Timeline of Scientific Discoveries MCQs 2026
25 questions with detailed answers · 0 from past papers · 3 quiz batches available
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- Q1 medium
In what decade was the structure of DNA discovered by Watson and Crick
💡 Explanation:Watson and Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, within the 1950s decade.
- Q2 medium
In what century did Nicolaus Copernicus propose the heliocentric model of the solar system
💡 Explanation:Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model in the 16th century, published shortly before his death in 1543.
- Q3 medium
In what century did Isaac Newton formulate his laws of motion and universal gravitation
💡 Explanation:Newton formulated his foundational laws of motion and gravitation in the 17th century, published in his 1687 Principia Mathematica.
- Q4 medium
In what year did Charles Darwin publish "On the Origin of Species," introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection
💡 Explanation:Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, introducing his theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Q5 hard
In what decade did Gregor Mendel conduct his foundational pea plant experiments on inheritance
💡 Explanation:Gregor Mendel conducted his foundational pea plant experiments on inheritance during the 1850s and 1860s.
- Q6 medium
In what year did Wilhelm Rontgen discover X-rays
💡 Explanation:Wilhelm Rontgen discovered X-rays in 1895, earning him the first Nobel Prize in Physics.
- Q7 medium
In what decade did Marie and Pierre Curie discover the elements polonium and radium
💡 Explanation:Marie and Pierre Curie discovered polonium and radium in the 1890s, specifically in 1898.
- Q8 medium
In what year did Albert Einstein publish his theory of special relativity
💡 Explanation:Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity in 1905, often called his "miracle year" for multiple significant publications.
- Q9 medium
In what year did Albert Einstein publish his theory of general relativity
💡 Explanation:Einstein published his theory of general relativity in 1915, a decade after his special relativity paper.
- Q10 medium
In what decade did Alexander Fleming discover penicillin
💡 Explanation:Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, within the 1920s decade.
- Q11 medium
In what year did the first successful powered flight occur, achieved by the Wright brothers
💡 Explanation:The Wright brothers achieved the first successful powered flight in 1903.
- Q12 medium
In what year was the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, launched into space
💡 Explanation:Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, marking the beginning of the Space Age.
- Q13 medium
In what year did the first human travel into space, achieved by Yuri Gagarin
💡 Explanation:Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961.
- Q14 medium
In what year did the first crewed Moon landing occur, during the Apollo 11 mission
💡 Explanation:The Apollo 11 mission achieved the first crewed Moon landing in 1969.
- Q15 medium
In what decade was the first working laser developed
💡 Explanation:The first working laser was developed in 1960, within the 1960s decade.
- Q16 medium
In what decade was the World Wide Web invented by Tim Berners-Lee
💡 Explanation:Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989-1990, spanning the transition into the 1990s.
- Q17 medium
In what decade was the Human Genome Project completed, successfully mapping the human genome
💡 Explanation:The Human Genome Project was completed in 2003, within the 2000s decade.
- Q18 medium
In what year was the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, created
💡 Explanation:Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal, was created in 1996.
- Q19 hard
In what decade was the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology developed
💡 Explanation:CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology was significantly developed and refined during the 2010s decade.
- Q20 medium
In what year was the first direct detection of gravitational waves achieved
💡 Explanation:The first direct detection of gravitational waves was achieved in 2015 by the LIGO facility.
- Q21 medium
In what year was the first direct image of a black hole captured
💡 Explanation:The first direct image of a black hole was captured and released in 2019.
- Q22 easy
In what decade did the COVID-19 pandemic begin, significantly impacting global health and society
💡 Explanation:The COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019/early 2020, within the 2020s decade.
- Q23 medium
Which occurred earlier: the first Moon landing or the discovery of DNA's structure
💡 Explanation:DNA's structure was discovered in 1953, while the Moon landing occurred in 1969, meaning the DNA discovery occurred earlier.
- Q24 medium
Which occurred earlier: the discovery of penicillin or the discovery of DNA's structure
💡 Explanation:Penicillin was discovered in 1928, while DNA's structure was discovered in 1953, meaning penicillin's discovery occurred earlier.
- Q25 medium
In what year did the James Webb Space Telescope launch into space
💡 Explanation:The James Webb Space Telescope launched in December 2021.