The AnswerBank Articles

Who designed the Flying Scotsman

A. The Flying Scotsman is magnificent and probably the most famous steam locomotive in the world. It was, in answer to the question from w.f.barnikel, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, chief01:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

Who's fighting the super hackers

A. You must be talking about the likes of Curador. Q. I am. Go on, then. A. OK. Curador - real name Raphael Gray - is an 18-year old hacker from rural Wales who in the winter of 2000 stole an01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

Tell me more about Paul Burrell

A. Burrell was butler and trusted confidant of Diana, Princess of Wales. She called him her 'rock'. Burrell, 43, worked for Diana for 10 years, and was one of her closest confidants. As well as01:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

Alan Turing, the man who beat the Enigma code ... what was he like

A. Brilliant, kind, atheist, homosexual, polite. He also probably invented the computer. Q. How A. As a Cambridge graduate, he dreamed of an imaginary machine - a simple typewriter affair that01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

Is there any interesting history associated with Feltham, Middlesex

A. An interesting question there from Kev. And without being unduly unpleasant to the good people of Feltham, the answer is: Not much. Q. Oh dear. Brief history A. Feltham is to the west of01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

What is the largest lake in Europe

A. The answer to mruczek's question is Lake Ladoga, in north-western Russia. It is the largest entirely in Europe. It covers 6,835 square miles (and lies 40 miles north-east of St Petersburg. With01:00 Mon 20th Aug 2001

Who invented television

A. John Logie Baird. However, his system was a mechanical one that was soon replace by the electronic method. Nevertheless, Baird's achievements - including the first transatlantic television01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

Why did Lord Longford always champion Myra Hindley

A. The recently deceased Lord L was a man of great principle. He was often - and mistakenly - regarded as a dotty, bumbling old fool, but was totally unconcerned with the odium heaped upon him by the01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

How important was Louis Pasteur

A. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) was a French chemist who discovered the link between germs and disease. Once the link was discovered, it became easier to treat and prevent diseases. Q. So what was01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

Who were the Resurrectionists

William BurkeA. A band of men in the 18th and 19th centuries who dug up bodies and sold them to surgeons. Q. Why A. Surgeons and medical students needed corpses both to practise operations and01:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

What is the Indian sub-continent

A. Thanks to stoogmeister for that rather broad question. In brief, it's three countries: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a well-defined subcontinent, divided from the rest of Asia by the01:00 Mon 06th Aug 2001

Who was The Great Lafayette

A. Very tricky one here from Doubris. Much more has been written about The Great Lafayette's death than his life. He was an illusionist called Sigmund Neuburger, born in 1871, died in 1911. Q. 01:00 Mon 06th Aug 2001

What size bra did Marilyn Monroe wear

A. Mark Harvey asked the question. And what red-blooded Answerbank writer would turn down the chance to investigate the lingerie of the world's greatest sex symbol BarryScott was quick off the01:00 Mon 30th Jul 2001

How many provinces are there in South Africa

A. Thanks to mickmac2000 for the question. As Horse has already pointed out, there are nine provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, The Eastern Cape, The Free State, The Northern01:00 Mon 30th Jul 2001

Does the sun shine through the Box Tunnel on Brunel's birthday

A. This question comes from JohnThorn. His full question is: 'Is it true that the sun shines through the Box Tunnel (near Bath) on Brunel's birthday Has anyone photographed it ' Work on Box01:00 Mon 30th Jul 2001

Was Enoch Powell a racist

A. Short answer is no. Q. Long answer A. He was an extreme nationalist. He was also super-intelligent - but didn't have the common sense to explain to people that he wasn't a racist. And he01:00 Mon 23rd Jul 2001

What happened to Screaming Lord Sutch

A. He killed himself, I'm sorry to say. He was 58. The man who coined the slogan 'Vote for insanity - you know it makes sense' and always seemed to brim with fun was in fact a long sufferer from01:00 Mon 23rd Jul 2001

I'm going to New York. Is it worth visiting the Statue of Liberty

A. An unequivocal yes. It may seem to be the corniest thing imaginable, but just do it! It's a wonderful object and hope you'll enjoy your visit as much as I did. Q. So what's its history A. 01:00 Mon 23rd Jul 2001

What did Clive Sinclair invent

A. Plenty: the first electronic calculator, a hand-held personal computer and a pocket-sized television set, an electric three-wheeler and an electric-aided bike. Q. Hold up! One at a time01:00 Mon 16th Jul 2001

How did Butlin's start

A. All through the vision of William Heygate Edmond Colborne Butlin, a quiet but astoundingly successful businessman. Q. Biography please A. Billy Butlin was born in Cape Town, South Africa,01:00 Mon 16th Jul 2001