Bob Dylan recorded a song on June 15, 1965, that transformed him from a folk musician to a rock star.
| Photo Credit: Getty images
Q: On this date in 763 BC, the Assyrians recorded an event in their history books, which allowed researchers to fix the chronology of Mesopotamian history. They record it as a ’Shamash akallu’, which, when translated, means ‘distorted sun’. What incredible event had they witnessed?
A: Solar eclipse
Q: According to legend, on June 15, 1219, a red lamb-skin banner with a white cross fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse in Estonia. The soldiers were inspired by this and went on to defeat the Baltics. This then became the ‘Dannebrog’, the oldest national flag in the world. Which country flies this flag?
A: Denmark
Q: On June 15, 1667, French physician Jean-Baptiste Denys performed a medical procedure for the first time in history. He treated a 15-year-old boy who had uncontrollable fevers by introducing something he had taken from a lamb. There was no allergic reaction due to the small amount used. What was this the very instance of in medicine?
A: Blood transfusion
Q: On June 15, 1752, this gentleman and his son stepped out during a storm and flew a kite. It flew on a silk string and had a house key connected to a Leyden jar. During the storm, he saw the jar getting charged and electric sparks, thereby proving that lightning was a form of electricity. Who was this brave researcher?
A: Benjamin Franklin
Q: On June 15, 1844, Charles Goodyear received a patent for a process to make rubber pliable and waterproof, making it the most efficient compound for tires. Since the process needed heat and sulphur to work, he named it after the Roman god of Fire. What process is this?
A: Vulcanization
Q: On June 15, 1878, English photographer Eadweard Muybridge took a series of photographs to prove a point to the governor of California. He took a sequence of photographs and then projected them together, forming the basis of motion pictures. What animal did he show actually had all four feet of the ground mid-run?
A: Horse
Q: Born this date in 1911, the Reverend Wilbert Awdry went on to create ‘The Railway Series’. Forty-two books about anthropomorphic vehicles that lived on the fictional island of Sodor. Based on real-life events, the stories became hugely popular, with one of the characters even getting his own TV series. Which character became the world famous?
A: Thomas the Tank Engine
Q: On June 15, 1959, this archipelago was made Ecuador’s first national park. The government banned the capture of any endemic species, many of which had played a vital role in the theory of Evolution. Which islands are these, known for their giant tortoises?
A: Galapagos Islands
Q: On June 15, 1965, singer Bob Dylan recorded his song “Like a ______ _____”. It was voted #1 in Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’. The song transformed Dylan from a folk musician to a rock star. What is the title, which is inspired by a proverb about constantly moving?
A: Rolling Stone
Q: On June 15, 2022, Microsoft finally retired its ubiquitous web browser after 26 years. Although classic, it had become outdated and the butt of many memes and jokes, especially about the speed of operation. What iconic browser was this which was replaced by Microsoft Edge?
A: Internet Explorer
A molecular biologist from Madurai, our quizmaster enjoys trivia and music, and is working on a rock ballad called ‘Coffee is a Drink, Kaapi is an Emotion’. @bertyashley
Published – June 12, 2025 09:00 am IST
