Quizology.Online

Tag: medicine

  • Dancing a Foxtrot with Juliett — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier posted questions.

    Mario Andretti in the lead with Ronnie Petterson behind, 1978 Dutch GP.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from F to J —Foxtrot to Juliett — with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.

    One

    What one word can be all of these: a mythical creature which pulled Poseidon’s sea-chariot; an area of the human brain; and a genus of small marine bony fish? 

    Answer: Hippocampus.

    The hippocampus, located in the temporal lobe and part of the limbic system, is essential for memory and spatial navigation and is one of the first areas affected in Alzheimer’s disease, causing memory loss and disorientation. In mythology, the hippocampus is a creature with a horse’s upper body and a fish’s lower body, often depicted with Poseidon, the god of the sea, driving a chariot drawn by hippocampi and accompanied by dolphins. The Romans associated it with Neptune, the sea god. Additionally, Hippocampus refers to a genus of 46 species of small marine bony fish, known as seahorses, which have a horse-like head, segmented bony armour, and a curled prehensile tail. Found in shallow coastal waters worldwide, seahorses belong to the family Syngnathidae, along with pipefishes and seadragons, and vary in size from 2 to 35 cm.

    Two

    Who was the next North American to win Formula 1’s World Championship, and be crowned World Drivers’ Champion, after Mario Andretti?

    Answer: Jacques Villeneuve.

    Mario Andretti, an American racing driver, competed in Formula One and IndyCar, winning numerous races and championships, including the 1978 F1 championship. Jacques Villeneuve, a Canadian racing driver, competed in IndyCar and Formula One. He won the 1997 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship and the 1995 IndyCar World Series and Indianapolis 500.

    Three

    In what television sitcom did characters have surnames beginning with the these letters: 3 x G plus 2 x B and 1 x T?

    Answer: Friends

    G: Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Ross Geller (David Schwimmer); B: Phoebe Buffay-Hannigan (Lisa Kudrow), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry); T: Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc). 

    Four

    ‘When I saw Finn waiting for me at the corner of the street, I knew at once that something had gone wrong.’ This is the opening line of a work by what author, and what was the work?

    Answers: Iris Murdoch; Under the Net.

    Irish-British novelist and philosopher Dame Jean Iris Murdoch, known for her works exploring good and evil, sexual relationships, morality, and the unconscious, won the Booker Prize for The Sea, The Sea and was made a Dame in 1987. Her first published novel, Under the Net, is a philosophical story about a struggling writer in London. The novel, dedicated to Raymond Queneau, was named one of the best English-language novels since 1923 by Time magazine.

    Five

    Which double-Oscar-winning actress became a UK Member of Parliament in 1992, and for what two films did she win Best Actress Oscars? 

    Answer: Glenda Jackson; Women in Love and A Touch of Class

    Glenda Jackson (1936–2023) was a British actress and Labour Party politician. She was a member of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2015. Jackson won two Academy Awards for best actress, the first in 1970 for Women in Love and the second in 1973 for A Touch of Class. Other notable roles include her portrayals of Queen Elizabeth I in both the BBC television miniseries Elizabeth R (1971) and the film Mary, Queen of Scots (1971). After retiring from politics, Jackson returned to acting, earning a Tony Award in 2018 for her performance in Three Tall Women.

    Post Title

    Dancing a Foxtrot with Juliett

    Juliett is spelled as it is in radio communications, as Wikipedia explains…

    The spelling Juliett is used rather than Juliet for the benefit of French speakers, because they may otherwise treat a single final t as silent.

  • Dancing a Foxtrot with Juliett

    Mario Andretti in the lead with Ronnie Petterson behind, 1978 Dutch GP.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from F to J —Foxtrot to Juliett — with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.

    One

    What one word can be all of these: a mythical creature which pulled Poseidon’s sea-chariot; an area of the human brain; and a genus of small marine bony fish? 

    Two

    Who was the next North American to win Formula 1’s World Championship, and be crowned World Drivers’ Champion, after Mario Andretti?

    Three

    In what television sitcom did characters have surnames beginning with the these letters: 3 x G plus 2 x B and 1 x T?

    Four

    ‘When I saw Finn waiting for me at the corner of the street, I knew at once that something had gone wrong.’ This is the opening line of a work by what author, and what was the work?

    Five

    Which double-Oscar-winning actress became a UK Member of Parliament in 1992, and for what two films did she win Best Actress Oscars? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry VIII—Answers

    Here are the answers to my questions from earlier.

    Another gallimaufry, a random mix of themeless trivia.

    Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What is a zygote?

    • Officer in the Pontifical Swiss Guard
    • Striped opossum
    • Fertilised ovum

    Answer: A fertilised ovum

    A diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.

    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Two

    What is northernmost of New York City’s five boroughs?

    • Brooklyn
    • Queens
    • The Bronx

    Answer: The Bronx.

    The Bronx, the northernmost borough of New York City, is coextensive with Bronx County. It is bordered by Westchester County to the north, Manhattan to the south and west, and Queens to the south and east. The Bronx is known for its diverse population, historic landmarks like Yankee Stadium, and significant open spaces including the Bronx Zoo and Pelham Bay Park.

    Three

    Which of these is found on the human body?

    • Anthracite rim
    • Vermillion border
    • Zinfandel margin

    Answer: Vermillion border.

    The transition from the colour of your lips to the colour of your normal skin is called the vermilion border and humans are the only creatures on Earth that have it.

    Four

    WhIch vessel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first crewed vessel to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench – the deepest point on Earth’s seabed?

    • Trieste
    • Deepsea Challenger
    • Limiting Factor

    Answer: Trieste

    In January 1960, the Trieste, piloted by Jacques Piccard and USN Lieutenant Don Walsh, descended to the ocean floor in the Challenger Deep, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres. The descent took almost five hours, and they spent twenty minutes on the ocean floor before ascending due to a crack in the outer window.

    Five

    Which of these is a fairy creature from Celtic myth?

    • Children of the Watch
    • Cat-sith
    • Crow jedi

    Answer: Cat-sith

    The cat-sìth, a fairy creature from Celtic mythology, resembles a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. It is said to haunt the Scottish Highlands and may have been inspired by the Scottish wildcat or Kellas cats.

  • Gallimaufry VIII

    Another gallimaufry, a random mix of themeless trivia.

    Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What is a zygote?

    • Officer in the Pontifical Swiss Guard
    • Striped opossum
    • Fertilised ovum

    Two

    What is northernmost of New York City’s five boroughs?

    • Brooklyn
    • Queens
    • The Bronx

    Three

    Which of these is found on the human body?

    • Anthracite rim
    • Vermillion border
    • Zinfandel margin

    Four

    WhIch vessel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first crewed vessel to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench – the deepest point on Earth’s seabed?

    • Trieste
    • Deepsea Challenger
    • Limiting Factor

    Five

    Which of these is a fairy creature from Celtic myth?

    • Children of the Watch
    • Cat-sith
    • Crow jedi

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Mongibel—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier posted questions.

    Another random selection of trivia today.

    Mount Etna. Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    An otherworld castle from Arthurian Romance is located at the same spot as the Oxford English Dictionary identifies as Europe’s highest active volcano?

    Answer: Mount Etna

    Mount Etna, is an active stratovolcano in eastern Sicily, Italy, standing at 3,323 meters (10,902 feet). It is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. Its fertile volcanic soils support agriculture, and its historical activity has earned it the designation of a Decade Volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In various stories, Mongibel is associated with the legendary figure Morgan le Fay, depicted as her magical stronghold linked to Avalon.

    Two

    Svetlana Savitskaya on 25 July 1984; Kathryn D. Sullivan, 11 October 1984; and Wang Yaping, 8 November 2021 all achieved a first. What common milestone do these dates mark??

    Answer: They were the first females of their nationalities and for their space programs to perform extravehicular activity (EVA) or spacewalk

    Specifically, they were the first females of their nationalities and space programs to perform EVAs. EVAs.
    The first woman to perform an extravehicular activity (EVA) was Soviet Svetlana Savitskaya on 25 July 1984, while aboard the Salyut 7 space station. Her EVA lasted 3 hours and 35 minutes. The first American woman to perform an EVA was Kathryn D. Sullivan on 11 October 1984, during the STS-41-G mission. The first female Asian and Chinese woman to perform an EVA was Wang Yaping on 8 November 2021, outside the Chinese Tiangong space station.

    Three

    The University of St Andrews, Scotland, was founded in what century?

    Answer: 15th century.

    The University of St Andrews, founded in 1413, is the oldest university in Scotland and the third-oldest in the English-speaking world — after Oxford and Cambridge. Located in St Andrews, Scotland, it is part of the ancient universities of Scotland and played a role in the Scottish Enlightenment. The university consists of three colleges and 18 academic schools across four faculties, with a diverse student body representing over 145 nationalities. It is known for its selective undergraduate admissions and traditional student customs. Notable alumni include Alex Salmond, Chris Hoy, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, with five Nobel laureates among its graduates and staff.

    Four

    The cave system with the world’s longest known length, Mammoth Cave is in which US state and, according to the U.S. National Park Service, what length is it at present (March 2026) to the nearest 25 miles/40 km?

    Answer: Kentucky; 425 miles or 680 km.

    Mammoth Cave is currently mapped and explored at 426 miles (686 km), but that is just what has been discovered to date. — U.S. National Park Service.

    Mammoth Cave, currently mapped at 426 miles (686 km), is the longest known cave system in the world. Early explorers, including Stephen Bishop and the Hanson and Hunt families, significantly contributed to its discovery. The 1972 connection between the Flint Ridge and Mammoth Cave systems, achieved by a team of six explorers, solidified its status as the longest cave system.

    Five

    NOUN
    the scientific study of old age, the process of ageing, and the particular problems of old people.
    — Oxford English Dictionary.

    What word, an –ology, is defined above?

    Answer: Gerontology.

    Gerontology, a multidisciplinary field, aims to understand the ageing process to minimise age-related disabilities. While geriatrics focuses on treating diseases in older adults, gerontology encompasses a broader study of ageing.

    Post title — Mongibel

    The name Mongibel, associated with Morgan le Fay and King Arthur, originates from Arthurian Romance and is linked to Etna (Mongibello). Welsh conceptions of a Celtic underworld were adapted and transplanted to Sicily by Bretons.

  • Mongibel

    Another random selection of trivia today.

    Mount Etna. Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    An otherworld castle from Arthurian Romance is located at the same spot as the Oxford English Dictionary identifies as Europe’s highest active volcano?

    Two

    Svetlana Savitskaya on 25 July 1984; Kathryn D. Sullivan, 11 October 1984; and Wang Yaping, 8 November 2021 all achieved a first. What common milestone do these dates mark?

    Three

    The University of St Andrews, Scotland, was founded in what century?

    Four

    The cave system with the world’s longest known length, Mammoth Cave is in which US state and, according to the U.S. National Park Service, what length is it at present (March 2026) to the nearest 25 miles/40 km?

    Five

    NOUN
    the scientific study of old age, the process of ageing, and the particular problems of old people.
    — Oxford English Dictionary.

    What word, an –ology, is defined above?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Really Useful Robots—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Today the questions all relate to February 11th.

    An example of a robot but not one connected to question one.
    Marvin the Paranoid Android from
    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,
    Gunnersbury park museum, London
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In what decade was the first science fiction television programme broadcast?

    Answer: 1930s.

    The first known science fiction television programme was produced by the BBC’s pre-war television service in Great Britain. On 11 February 1938, a 35-minute adapted extract of the play R.U.R., written by the Czech playwright Karel Čapek, was broadcast live from the BBC’s Alexandra Palace studios. Concerning a future world in which robots rise up against their human masters, it was the only piece of science fiction to be produced before the television service was suspended for the duration of the war. Today’s post title is a hint towards this play, using the same initials, but the play’s ‘R.U.R.’ stands for Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti—Rossum’s Universal Robots—and not Really Useful Robots.

    Two

    On this day in 1929, a treaty was signed recognising papal sovereignty over Vatican City. What was the treaty’s name and who was the Italian signatory?

    Answer: Lateran Treaty; Benito Mussolini.

    The Lateran Treaty of 1929 established Vatican City as an independent state and settled the Roman question between Italy and the Holy See. The treaty was named after the Lateran Palace where it was signed on 11 February 1929. It was revised in 1984, ending Catholicism as Italy’s sole state religion.

    Three

    Today marks the traditional date for Jimmu’s founding of which country’s empire in 660 BCE?

    Answer: Japan.

    Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan, is said to have ascended the throne in 660 BCE. His story, recounted in the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, involves a divine lineage from the sun goddess Amaterasu and a military expedition from Kyushu to Yamato. While his existence is debated by scholars, Jimmu’s legacy endures as a symbol of Japan’s imperial lineage and is celebrated annually on February 11th as National Foundation Day.

    Four

    In 1858, 14-year-old Mademoiselle Soubirous had visions of the Virgin Mary. Where did this occur, and what was Mademoiselle Soubirous’s first name?

    Answer: Lourdes, France; Bernadette.

    In February 1858, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous reported seeing visions of a ‘small young lady’ at the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, later believed to be the Virgin Mary. The apparitions, which continued daily for two weeks despite scepticism from local authorities and clergy, including Father Peyramale, instructed Bernadette to perform acts of penance. On 25 March, Bernadette claimed the Virgin revealed herself as the ‘Immaculate Conception’, prompting further investigation and increasing pilgrimages. The growing number of witnesses to Bernadette’s visions led to widespread attention and speculation.

    Five

    On this date, and in what year did the World Health Organisation officially name the coronavirus outbreak COVID-19? And up to February 2026, to the nearest million, how many people have died from COVID-19?

    Answer: 2020; 7 million.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an estimated 7.1 million confirmed deaths worldwide. Estimates indicate that the total number of deaths could range from 19.1 to 36 million.

  • Really Useful Robots

    Today the questions all relate to February 11th.

    An example of a robot but not one connected to question one.
    Marvin the Paranoid Android from
    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,
    Gunnersbury park museum, London
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In what decade was the first science fiction television programme broadcast?

    Two

    On this day in 1929, a treaty was signed recognising papal sovereignty over Vatican City. What was the treaty’s name and who was the Italian signatory?

    Three

    Today marks the traditional date for Jimmu’s founding of which country’s empire in 660 BCE?

    Four

    In 1858, 14-year-old Mademoiselle Soubirous had visions of the Virgin Mary. Where did this occur, and what was Mademoiselle Soubirous’s first name?

    Five

    On this date, and in what year did the World Health Organisation officially name the coronavirus outbreak COVID-19? And up to February 2026, to the nearest million, how many people have died from COVID-19?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Hatches, Matches and Despatches Part Deux—Answers

    Apocalypse Now. See question 3.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Today’s questions focus on individuals born, married or deceased on December 3rd.

    One

    Which heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 and known for pioneering the genre, featured Ozzy Osbourne as its original lead vocalist?

    Answer: Black Sabbath

    Ozzy Osbourne was born this day in 1948. Black Sabbath’s 1970 self-titled debut album is often cited as one of the first true heavy-metal records, in part because its tritone-based title track was considered unusually dark and ominous for its time.

    Two

    Which pioneering psychoanalyst, daughter of Sigmund Freud, became one of the founders of child psychoanalysis?

    Answer: Anna Freud

    During World War II, Anna Freud co-founded the Hampstead War Nurseries in London, providing care for bomb-displaced children and shaping her influential theories on child development. She was born in Vienna, Austria, on this day in 1895.

    Three

    Which Polish-born British novelist wrote Heart of Darkness, the novella that later inspired the 1979 film Apocalypse Now?

    Answer: Joseph Conrad

    Conrad did not speak fluent English until his twenties, yet became one of the language’s most celebrated stylists. He was born on this day in 1857.

    Johann Sebastian Bach.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Which Baroque composer, known for works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, married Anna Magdalena Wilcken on 3 December 1721?

    Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach

    Anna Magdalena herself was an accomplished singer, and Bach compiled two Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach, collections of keyboard pieces for her to study and perform.

    Five

    Which co-founder of the Jesuit order, famed for missionary work in India, Japan and Southeast Asia, died off the coast of China in 1552?

    Answer: St. Francis Xavier

    Xavier’s extensive travels—over 60,000 miles by ship—made him one of the most widely travelled religious figures of the 16th century.

  • Hatches, Matches and Despatches Part Deux

    Apocalypse Now. See question 3.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today’s questions focus on individuals born, married or deceased on December 3rd.

    One

    Which heavy metal band, formed in Birmingham in 1968 and known for pioneering the genre, featured Ozzy Osbourne as its original lead vocalist?

    Two

    Which pioneering psychoanalyst, daughter of Sigmund Freud, became one of the founders of child psychoanalysis?

    Three

    Which Polish-born British novelist wrote Heart of Darkness, the novella that later inspired the 1979 film Apocalypse Now?

    Four

    Which Baroque composer, known for works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, married Anna Magdalena Wilcken on 3 December 1721?

    Five

    Which co-founder of the Jesuit order, famed for missionary work in India, Japan and Southeast Asia, died off the coast of China in 1552?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.