A week of firsts, highs and other delights

A lot has happened this month, a lot more this week. Have you been tuning in?

On Monday, SpaceX deployed a record-breaking 143 satellites into orbit aboard the Falcon 9 rocket. Which space agency held the previous record for most satellites on a single mission, when it launched 104 satellites into orbit in 2017?

The Bidens’ two best friends made headlines when they moved into the White House with the first family. One is named Champ. The other Major. Major was rescued but neither fought in a war.

Who are they?

Last week, Kamlas, Kamalas and Kamalams were give free entry into which amusement park for one day, in honour of Kamala Harris being elected the first woman vicepresident of the US? (The clue is, curiously, in her name.)

Last Sunday, 20-year-old Shrishti Goswami reviewed government programmes, presided over presentations on crime records, and addressed issues related to women and child safety, drug use and hill migration in Uttarakhand. What was her designation for the day?

He’s 73, sold over 350 million books and is deemed the Master of Horror. Billy Summers will be the latest to join the ranks of Carrie, Cujo and Dolores Claiborne as the titular character of his new novel.

Who?

Bhanu Kapil became the 27th recipient of the prestigious TS Eliot poetry prize last week for How to Wash a Heart, which explores the complex dynamics between an immigrant and her white host.

What makes her achievement

special?

Bridgerton has been viewed by over 82 million households and is now Netflix’s biggest show ever. But which long-running medical drama, that pitted McSteamy against McDreamy, put showrunner Shonda Rhimes on the map?

No breather for Delhiites! First smog, and now fog. A new study by researchers at IIT Madras found the major cause for low visibility in the winter months to be the burning of this man-made material. It’s found everywhere and can live forever. Which?

It clocked over 4 million registrations on Google Play Store before its release on Republic Day. Gameplay involves fighting the enemy at India’s border, wielding a club, pipe or axe. You can also punch and kick, but you cannot shoot! Name the game.

Troubled videogame retailer Gamestop’s market value soared from $2 billion to $24 billion overnight, when millions of amateur traders collectively invested in a stock that Wall Street designed to fail. On which now famous Reddit board was the plan hatched.

Answers on page 15

Bhanu Kapil just won one of Britain’s most prestigious poetry honours. Why is it unique?

SpaceX launched 143 satellites (the highest number) on a single mission. Who held the previous record?