Inches, Nests & Old Ropes

Daybreak Trivia for October 29, 2026. Ten questions, each with a short explanation.

1. What familiar U.S. length unit is exactly 2.54 centimeters by definition?
2. Which eastern North American bird weaves a deep, sock-like hanging nest?
3. On a barchan dune in a desert, which way do its crescent-shaped horns point?
4. In early-1800s France, what did Nicolas Appert use to seal preserved food?
5. What is the green surface layer often seen on an aged bronze sculpture called?
6. On the original Nintendo Entertainment System controller, what shape is the directional pad?
7. When bread dough spends a long rise in the refrigerator, what happens to its fermentation?
8. In two-person bobsleigh, which crew member steers the sled after the start?
9. According to the U.S. Navy, what did a seaman who “knew the ropes” originally know?
10. On a QWERTY keyboard, why do the F and J keys have small raised marks?