to the National Assembly Building and swiftly voted to rescind the declaration.

The president's party, however, later backpedaled on their initial condemnation of his action. Nonetheless, on December 14, the Assembly impeached President Yoon with some crossover votes from members of his own party, suspending his powers pending a Constitutional Court decision on his removal from office.

Answer: Bashar al-Assad

In early December 2024, Syrian rebel groups, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a rapid and coordinated offensive that resulted in the fall of Damascus, signaling the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. After weeks of intense fighting, government forces were overwhelmed by the rebels, who had gained momentum with increased international support and defections from Assad's military. Facing capture, Assad fled Syria with assistance from Russian operatives and was granted asylum in Moscow, where he vowed to return but faced condemnation from much of the international community. The fall of Bashar al-Assad marked the end of over 50 years of Assad family rule, which began in 1970 under his father, Hafez al-Assad.

The photo shows Syrian rebels tearing down a statue commemorating Assad with their takeover of the city of Aleppo about a week before the events in Damascus.

Answer: India

Gukesh Dommaraju achieved this remarkable feat by defeating reigning champion Ding Liren of China in a closely contested 14-game match held in Singapore, securing victory with a final score of 7.5 to 6.5. Gukesh's triumph not only broke Garry Kasparov's long-standing record as the youngest champion (previously 22) but also marked him as the second Indian to hold the title, following his mentor Viswanathan Anand.

His journey to the top has been meteoric; he became a grandmaster at the age of 12 and has since become a chess sensation.