1) Sir Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, is an English singer, songwriter, and pianist. With a career spanning over five decades, he is one of the best-selling music artists in the world and has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to music.

2) The world's oldest tree is believed to be a bristlecone pine named "Methuselah" in California, estimated to be over 4,800 years old.

3) The game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 and has since grown into a global sport played at both amateur and professional levels.

4) The Federal Reserve System, often referred to as the Fed, is the central banking system of the United States.