A toilet didn’t show up on American television until 1957, and even then, it stirred up controversy. Now, restroom technology leads the way in global sustainability.
To offer a brief "brain break" from today’s daily news cycle, Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., Inc., has curated a trivia challenge that traces the surprising history and science of the humble toilet and urinal.
Here’s the quiz. Answers are below.
1) The Bathroom Barrier: Censorship was strict in television’s Golden Age. Which show finally broke the "bathroom barrier" by displaying a toilet (well, the tank) on screen?
2) The Art of the Urinal: Which legendary artist famously submitted a porcelain urinal to an art exhibition, titled "Fountain"?
3) The Innovation Leader: Which country is currently considered the world leader in developing the most innovative, high-tech urinal systems?
4) The Sustainability Edge: While many factors matter, what are the primary environmental advantages of switching to waterless urinals?
5) User Psychology: Why do men overwhelmingly choose a urinal over a stall when entering a commercial restroom?
6) The Airport Fly: To improve "target accuracy" and reduce cleaning costs, which international airport famously etched a fly into their porcelain?
7) Becoming a Staple: In what decade did the urinal officially move from a novelty to a standard fixture in North American public restrooms?
“By the way, there’s a reason a 'fly' was selected to be etched into urinals,” adds Reichardt. “Studies show that when men see the fly, it becomes a 'natural' target that they instinctually want to wash away.”
Answers:
1) Leave it to Beaver
2) Marcel Duchamp
3) Japan
4) Water savings and cost savings
5) Shorter wait times
6) Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam
7) 1920s
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