One of my jobs as senior editor for National Geographic’s Great Energy Challenge initiative was increasing engagement around a subject that is vitally important, but often arcane. I developed a series of energy quizzes that helped double traffic to 10 million page views for our online energy content in the program’s first year.
A newspaper once contacted us to ask what kind of software we used to develop our quiz content. The “software,” we said, was freely available, but not user-friendly: a lot of research.
What You Don’t Know About Oil Crisis History
Historians say the modern era of energy began on October 17, 1973, when Arab exporters unleashed the “oil weapon” with an embargo against the United States and its allies. How much do you know about the global oil shocks of the past 40 years and how they changed the world? Take quiz.
What You Don’t Know About Climate Change Science
Every few years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases a new summary of the scientific consensus on climate change. How much do you know about the forces altering the Earth’s temperature, according to the IPCC’s September 2013 report? Take quiz.
What You Don’t Know About Energy in the Changing Arctic
You know that climate change is reshaping the Arctic, but how much do you really know about how shrinking sea ice is opening up the resources at the top of the world for exploration and development? Take quiz.
What You Don’t Know About Flights and Fuel
You know that a jet can get you across the country or overseas fast, but how much do you know about the fuel needed to fly you to your destination? Take this quiz to see how much you know about aviation energy. Take quiz.
How Much Do You Know About the Gulf Oil Spill?
You probably know that the 2010 explosion at Deepwater Horizon caused the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, but how much do you really know about the accident’s magnitude and effects? Take quiz.
What You Don’t Know About Solar Power
You’ve seen the panels on rooftops and mirrors in the desert. But how much do you really know about the technology needed to capture the tremendous power of the sun? Take quiz.
Look for my other quizzes on biofuels, cars, cities, water, food and energy, and more at National Geographic’s Great Energy Challenge quiz hub.