Welcome to the last Friday quiz of 2012! And how else could we welcome in the holiday season but with a quiz devoted to all things Christmassy? Get yourself some mulled wine and have a go at these seasonal searchers:
Round 1 – HydrogenOxygen HydrogenOxygen HydrogenOxygen!
As the more perceptive of you may have worked out from the title of the round, some Christmas/science crossover questions:
- Which famous scientist was born on Christmas Day in 1642?
- What is the more common name of the blood disorder sometimes known as Christmas disease?
- The Pōhutukawa is known for blossoming with brilliant red flowers in late December, leading to its nickname of the “Christmas tree” in its native country. What is its native country?
Round 2 – Christmas songs
Everyone loves a good singsong at Christmas – can you work out what these festive songs are from the rather more scientific and/or technical descriptions of their events provided here?
- A member of the species Rangifer tarandus shows possible signs of Rhinophyma, the condition seemingly remaining untreated.
- Sternutation brought on by incompletely combusted hydrocarbons.
- Ilex aquifolium and an unspecified member of the Hedera genus each reach a state of maturity.
Round 3 – Charades
For many of us, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a slightly tipsy post-Christmas dinner game of charades, so for this week’s picture round, three charade-style clues to the names of famous scientists. Can you work out who are depicted here?
1.
{credit}Jonathan G Meath / Jonathan Zander / Tender Rosebud{/credit}
2.
3.
{credit}Oli Gill / Public domain / 1sttimeright{/credit}
Round 4 – The Royal Institution Christmas lectures
The Royal Institution Christmas lectures have been a staple of the scientific year for almost two hundred years now and, since 1966, have also a been a staple of festive TV for the more discerning viewer. It would seem remiss to have a Christmas science quiz without a mention of them.
- Who created the concept of the lectures in 1825 and went on to present them a record nineteen times over the next 35 years?
- Frank Whittle, who presented the 1954 lectures, entitled ‘The Story of Petroleum’, is best known for what invention?
- Which American astronomer and populariser of science presented the 1977 series, entitled “The Planets”?
Round 5 – Christmas presents
See if you can unwrap the answers from this lot…
- What famous Christmas present could be described as “the aromatic oleoresin of a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora”?
- If a person close to me gives me, for the first time, 3 Branta leucopsis, and 3 Anser brachyrhynchus, all of which are displaying oviparous qualities, then what day is it?
- What is the only element in the periodic table which has no letters in common with the phrase “CHRISTMAS PRESENT”?
Good luck, have fun, and we’ll be back with the answers early in 2013. Until then, have a very happy holiday season and an even better new year.
Happy New Year! How did you get on with the Christmas quiz? Time to find out:
Round 1 – HydrogenOxygen HydrogenOxygen HydrogenOxygen!
1. Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day.
2. Named after the first recorded sufferer, Stephen Christmas, rather than the festival, Christmas disease is more commonly known as Haemophilia B.
3. The fact the tree blossoms in late December should have been a clue that we were looking for a Southern Hemisphere country here – specifically, New Zealand.
Round 2 – Christmas songs
1. Rangifer tarandus is known in English as a reindeer, and Rhinophyma is a condition that could lead to a bulbous, reddened nose – so this was Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.
2. Sternutation is more commonly referred to as sneezing, and “incompletely combusted hydrocarbons” is one way of describing soot, so this event happened in When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney.
3. Ilex aquifolium is holly, and plants of the Hedera genus are types of ivy, so this is The Holly and the Ivy.
Round 3 – Charades
1. (St.) Nicholas + Copper + knickers = Nicholas Copernicus
2. Robert (Redford) + buoy + L = Robert Boyle
3. Paul (McCartney) + deer + rack = Paul Dirac
Round 4 – The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
1. Michael Faraday is the main inspiration behind the lecture series.
2. Frank Whittle is most famous for inventing the jet engine.
3. “The Planets” was presented by the late, great Carl Sagan.
Round 5 – Christmas presents
1. This is another way of describing myrrh.
2. Both Branta leucopsis and Anser brachyrhynchus are species of goose (barnacle and pink-footed, respectively) and ‘oviparous’ relates to egg-laying – so we have, in other words, six geese a-laying – which means it must be the sixth day of Christmas.
3. And finally, the only element which has no letters in common with “CHRISTMAS PRESENT” is gold – ironically one of the first and most famous of all Christmas presents.
Look out for the first quiz of 2013 this Friday!