Tag: science

N is for…

The alphabet theme continues with some questions where all the answers begin with ‘N’.

Barbra Streisand
Image Wikipedia

One

The writer of You Don’t Brine Me Flowers had a hit duet with it alongside Barbra Streisand. Who is the songwriter?

Two

The compass point found at 22.5° from North is what?

Three

In The Lord of the Rings how many Nazgûl were there?

Four

Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are enclaves within which Australian state?

Five

The SI unit of force. It is equal to the force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one metre per second per second, and is equivalent to 100,000 dynes.
– Oxford English Dictionary

What word is being defined above?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

F is for… | Answers

Forth Bridge.
Image Wikipedia
  1. The bridge pictured is the…
    • Forth Bridge—The Forth Bridge, a cantilever railway bridge across the Firth of Forth (estuary of the River Forth) in Scotland, was completed in 1890 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world’s longest single cantilever bridge span until 1919 and remains the second longest.
      Frida Kahlo, by Guillermo Kahlo.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Which Mexican painter’s final work, Viva La Vida (1954), depicts a still-life of watermelons?
    • Frida Kahlo—was a Mexican painter known for her self-portraits and works inspired by Mexican culture. Her paintings, often autobiographical and mixing realism with fantasy gained international recognition in the late 1970s and early 1990s, becoming an icon for Chicanos, feminists and the LGBTQ+ community.
      Felix in Oceantics (1930).
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Which feline has been described as the world’s most popular cartoon star before Mickey Mouse?
    • Felix the cat—created in 1919, is a cartoon character known for his black body, white eyes, and grin. He starred in animated shorts, a comic strip and merchandise, but his popularity declined with the advent of sound cartoons. Despite a brief revival in the 1930s and television appearances in the 1950s, Felix’s success waned.
      Enrico Fermi, 1943.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. Which synthetic element, atomic No 100, is named after an Italian-born physicist?
    • Fermium—a synthetic actinide with the symbol Fm and atomic number 100, is the heaviest element produced by neutron bombardment. Discovered in the debris of the first hydrogen bomb explosion in 1952 it is named after Enrico Fermi.
      Ray Bradbury.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. Author Ray Bradbury is best known for what 1953 novel?
    • Fahrenheit 451—Ray Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter known for his works in fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery and realistic fiction. His other well-known works include The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man.

F is for…

A few questions where all the answers begin with ‘F’. As you know the starting letter, there are no multiple-choice options.

Image Wikipedia
  1. The bridge pictured is the…
  2. Which Mexican painter’s final work, Viva La Vida (1954), depicts a still-life of watermelons?
  3. Which feline has been described as the world’s most popular cartoon star before Mickey Mouse?
  4. Which synthetic element, atomic No 100, is named after an Italian-born physicist?
  5. Author Ray Bradbury is best known for what 1953 novel?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Hotchpotch II | Answers

Detail of Zephyrus with Aura
from
Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Image Wikipedia

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

  1. In which of these national parks are zebra a native breed?
    • Kruger National Park—in South Africa spans 19,623 km2 across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Established in 1926, it is South Africa’s first national park and part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. It is home to 25,000 to 35,000 plains zebra (Equus quagga). Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK was established in 2003. It is the largest national park in the UK and covers the Cairngorms mountain range and surrounding hills. Goonengerry NP, New South Wales, Australia is within the Nightcap Range Important Bird Area, home to the largest population of Albert’s lyrebirds.
  2. A light or westerly wind which was also a large car (Ford of Britain) replaced by the Granada in 1972 is a…
    • Zephyr—In ancient Greek mythology and religion, the god Zephyrus was the personification of the west wind and the bringer of light spring and early summer breezes.
      Googol.
      Image
  3. How many zeroes follow the digit ‘1’ (one) when writing the number known as a googol?
    • 100—10100 or ten to the power of one hundred or ten duotrigintillion. The largest ‘named’ number, the term ‘Googol’ was coined in 1920 by 9-year-old Milton Sirotta, the nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner. It’s possible that Sirotta was inspired by the contemporary comic strip character Barney Google.
      Romeo and Juliet.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet how old is Juliet?
    • Thirteren—her mother indicates that she is not fourteen until Lammastide, which is two weeks away.
      1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Barker Sedanca de Ville
      Image Wikipedia
  5. A 1964 film staring Rex Harrison and Jeanne Moreau was…
    • The Yellow Rolls-Royce—the film follows the story of three very different owners of a yellow 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The owners include an English aristocrat, a Miami gangster and a wealthy American widow. The film is set in the years leading up to and including the start of World War II.

Hotchpotch II

A mixture of questions for you to peruse.

Plains zebra (Equus quagga).
Image Wikipedia
  1. In which of these national parks are zebra a native breed?
    • Cairngorm National Park
    • Goonengerry National Park
    • Kruger National Park
  2. A light or westerly wind which was also a large car (Ford of Britain) replaced by the Granada in 1972, is a…
    • Chinook
    • Sirocco
    • Zephyr
  3. How many zeroes follow the digit ‘1’ (one) when writing the number known as a googol?
    • 10
    • 100
    • 1,000
  4. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet how old is Juliet?
    • Thirteen
    • Sixteen
    • Nineteen
  5. A 1964 film staring Rex Harrison and Jeanne Moreau was…
    • My Little Red Corvette
    • Ozzy, the Orange VW Camper
    • The Yellow Rolls-Royce

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Americana | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

Jacques Cartier by Theophile Hamel, 1844.
Image Wikipedia
  1. The first European to describe and map North America’s Saint Lawrence River was Jacques Cartier. He sailed into the river for the first time on 9 June 1534. Who was he?
    • Jacques Cartier—Jacques Cartier, commissioned by King Francis I of France, sailed into the St. Lawrence River in 1534 in search of gold, spices and a northern passage to Asia. He made contact with the Iroquois nation on Prince Edward Island and believed he had discovered a new seaway to Asia.
      Michael J. Fox, 2020.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Michael J. Fox was born 9 June 1961, what role did he play in Spin City?
    • Mike Flaherty—Michael J. Fox, a Canadian-American actor and activist, rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s through roles in Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, he became an advocate for finding a cure, founding The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000. Fox officially retired from acting in 2020 due to declining health.
      Lyndon. B Johnson, 1964.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. On this date, a US President declared a national day of mourning following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Which US president made this decision?
    • Lyndon B. Johnson—On 5 June 1968, Robert F. Kennedy, a US senator and presidential candidate, was shot and fatally wounded by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Kennedy died on 6 June. Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian with anti-Zionist beliefs, was convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison.
      Patricia Cornwall, 2016
      Image Wikipedia
  4. Best known for her Kay Scarpetta novels, which author was born today in 1956?
    • Patricia Cornwell—Kay Scarpetta, a fictional character inspired by Marcella Farinelli Fierro, is the protagonist in Patricia Cornwell’s crime novels. The name Scarpetta means ‘Little Shoe’ and is a pun on Caligula, meaning ‘Little Boot’.
      The US Navy ballistic missile submarine USS George Washington (SSBN-598) underway, circa in the 1970s. Image Wikipedia
  5. On 9 June 1959, the world’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was launched. Which of these was it?
    • USS George Washington (United States)—The world’s first functioning nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) was the USS George Washington, armed with 16 Polaris A-1 missiles. The Soviets, although having several SSBs, followed suit as part of the arms race, in developing a Soviet SSBN.

Americana

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, June 9th.

Grande Hermine with cameos of Jacques Cartier & Francis I, King of France in margins.
Image US Library of Congress
  1. The first European to describe and map North America’s Saint Lawrence River sailed into the river for the first time on 9 June 1534. Who was he?
    • Jacques Cartier
    • Jacques Chirac
    • Jacques Cousteau
  2. Michael J. Fox was born 9 June 1961, what role did he play in Spin City?
    • Frank Bannister
    • Mike Flaherty
    • Ben Stone
  3. On this date, a US President declared a national day of mourning following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Which US president made this decision?
    • Gerald Ford
    • Lyndon B. Johnson
    • Richard Nixon
  4. Best known for her Kay Scarpetta novels, which author was born today in 1956?
    • Jane Adams
    • Patricia Cornwell
    • Sandra Brown
  5. On 9 June 1959, the world’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was launched. Which of these was it?
    • K-19 (Soviet Union)
    • HMS Resolution (United Kingdom)
    • USS George Washington (United States)

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Finders keepers | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Image

The Rolling Stones, 1965.
Left to Right: Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards
Image Wikipedia
  1. Brian Jones, born 1942, was a guitarist and founder member of what band?
    • Rolling Stones—Brian Jones, founder of the Rolling Stones, initially played slide guitar and later sang backing vocals and played various instruments. After developing alcohol and drug problems, his role in the band diminished, leading to his dismissal in 1969 and subsequent drowning at age 27.
      Shishapangma, Tibet.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Which of these is NOT found in the Andes?
    • Shishapangma—aka Shishasbangma or Xixiabangma, is the 14th highest mountain in the world, standing at 26,335 feet (8,027 metres) above sea level. It is the lowest 8,000-metre peak and is entirely situated within the Tibetan Plateau. Notably, Shishapangma was the final eight-thousander to be conquered in 1964. Aconcagua and Cotopaxi are both in the Andes; Aconcagua is the highest mountain that is not in Asia, while Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano.
      Ferdinand von Wrangel.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Of which of these was explorer Ferdinand von Wrangel founder?
    • Russian Geographic Society—Baron Ferdinand Friedrich Georg Ludwig von Wrangel was a Russian-German explorer and officer in the Imperial Russian Navy. He is known as the chief manager of the Russian-American Company and governor of Russian settlements in present-day Alaska.
      Icosagon.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. How many sides would be found on a polygon described as an icosagon?
    • 20—In geometry, an icosagon, or twenty-sided polygon, has a sum of 3240 degrees in its interior angles.
      Russell viper.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. The big four venomous snakes found on the Indian subcontinent are those responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant snake bites on humans. Which of these is one of the big four?
    • Russell’s viper—The Big Four venomous snakes—Russell’s viper, common krait, Indian cobra and Indian saw-scaled viper—are responsible for the majority of medically significant snakebites on the Indian subcontinent. A 2020 study found Russell’s viper accounted for 43% of snakebites in India, followed by kraits (18%), cobras (12%), and other species. In 2023, the World Health Organisation published worldwide estimates showing that each year, 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes, resulting in 1.8 to 2.7 million envenomings and 81,410 to 137,880 deaths.

Finders keepers

A few questions all of which simply feature either the word found or founder!

Brian Jones.
Image history.com
  1. Brian Jones, born 1942, was a guitarist and founder member of what band?
    • Fleetwood Mac
    • Rolling Stones
    • The Hollies
  2. Which of these are NOT found in the Andes?
    • Aconcagua
    • Cotopaxi
    • Shishapangma
  3. Which of these was explorer Ferdinand von Wrangel a founder of in 1845?
    • National Geographic Society
    • Russian Geographic Society
    • Swedish Geographic Society
  4. How many sides would be found on a polygon described as an icosagon?
    • 20
    • 25
    • 30
  5. The venomous snakes found on the Indian subcontinent that are responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant snake bites on humans are known as the big four. Which of these is one of the big four?
    • Black mamba
    • Russell’s viper
    • Many-banded krait

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Here, there and everywhere | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

View SE from the top level of the Eiffel Tower: the Champ de Mars, with Montparnasse Tower in the distance. The École Militaire is one third down from the top of the picture.
Image Wikipedia (Mattgirling)
  1. On 6 May 1889, the Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition, on the…
    • Champs de Mars, Paris—The Champ de Mars, a large public park in Paris, was originally a military parade ground. It hosted significant events during the French Revolution and later became a site for national expositions and world’s fairs.
      Coat of arms of Moravia.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Sigmund Freud, a neurologist and psychoanalyst, was born in Freiberg in Mähren (now Příbor) on this day in 1856. His birthplace was in …
    • Moravia—Moravia, a historical region in the Czech Republic, was the centre of the medieval Great Moravian kingdom before becoming part of Bohemia in the 11th century. It later was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and then became part of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.
      Puente Nuevo de Ronda.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Actor Orson Welles was born today in 1915. He passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 1985, and two years later his ashes were interred at the home of his long-time friend, bullfighter Antonio Ordóñez, in Ronda…
    • Spain—Ronda, a municipality in Málaga, Andalusia, is known for its cliffside location and deep canyon. It has a population of about 35,000 and is part of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.
      The Grand Palace, Bangkok.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. Today in 1782, at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, construction began on the Grand Palace, the royal residence of the King of Siam. The palace was built in…
    • Bangkok—The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, is a complex of buildings built in 1782 as the official residence of the Thai kings. It covers 2.4 million square feet and includes over 100 buildings, the most notable being the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
      Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. Tony Blair, British prime minister from 1997 to 2007, was born 6 May 1953, in the city of …
    • Edinburgh, Scotland—Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a city known for its historic Old Town and Neoclassical New Town, both designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city’s complex character, blending reserved exterior with warmth and gaiety, is reflected in its rich history, including religious conflicts, riots and the influence of its intellectual elite during the Neoclassical period of the 18th and 19th centuries. Edinburgh remains a major centre for finance, law, tourism, education and cultural affairs.