Marie Curie, with Pierre, discovered radium and polonium in 1898, pioneering radioactivity research and earning two Nobel Prizes.

Andrew Wiles proved Fermat's Last Theorem in the 1990s, resolving a problem that had stood for over 350 years.

The Opium Wars (1839–42, 1856–60) were fought between China and Britain, largely over the opium trade and sovereignty.

The Yangtze River, stretching about 6,300 km, is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world after Nile and Amazon.

The pancreas contains beta cells that synthesize and release insulin, regulating blood glucose levels.

William of Normandy defeated Harold at Hastings in 1066, beginning Norman rule in England. This is a well-documented historical or scientific fact.

Gold has atomic number 79 and symbol Au; its rarity and properties have made it historically valuable for currency and jewelry.

The Sahara Desert in Africa is the largest hot desert, covering 9.2 million sq km, though Antarctica is the largest overall desert.

Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe (1519–1522); although he died en route, the voyage completed the circuit.

Mitochondria generate energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration, hence called the cell’s powerhouse.