Is it Friday? Then it must be quiz time. This week, fictional scientists from novels, film and TV, along with all the usual favourites. If you get full marks today, then consider yourself a well-rounded and urbane scientific sophisticate.
Round 1 – News
- As reported last week by Nature, cave paintings at El Castillo cave in Spain could turn out to be the first known example of cave art by which group of people?
- A study at Oxford University has found that doing what to the brain can dramatically improve one’s speed at performing mental calculations?
- Scientists working 2.4 km below the surface of the Earth in Ontario, Canada have found a source of what substance, which they believe has remained hitherto isolated for at least a billion years?
Round 2 – Scientists in fiction – Novels
- What is the name of the titular scientist in the classic novel that is subtitled “The Modern Prometheus”?
- Mining engineer Richard Hannay is the hero of a series of novels by which 20th century writer?
- World famous scientist Quentin Kirrin, known by three of the main characters as “Uncle Quentin”, and also the father of another of the main characters, makes regular appearances in what classic series of children’s books?
Round 3 – The Picture Round
In what will be a familiar drill for picture round veterans, this week you need to work out what each charade is referring to and thus work out the theme that unites them all:
1.
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2.
{credit}Louis Calvete /PD / Mireille Ampilhac{/credit}
3.
{credit}SimonP / PD / Wesley Fryer{/credit}
Round 4 – Scientists in fiction – TV and Film
- Madcap scientist and inventor Dr. Emmett Brown appeared in what classic 1980s film trilogy?
- Nobel prize-winning quantum physicist Dr. Sam Beckett was the protagonist in what TV series of the 1980s and 90s?
- Mathematician and chaos theory expert Ian Malcolm appears in which film (and its sequel), the premise of which comes from an entirely different branch of scientific study?
Round 5 – Anagrams
In this week’s anagrams, there are three pairs of chemical elements, each of which ends “ium”. We’ve removed the “ium” from each, and then scrambled the remaining letters together, two elements at a time. So if the elements were helium and osmium then the anagram clue could be “HOLMES” (mixing the “hel” and “osm” together). Got it? Your job is to unscramble them and work out what two elements are conatined in each clue:
- LADLING
- OPULENT LOT
- NUMERICAL POT
Good luck, and look out for the answers next week.
Answers as follows:
Round 1 – News
1. Neanderthals may be behind this cave art: https://www.nature.com/news/neanderthal-culture-old-masters-1.12974
2. Stimulating the brain with an electric current can improve its functioning: https://www.nature.com/news/shocks-to-the-brain-improve-mathematical-abilities-1.13012
3. These scientists have found billion year-old water: https://www.nature.com/news/reservoir-deep-under-ontario-holds-billion-year-old-water-1.12995
Round 2 – Scientists in fiction – Novels
1. “The Modern Prometheus” is Doctor Frankenstein (that’s the scientist, of course, not the monster).
2. Richard Hannay is the main character in The 39 Steps, and several other novels by John Buchan.
3. Uncle Quentin gets himself kidnapped or held hostage in several of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books. Careless.
Round 3 – The Picture Round
1. TRY + ASS + SIKH = TRIASSIC
2. PERM + E (in Braille) + ANNE [Hathaway] = PERMIAN
3. HALL + O + SCENE = HOLOCENE
And the connection, of course, is that these are all divisions of geological time.
Round 4 – Scientists in fiction – TV and Film
1. One of the greatest films of the 1980s, or indeed any other decade, Emmett Brown is more commonly known as “Doc” in Back to the Future.
2. Oh boy, it’s Quantum Leap.
3. The name may not be hugely memorable but you’ll probably remember Jeff Goldblum’s sardonic scientist in Jurassic Park.
Round 5 – Anagrams
1. Gallium and Indium
2. Polonium and Lutetium
3. Plutonium and Americium
Look out for the next quiz next Friday!