Answers 14th Dec 2010

Q1. Which Hindu school of philosophy postulates that all objects in the universe can be reduced to a finite number of atoms?

A: Vaisheshika. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. It was founded by the sage Kanada around the 2nd century BC. Wikipedia informs about the atomic theory espoused by the Vaisheshika school: "The paramāṇus (atoms) are indivisible and eternal, they can neither be created nor destroyed. Each paramāṇu (atom) possesses its own distinct viśeṣa (individuality)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisheshika#The_atomic_theory

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @prashanthkpp, @nharipra

Q2. Identify the object shown in this image taken from a microscope: http://twitpic.com/3fvvw3

A: Snow flake. Snowflakes are congregations of ice crystals. They develop gradually and often take beautiful geometrical shapes even though they are formed from a completely chaotic process. The image was taken from this Wikipedia article on snow flakes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake

Correct answers: @quietist, @Karmasura, @sashikanthd, @prashanthkpp, @kirankarlmarx, @swaraj_india

Q3. Unscramble CHATYEOLNICLEL – neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that plays a key role in muscle contraction.

A: Acetylcholine.

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @prashanthkpp, @kirankarlmarx

Q4. Malarial drug Quinine is extracted from the bark of which tree?

A: Cinchona tree.

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @prashanthkpp, @kirankarlmarx

Q5. Which significant event in world history is taken to be the beginning of the Atomic Age (or the Nuclear Age)?

A: The Trinity Test. It was the first ever nuclear explosion, a test conducted by the US Army on July 16, 1945, the date that is taken to be the beginning of the Atomic Age. It used a plutonium implosion design, the same used by the Fat Man, dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @prashanthkpp

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Scores

@Karmasura 50
@prashanthkpp 50
@kirankarlmarx 30
@quietist 10
@sashikanthd 10
@swaraj_india 10
@nharipra 10