{
  "question": "Was today a friction match?",
  "url": "https://was.today/a-friction-match",
  "verdict": "no",
  "headline": "NO",
  "answer": "No — a friction match is a small igniting stick from 1826, not a date; today is a Saturday.",
  "details": [
    "John Walker devised the friction match in 1826",
    "First recorded sale: 7 April 1827, Stockton-on-Tees",
    "Today: Saturday, day 297 of 365"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Wikipedia: October 24",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_24"
    },
    {
      "title": "MIT Technology Review",
      "url": "https://www.technologyrreview.com/1999/09/01/236576/got-a-light/#1"
    },
    {
      "title": "MIT Technology Review",
      "url": "https://www.technologyreview.com/1999/09/01/236576/got-a-light/868/"
    },
    {
      "title": "The Centenary of the Friction Match.",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/119495a0.pdf?pdf=preview#1#1#1"
    }
  ],
  "date": "2026-10-24",
  "place": null,
  "permalink": "https://was.today/a-friction-match/2026-10-24",
  "scope": "global",
  "volatile": false,
  "generatedAt": "2026-10-24T06:09:58.848Z"
}