Answers for 22nd Dec 2010

Q1. Who invented the wearable gestural computer interface Sixth Sense?

A: Pranav Mistry. Here's Mistry demonstrating the amazing device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kIWFPUG6UI

Correct answers: @prashanthkpp, @kashyapa, @Saffronizer

Q2. Wikileaks special. "Diplomatic cable" originally meant what means of communication?

A: Telegram. Though they use radio, fax and Internet today, the name has remained the same: http://deepdip.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/what-is-diplomatic-cable/

Correct answers: @prashanthkpp, @rushikeshgk, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @Saffronizer

Q3. Unscramble CDALFEIOCN – pain killer blamed for deaths of Indian vultures that ate carcasses of animals treated with it.

A: Diclofenac. http://www.domain-b.com/environment/20080505_diclofenac_poisoning.html

Correct answers: @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @Saffronizer

Q4 Which famous scientist once sought to transmit electrical power without wires at a facility known as Wardenclyffe Tower?

A: Nikola Tesla. Unfortunately, his project never came to fruition due to financial problems. But the theory is very interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardenclyffe_Tower#Wireless_transmission

Correct answers: @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @Saffronizer

Q5. Who is considered the father of modern chemistry? He was also the first to clearly outline law of conservation of mass.

A: Antoine Lavoisier, a French scientist.

Correct answers: @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @Saffronizer

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Scores

@prashanthkpp 50
@Saffronizer 50
@Karmasura 40
@kirankarlmarx 40
@kashyapa 10
@rushikeshgk 10

Questions for 22nd Dec 2010

Q1. Who invented the wearable gestural computer interface Sixth Sense?

Q2. "Diplomatic cable" originally meant what means of communication?

Q3. Unscramble CDALFEIOCN – pain killer blamed for deaths of Indian vultures that ate carcasses of animals treated with it.

Q4. Which famous scientist once sought to transmit electrical power without wires at a facility known as Wardenclyffe Tower?

Q5. Who is considered the father of modern chemistry? He was also the first to clearly outline law of conservation of mass.

Answers for 20th Dec 2010

Q1. What part or feature of the Indian Constitution calls upon the citizens to develop scientific temper?

A: Fundamental duties [Article 51A, Part IVA].

Correct answers: @g_upadhyay, @kashyapa, @Karmasura, @dkarthik

Q2. Name the fictional military AI that becomes self aware and turns against humans in the "Terminator" series of films.

A: Skynet. Beneath the mind blowing action in the Terminator series lies a cautionary tale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skynet_(Terminator)#Origin_and_Nature

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @rushikeshgk

Q3. Which spacecraft is considered to be the farthest manmade object from earth?

A: Voyager 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_1#Interstellar_mission

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @kirankarlmarx

Q4. Which popular communications technology is named after a 10th century king who united Denmark?

A: Bluetooth. The king is Harald Blataand or Harold Bluetooth in English. According to the Bluetooth SIG: "King Blatand was instrumental in uniting warring factions in parts of what are now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark - just as Bluetooth technology is designed to allow collaboration between differing industries such as the computing, mobile phone, and automotive markets." http://www.bluetooth.com/English/SIG/Pages/default.aspx

Correct answers: @gdeepy, @rushikeshgk

Q5. What does this symbol stand for? http://twitpic.com/3hs1y5

A: Radiation hazard. It is known as the "trefoil" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazard_symbol#Radioactive_sign

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @gdeepy, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @rushikeshgk

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Scores

@Prashanth_Krish 30
@Karmasura 30
@kirankarlmarx 30
@rushikeshgk 30
@gdeepy 20
@g_upadhyay 10
@kashyapa 10
@dkarthik 10

Questions 20th Dec 2010

Q1. What part or feature of the Indian Constitution calls upon the citizens to develop scientific temper?

Q2. Name the fictional military AI that becomes self aware and turns against humans in the "Terminator" series of films.

Q3. Which spacecraft is considered to be the farthest manmade object from earth?

Q4. Which popular communications technology is named after a 10th century king who united Denmark?

Q5. What does this symbol stand for? http://twitpic.com/3hs1y5

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

Questions 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?

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

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

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

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

Answers 8th Dec 2010

Q1. Which element was discovered during a solar eclipse in India in 1868, separately by two scientists at Guntur & Vijaydurg?

A: Helium. It was discovered by Pierre Janssen at Guntur and Norman Lockyer at Vijaydurg. Janssen's discovery: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/08/19/stories/0419201g.htm | Lockyer's discovery: http://madhavgokhale.blogspot.com/2006/01/vijaydurg-can-fly-high-curtsey-helium.html

Q2. Who gave the theory that humans possess innate ability for language? He's also an outspoken critic of US foreign policy.

A: Naom Chomsky. He theorized about a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) that all humans are born with and which enables humans to acquire language through instinct. His influential theory is an important part of the nativist argument about language that is opposed to the idea that language is learned through conditioning. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky#Contributions_to_linguistics

Q3. Unscramble RCBATREOUTR – device that blends fuel and air in internal combustion engines.

A: CARBURETTOR.

Q4. What equation gives an estimate of the number of intelligent civilizations that may exist in our galaxy the Milky Way?

A: Drake's Equation. It was given by Dr. Frank Drake (who conducted the first radio search for extraterrestrial life) in 1960. Check it out: http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_drake_equation.html

Q5. What stimulant is added to colas/softdrinks such as Pepsi and Coke?

A: Caffeine.

Scores

@SivaChandan 50
@prashanthkpp 50
@kishor_narayan 40
@Karmasura 40
@aaindian 40
@dubash 20
@Ravitejadanda 10
@quietist 10
@ipramodv 10

Questions for 8th Dec 2010

Q1. Which element was discovered during a solar eclipse in India in 1868, separately by two scientists at Guntur & Vijaydurg?

Q2. Who gave the theory that humans possess innate ability for language? He's also an outspoken critic of US foreign policy.

Q3. Unscramble RCBATREOUTR – device that blends fuel and air in internal combustion engines.

Q4. What equation gives an estimate of the number of intelligent civilizations that may exist in our galaxy the Milky Way?

Q5. What stimulant is added to colas/softdrinks such as Pepsi and Coke?

Answers 6th Dec 2010

Q1. Through the work of which Persian mathematican, known as Father of Algebra, was the Indian numeral system exposed to the West?

A: Al Khwarizmi. Wikipedia informs: "On the Calculation with Hindu Numerals written about 825, was principally responsible for spreading the Indian system of numeration throughout the Middle East and Europe " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_M%C5%ABs%C4%81_al-Khw%C4%81rizm%C4%AB#Contributions

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kishor_narayan,

Q2. What pigment is responsible for the dark colour of skin and hair?

A: Melanin.

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kishor_narayan, @sashikanthd

Q3. Indian-origin US researcher Shuvo Roy was in the news very recently. For what?

A: He created the world's first artificial kidney: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-based-Indian-creates-first-artificial-kidney/articleshow/7038619.cms | He works in the area of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for biomedical systems http://bts.ucsf.edu/roy/people.html

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @kohlianil, @prashanthkpp, @kishor_narayan

Q4. Only one fixed wing aircraft in active service is capable of vertical take off and landing (VTOL). Which one?

A: The Sea Harrier. It is a naval strike fighter with vertical/short take off and landing capability (V/STOL). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aerospace_Sea_Harrier | V/STOL allows fixed wing aircraft from short airstrips or from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical/Short_Takeoff_and_Landing | The Indian Navy operates the Sea Harrier from the aircraft carrier INS Viraat. The F-35C also has VTOL but is still to enter active service.

Correct answers: @quietist, @kohlianil, @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kishor_narayan, @sashikanthd

Q5. 'Golden Rice' is a transgenic variety of rice that contains which Vitamin in large quantities?

A: Vitamin A. It was developed to fight Vitamin A malnutrition in the developing world but met with significant resistance from environmentalists. It will be available for consumption only after 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_rice

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @Ravitejadanda, @prashanthkpp, @Karmasura, @kishor_narayan

Scores

@prashanthkpp 50
@kishor_narayan 50
@Karmasura 40
@kirankarlmarx 40
@kohlianil 20
@sashikanthd 20
@dubash
@quietist 10
@Ravitejadanda 10

Questions 6th Dec 2010

Q1. Through the work of which Persian mathematican, known as Father of Algebra, was the Indian numeral system exposed to the West?

Q2. What pigment is responsible for the dark colour of skin and hair?

Q3. Indian-origin US researcher Shuvo Roy was in the news very recently. For developing what?

Q4. Only one fixed wing aircraft in active service is capable of vertical take off and landing (VTOL). Which one?

Q5. 'Golden Rice' is a transgenic variety of rice that contains which Vitamin in large quantities?

Answers 3rd Dec 2010

Q1. DRDO recently created what was described as the world's most powerful non-nuclear explosive material. Name it.

A: CL-20. It's full name is Octa-Nitro-Cubane, is a Nitramine class of explosive 15 times as powerful as HMX that is currently used by the Indian armed forces. Ajai Shukla on CL-20 at Broadsword: http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2010/11/move-over-china-drdo-reverse-engineers.html

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @vikhrakula

Q2. Which drug is considered to be the main reason Africa ceased to be known as "white man's grave" & led to its colonization?

A: Quinine. It is an anti-malarial drug naturally extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree. Its medicinal properties were known to the Queccha Indians in Peru, and this knowledge was brought to Europe by Jesuit priests. It was first used to treat malaria in Rome in 1631 and later helped Europeans overcome the risk of malaria in Africa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinine#History

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @prashanthkpp, @kirankarlmarx, @g_upadhyay, @quietist, @dubash

Q3. Which computer was the first to use a graphical user interface (GUI) ?

A: Xerox Alto. It was followed by Xerox Star, Apple Lisa and Macintosh 128k, all of which were among the first to use GUI commercially http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_graphical_user_interface#Xerox_PARC

Q4. Unscramble FRAROMNTEGIR -Hypothetical process of altering the environment of an alien planet to make it habitable for life

A: Terraforming, also called Planetary Engineering. It belongs very much to the realm of science fiction today (in James Cameron's "Aliens", for instance) and is quite impractical but in the distant future, it may prove important for the continuation of human civilization http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming

Correct answers: @prashanthkpp, @sashikanthd, @kirankarlmarx

Q5. The 1st use of the concepts in nanotechnology was in a 1959 talk There's Plenty Of Room At The Bottom by which physicist?

A: Richard Feynman. About the talk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There's_Plenty_of_Room_at_the_Bottom#Impact | The transcript of the talk: http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @prashanthkpp, @sashikanthd

Scores

@Karmasura 30
@prashanthkpp 30
@kirankarlmarx 30
@sashikanthd 20
@g_upadhyay 10
@quietist 10
@dubash 10
@vikhrakula 10

Questions 3rd Dec 2010

Q1. DRDO recently created what was described as the world's most powerful non-nuclear explosive material. Name it.

Q2. Which drug is considered to be the main reason Africa ceased to be known as "white man's grave" & led to its colonization?

Q3. Which computer was the first to use a graphical user interface (GUI) ?

Q4. Unscramble FRAROMNTEGIR - Hypothetical process of altering the environment of an alien planet to make it habitable for life.

Q5. The 1st use of the concepts in nanotechnology was in a 1959 talk There's Plenty Of Room At The Bottom by which physicist?

Answers 2nd Dec 2010

Q1. Which Indian filmmaker wrote the script "The Alien", which never became a film but may have inspired Spielberg's "E. T"?

A: Satyajit Ray. It was originally meant for a film to be produced by Columbia pictures. Later, "E.T." was produced by the same company, with Steven Spielberg as director. Spielberg of course denied copying Ray's script. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alien#Legacy

Correct answers: @pavanvoice, @dubash, @Prashanth_Krish, @aaindian, @Karmasura, @KiranKS

Q2. What is the approximate value of the Golden Ratio or the Golden Mean, also known as "phi"? (atleast upto three decimals)?

A: 1.618. It is a very interesting number, appearing in a lot of places in nature from the arrangement of branches in a tree to brain wave cycles. Scientists and artists in medieval Europe loved it for its unique properties and believing it to be aesthetically pleasing. Apparently, the new Twitter design is based on phi: http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/new-twitter-golden-ratio/ . Wikipedia has a truly encyclopaedic article on this fascinating number: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio#Nature

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @KiranKS

Q3. Name the library and scientific institution in Baghdad that acted as the main intellectual centre of the "Islamic Golden Age"

A: Baitul Hikma, or House of Wisdom. It was a library/translation center in Baghdad founded by Caliph Al Mamun. Many ancient scientific works from different civilizations were translated and preserved. It flourished from the 9th to 13th centuries before it was destroyed by invading Mongols. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Wisdom

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @aaindian, @KiranKS

Q4. What part of the biological cell is referred to as the "power house" of the cell"?

A: Mitochondrion

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @Prashanth_Krish, @quietist, @Vijay_Vikram, @Ravitejadanda, @Karmasura, @KiranKS

Q5. Hubble Space Telescope will come to the end of its life in 2014. Name the space based observatory that will succeed it

A: James Webb space telescope. It will observe the most distant objects in the universe, farther than Hubble, and help increase our understanding about the origin and evolution of the universe. It will be launched in 2014: http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/

Correct answers: @KiranKS

Scores

@KiranKS 50
@Karmasura 40
@aaindian 20
@kirankarlmarx 20
@Prashanth_Krish 20
@quietist 10
@Vijay_Vikram 10
@dubash 10
@pavanvoice 10
@Ravitejadanda 10

Questions 2nd Dec 2010

Q1. Which Indian filmmaker wrote the script "The Alien", which never became a film but may have inspired Spielberg's "E. T"?

Q2. What is the approximate value of the Golden Ratio or the Golden Mean, also known as "phi"? (atleast upto three decimals)?

Q3. Name the library and scientific institution in Baghdad that acted as the main intellectual centre of the "Islamic Golden Age".

Q4. What part of the biological cell is referred to as the "power house" of the cell"?

Q5. Hubble Space Telescope will come to the end of its life in 2014. Name the space based observatory that will succeed it.

Answers 1st Dec 2010

Q1. Which Indian-origin physicist invented the optical fibre and is referred to as the father of fibre optics?

A: Narinder Singh Kapany. He graduated from Agra University before he went to Imperial College, London, for his Ph. D. Wikipedia informs us that "he was named as one of the seven 'Unsung Heroes' by Fortune magazine in their ‘Businessmen of the Century’ issue (1999-11-22)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narinder_Singh_Kapany

Correct answer: @prashanthkpp, @Saffronizer

Q2. The tallest trees in the world belong to which species (give the common name)?

A: Giant sequoia or Redwood. They are concentrated in California, United States. On an average, they are 50-85 m. tall but the tallest can grow beyond 90 m.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoiadendron

Correct answer: @kirankarlmarx, @Prashanth_Krish, @quietist, @Saffronizer

Q3. Which country has the largest number of time zones, and recently reduced it from 11 to 9 to make things more manageable?

A: Russia. Not surprising at all, if you look at the west-east extent of Russia on the map. They will eventually reduce the number to 5 time zones: www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62R0DS20100328 | @Saffronizer informs us that France has actually 12 time zones. But this number also includes the time zones of its island territories.

Correct answer: @prashanthkpp, @kirankarlmarx, @Prashanth_Krish, @ssudhirkumar, @quietist, @centerofright, @dremtee, @Saffronizer

Q4 Homo sapiens like to think they have the largest brains. But one extinct human species did have a larger brain. Which one?

A: Neandertals or Homo neanderthalensis. They are our closest evolutionary cousins. They had brain sizes going much beyond our 1350 cc (average.) However, the brain size can be misleading as it is the brain size-body size ratio that is more important for intelligence. Homo sapiens have the largest ratio among all human species, and hence are the most intelligent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal

Correct answer: @prashanthkpp, @Prashanth_Krish, @Saffronizer

Q5. Unscramble CLITSONAR - antibacterial agent commonly added to toilet soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and handwashes.

A: Triclosan.

Correct answer: @kirankarlmarx, @Prashanth_Krish, @SivaChandan, @Saffronizer

Scores

@Saffronizer 50

@Prashanth_Krish 40

@prashanthkpp 30

@kirankarlmarx 30

@quietist 20

@ssudhirkumar 10

@centerofright 10

@dremtee 10

@SivaChandan 10

Questions 1st Dec 2010

Q1. Which Indian-origin physicist invented the optical fibre and is referred to as the father of fibre optics?

Q2. The tallest trees in the world belong to which species (give the common name)?

Q3. Which country has the largest number of time zones, and recently reduced it from 11 to 9 to make things more manageable?

Q4 Homo sapiens like to think they have the largest brains. But one extinct human species did have a larger brain. Which one?

Q5. Unscramble CLITSONAR - antibacterial agent commonly added to toilet soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and handwashes.

First round of STQuiz ends

Dear Participants,

With the end of November, the first round of STQuiz comes to a close. Congratulations and thanks to all the participants for making STQuiz successful.

The Cumulative Scores Table for November will stop and a new table will begin for December. The joint toppers for November are @Prashanth_Krish and @kirankarlmarx. Congratulations to them! In the future, we hope to award prizes in cash or otherwise. But for now, we desire that the toppers adjusht with fame :-)

The table is intended only to induce a spirit of competition. The important thing is your participation, to help serve the primary objective of STQuiz: sharing knowledge, in a fun manner.

It has been a wonderful beginning. When we began, we had no idea how it would go. It was a rather abrupt initiative. The time between conception to implementation was two hours. But the response has been very encouraging.

We believe there is always scope for improvement and this is a good opportunity to receive feedback from you. Would you like STQuiz to remain a daily quiz with Sunday and some other days as holidays? If not, how many days of interval would you like between quizzes? If you have any other suggestion(s) to make, you are always welcome. Anytime, anywhere. You may leave your feedback in Comments or reply @S_Chaitanya on Twitter. We appreciate honest feedback, especially the brutally honest variety :-) So shoot.

Answers 30th Nov 2010

Q1. Who wrote Ashtadhyayi, the earliest systematic work in linguistics?

A: Panini. It is earliest known work on grammar and the structure of language. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81%E1%B9%87ini#The_Ashtadhyayi

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish, @amargov, @prashanthkpp, @KVSarmaJ, @aaindian, @VintageCrusher

Q2 What microbial forms are considered lifeless as they lack a cellular structure & require to infect a cell for metabolism?

A: Viruses. Viruses are little more than grains of dust unless they infect the cell of a living organism. They then use the host cell's machinery for metabolism and reproduction. http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/yellowstone/viruslive.html

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @quietist, @prashanthkpp

Q3. What is the general shape of our galaxy the Milky Way?

A: Spiral. All about it: http://cass.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/MW.html

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish, @prashanthkpp, @aaindian

Q4. Which new form of optical storage uses 3-D light interference patterns to store data, offering greater capacity than DVD?

A: Holographic storage. While CDs and DVDs store data on the surface of the recording medium (disc), holographic memory will use the entire volume of the medium. "Holographic memory offers the possibility of storing 1 terabyte (TB) of data in a sugar-cube-sized crystal." http://www.howstuffworks.com/holographic-memory.htm

Correct answers: @Karmasura

Q5. The olfactory lobes in the brain are responsible for which sense? 

A: Smell

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish, @quietist

Scores

@Karmasura 50

@KiranKS 40

@kirankarlmarx 40

@Prashanth_Krish 30

@prashanthkpp 30

@quietist 20

@aaindian 20

@amargov 10

@KVSarmaJ 10

@VintageCrusher 10

Questions 30th Nov 2010

Q1. Who wrote Ashtadhyayi, the earliest systematic work in linguistics?

Q2 What microbial forms are considered lifeless as they lack a cellular structure & require to infect a cell for metabolism?

Q3. What is the general shape of our galaxy the Milky Way?

Q4. Which new form of optical storage uses 3-D light interference patterns to store data, offering greater capacity than DVD?

Q5. The olfactory lobes in the brain are responsible for which sense?

Answers for 26th Nov 2010

Q1. The first engineering college in India was established in 1847. It is now an IIT. Which one?

A: IIT Roorkee. It was established by the British. After independence, it became University of Roorkee in 1949 and then the seventh IIT in 2001.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @kirankarlmarx, @swaraj_india, @Saffronizer

Q2. What law holds that the simplest explanation is more likely to be the correct one?

A: Occam's Razor, also known as the Law of Parsimony. It is attributed to William Of Ockham from 14th century England. It recommends selecting the competing hypothesis that makes the fewest new assumptions. It finds application in philosophy, science and the study of religion.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @kirankarlmarx, @Saffronizer, @sashikanthd

Q3. What are the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China? Name atleast three.

A: Compass, gunpowder, paper and printing. The Chinese are understandably quite proud about them, as they indicate ancient China's scientific advancement, and they were featured during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Great_Inventions_of_Ancient_China

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @Saffronizer

Q4. Evidence for which particle, popularly known as "God particle", is to be found at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN?

A: Higg's Boson. It is a hypothetical elementary particle that could be the reason why mass exists in the universe. Though scientists are convinced of its existence, they'd like to come up with irrefutable evidence, and collecting this evidence is one of the goals of the Large Hadron Collider experiment: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-exactly-is-the-higgs

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @Prashanth_Krish, @Saffronizer, @sashikanthd

Q5. Watson and Crick made which famous discovery in the field of biology?

A: The double helical structure of DNA. It was discovered with the help of X-ray diffraction in 1953. Watson and Crick won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1962.

Correct answers: @Vijay_Vikram, @anooprk07, @kirankarlmarx, @Prashanth_Krish, @SivaChandan, @Saffronizer, @sashikanthd

Scores

@Saffronizer 50

@Prashanth_Krish 50

@kirankarlmarx 40

@sashikanthd 30

@SivaChandan 10

@Vijay_Vikram 10

@swaraj_india 10

@anooprk07 10

Questions for 26th Nov 2010

Q1. The first engineering college in India was established in 1847. It is now an IIT. Which one?

Q2. What law holds that the simplest explanation is more likely to be the correct one?

Q3. What are the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China? Name atleast two.

Q4. Which hypothetical particle, popularly known as "God particle", does the Large Hadron Collider at CERN seek to find evidence for?

Q5. Watson and Crick made which famous discovery in the field of biology?

Notice

Dear participants, there will be no quiz today. We'll be back tomorrow. Take care

Answers 24th Nov 2010

Q1. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work in which area?

A: Ribosomes. He studied the structure and functions of Ribosomes using the technique X-ray crystallography, along with Ada Yonath and Thomas Steitz with whom he shared the Nobel Prize.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @g_upadhyay, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx

Q2. What kind of electromagnetic waves are used in TV remote control?

A: Infrared.

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @quietist, @Prashanth_Krish, @Karmasura, @ssudhirkumar, @rushikeshgk, @centerofright

Q3. The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, sometimes called Conan The Bacterium, entered the Guinness Book for what?

A: Toughest bacterium. This bacterium has been demonstrated to survive extreme conditions such as intense nuclear radiation, ultraviolet radiation, cold, dryness, vacuum and acidity. On account of its extraordinary properties, the bacterium is used for research in several areas, including life on Mars and space travel: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/ast14dec99_1/ ; Scientists recently discovered the secrets behind its abilities: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100906142136.htm

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @Karmasura

Q4. Which electronics giant produced the first silicon transistor and the first integrated circuit?

A: Texas Instruments. The first silicon transistor was made in 1954 at TI by Gordon Teal, who announced his invention at a conference as thus: "Contrary to what my colleagues have told you about the bleak prospects for silicon transistors, I happen to have a few of them here in my pocket." http://www.pbs.org/transistor/science/events/silicont1.html . The first integrated circuit was made in 1958 at TI by Jack Kilby, who won the Nobel Prize in 2000. It is probably the most important invention in the last 50-60 years, is it not?

Correct answers: @quietist, @Prashanth_Krish

Q5. What massive object is speculated to be present at the centre of our galaxy Milky Way?

A: A supermassive blackhole. It is speculated to be four million times more massive that the sun. Think about it, we are all revolving around it right now. But dont worry, it is 27,000 light years away from the earth: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7774287.stm

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @g_upadhyay

Scores

@Prashanth_Krish 40
@kirankarlmarx 30
@Karmasura 30
@quietist 20
@g_upadhyay 20
@ssudhirkumar 10
@rushikeshgk 10
@centerofright 10

Questions for 24th Nov 2010

Q1. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work in which area?

Q2. What kind of electromagnetic waves are used in TV remote control?

Q3. The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, sometimes called Conan The Bacterium, entered the Guinness Book for what?

Q4. Which electronics giant produced the first silicon transistor and the first integrated circuit?

Q5. What massive object is speculated to be present at the centre of our galaxy the Milky Way?

Answers 23rd Nov 2010

Q1. What is Jaipur Foot, in the field of surgery?

A: Prosthetic Leg. It is a prosthetic leg created by Masterji Ram Chander under the guidance of Dr. P. K . Sethi in 1961 for landmine victims. It is inexpensive, can be made using local materials, easy to use and water resistant. Here's an article from Time: http://www.time.com/time/reports/heroes/foot.html

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kishor_narayan, @sashikanthd, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish, @kashyapa, @dremtee

Q2. What is the active ingredient in chillies, or what substance in chillies is responsible for their "hotness"?

A: Capsaicin. The degree of hotness of a chilly is directly related to the concentration of capsaicin. Capsaicin has medicinal applications. It is used in ointments for pain relief, for instance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin#Uses

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kishor_narayan, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish, @venkataa, @raghuduttc,

Q3. Who was the first notable woman in mathematics? She is also credited with the invention of the Hydrometer.

A: Hypatia. She was a mathematician, astronomer and philosopher who lived and taught at Alexandria, Egypt, in the 4th-5th century AD. She lived at a time of social turmoil and was brutally murdered by a mob of Christian fanatics which accused her of witchcraft. She is the main character in the 2009 film "Agora." http://womenshistory.about.com/od/hypati1/a/hypatia.htm

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @Prashanth_Krish

Q4. In which psychological phenomenon does a kidnapped individual begin to sympathize and even bond with the captor?

A: Stockholm Syndrome. It occurs when there is no hope of escape. The hostage begins to mistake his captor's not taking his life as an act of kindness. Time magazine on Stockholm Syndrome: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1919757,00.html

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kishor_narayan, @sashikanthd, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish

Q5. The Pacific Ring of Fire pertains to which geological phenomena?

A: Volcanism and earthquakes. It is a long and narrow belt of tectonic activity along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, resulting from collision of tectonic plates. The zone accounts for 3/4ths of all volcanoes and more than half of all earthquakes. http://geography.about.com/cs/earthquakes/a/ringoffire.htm

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kishor_narayan, @sashikanthd, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @Prashanth_Krish

Scores

@KiranKS 50

@Prashanth_Krish 50

@kishor_narayan 40

@kirankarlmarx 40

@Karmasura 40

@sashikanthd 30

@kashyapa 10

@dremtee 10

@venkataa 10

@raghuduttc 10

Excellent performances. Keep it up fellas!

Questions for 23rd Nov 2010

Q1. What is Jaipur Foot, in the field of surgery?

Q2. What is the active ingredient in chillies, or what substance in chillies is responsible for their "hotness"?

Q3. Who was the first notable woman in mathematics? She is also credited with the invention of the Hydrometer.

Q4. In which psychological phenomenon does a kidnapped individual begin to sympathize and even bond with the captor?

Q5. The Pacific Ring of Fire pertains to which geological phenomena?

Answers for 22nd Nov 2010

Q1. Operation Smiling Buddha (Pokhran 1974) marks the beginning of the Atomic Age in India. Who headed the development team?

A: Raja Ramanna. He was the director of BARC during Smiling Buddha. He became known as the Father of India's nuclear programme and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1975. He is from Karnataka.

Correct answers: @kishor_narayan, @Prashanth_Krish, @Karmasura

Q2. Which mathematical constant is given by the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle?

A: Pi.

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @kishor_narayan, @KiranKS, @aaindian, @Prashanth_Krish, @gdeepy, @quietist, @Karmasura, @SivaChandan, @ssudhirkumar

Q3. Bt-Brinjal carries 'foreign' genes from which bacterium? This bacterium is available commercially as a pesticide.

A: Bacillus thuringiensis. It is a common soil-dwelling bacterium that naturally produces substances that are toxic to certain pests. Bt-Brinjal is a transgenic variety that is genetically engineered to carry genes that produce these toxins.

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @KiranKS

Q4. Only one fifth generation fighter aircraft is in active service today. Which one?

A: F-22 Raptor. It is an air superiority aircraft that uses stealth technology. It is built by Lockheed Martin and Boeing for the US Air Force.

Correct answers: @quietist, @kishor_narayan, @Karmasura, @KiranKS

Q5. The invention of which machine is believed to have led to the Industrial Revolution in the West?

A: Steam engine. While there were other inventions, notably improved cotton spinning (Cotton Genny) and iron smelting technologies, the steam engine had a wide impact and literally "powered" the Industrial Revolution. It acted as a cheap, location-free source of motive power for factories, mines and most importantly transport (railways and ships) for more than a century before the diesel engine and electric motor came to be widely used. References to engines using steam power date back to 1^st century AD but the modern steam engine was invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712 and was later improved upon by James Watson in 1775.

Correct answers: @quietist, @Prashanth_Krish, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx, @centerofright,

Scores

@kirankarlmarx 30

@kishor_narayan 30

@KiranKS 30

@Prashanth_Krish 30

@quietist 30

@Karmasura 30

@aaindian 10

@gdeepy 10

@SivaChandan 10

@ssudhirkumar 10

@centerofright 10

Well done people!

Questions 22nd Nov 2010

Q1. Operation Smiling Buddha (Pokhran 1974) marks the beginning of the Atomic Age in India. Who headed the development team?

Q2. Which mathematical constant is given by the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle?

Q3. Bt-Brinjal carries 'foreign' genes from which bacterium? This bacterium is available commercially as a pesticide

Q4. Only one fifth generation fighter aircraft is in active service today. Which one?

Q5. The invention of which machine is believed to have led to the Industrial Revolution in the West?

Notice

Dear participants,

There will be no quiz today and tomorrow. Busy days etc. We'll be back on 22nd or 23rd.

Also, I have not updated the scores table. I will do it one of these days. The top three are @kishor_narayan, @kirankarlmarx and @Karmasura

Take care!

Answers 19th Nov 2010

Here are the answers for the quiz on 19th Nov 2010:

Q1. Which Indian ruler used rocket artillery in war (for the first time in India) against the British?

A: Tipu Sultan. He was the first to use the modern design – the iron cylinder rocket.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @centerofright, @kashyapa, @Ashvala, @IamPrabhath, @Karmasura, @kirankarlmarx

Q2. What is the most abundant organic compound on Earth?


A: Cellulose. It is easy to see why it is the most abundant. It forms 33% of all plant matter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @centerofright, @Karmasura

Q3. What force causes winds and projectiles in the atmosphere to become deflected from a straight path?

A: Coriolis force. If you fire a rocket from Hyderabad aimed at Nagpur, it would fall somewhere to the east of Nagpur. Projectiles/winds deflect towards the right in the northern hemisphere and towards the left in the southern hemisphere. The Coriolis force is caused by the earth's rotation.
http://www.windows2universe.org/physical_science/physics/mechanics/Coriolis.html
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/atm_coriolis.html

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @kirankarlmarx

Q4. Who theorized that there were canals on Mars built by a dying civilization? His efforts also led to discovery of Pluto


A: Percival Lowell. His theory was proved wrong when Viking – the first probe to Mars – returned pictures of a planet sized desert. He founded the Lowell Observatory, where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish,

Q5. The Internet owes its origin to which network, created by USA's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and MIT?

A: The ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). It used for the first time technologies that would become the basis of the Internet, like packet switching. The ARPANET is considered one of the "eve" networks of today's Internet.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish

Scores

@Prashanth_Krish 50
@centerofright 20
@Karmasura 20
@kirankarlmarx 20
@kashyapa 10
@Ashvala 10
@IamPrabhath 10

Questions 19th Nov 2010

Q1. Which Indian ruler used rocket artillery in war (for the first time in India) against the British?

Q2. What is the most abundant organic compound on Earth?

Q3. Who theorized that there were canals on Mars built by a dying civilization? His efforts also led to discovery of Pluto

Q4. What force causes winds and projectiles in the atmosphere to become deflected from a straight path?

Q5. The Internet owes its origin to which network, created by USA's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and MIT?

Answers 17th Nov 2010

Here are the answers for the quiz on 17th Nov 2010:

Q1. Who is known as the Father of Surgery in India and the Father of Plastic Surgery?

A: Sushruta. He lived and taught near Varanasi around 600 BC. His Sushruta Samhita is the one of the oldest texts on surgery. In it, he describes over 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures and classifies human surgery into 8 categories. Among the surgeries he performed were cataract surgery and plastic surgery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgery#History

http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijps/vol3n2/rhino.xml

Correct answers: @sageisfree, @Prashanth_Krish, @centerofright, @kirankarlmarx, @kishor_narayan, @quietist, @ssudhirkumar, @KVSarmaJ

Q2. Which physical principle is behind the lift produced by an aeroplane's wings, allowing it to fly ?

A: Bernouli's Principle. http://library.thinkquest.org/2819/bernoull.htm

Correct answers: @kishor_narayan, @kirankarlmarx, @Karmasura, @KVSarmaJ

Q3. Which computer worm is in the news for targetting industrial infrastructure, notably Iranian nuclear facilities?

A: Stuxnet. Reported in June 2010, it is a Windows-based worm that targets critical control systems in industries. Its most notable victims were the nuclear facilities at Natanz and Bushehr in Iran. The sophistication of the worm indicates that it could have been developed only with nation-state support for a specific objective. It was suspected that Stuxnet was used (by the Chinese – they say) to damage INSAT-4B but ISRO has ruled out Stuxnet's role in the whole affair.

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @Karmasura, @kishor_narayan, @KVSarmaJ

Q4. Which blood feeding worm releases an anti-clotting enzyme into blood, causing prolonged bleeding even after the bite?

A: Leech. It releases the anti-clotting enzyme Hirudin to allow the blood to 'flow freely.' This property is sometimes used for the clinical practice of bloodletting: http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/06/health/he-31093

Correct answers: @Prashanth_Krish, @kishor_narayan, @Karmasura, @quietist, @kirankarlmarx

Q5. Which substance is referred to as "burning ice"? It has potential as a large scale source of natural gas in the future

A: Methane clathrate or Gas hydrate. It is formed when methane comes into contact with cold water on the ocean floor. It has potential as a large scale source of natural gas in the future. India has huge reserves on the east coast. When it is burned, it really does look like burning ice, like here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Burning_hydrate_inlay_US_Office_Naval_Research.jpg

Correct answers: @venkataa, @Karmasura

Scores

@Karmasura 40

@kishor_narayan 40

@KVSarmaJ 30

@Prashanth_Krish 30

@kirankarlmarx 30

@quietist 20

@ssudhirkumar 10

@venkataa 10

@sageisfree 10

@centerofright 10

Questions 17th Nov 2010

Q1. Who is known as the Father of Surgery in India and the Father of Plastic Surgery?

Q2. Which principle in physics is behind the lift produced by an aeroplane's wings, allowing it to fly?

Q3. Which computer worm is in the news for targetting industrial infrastructure, notably Iranian nuclear facilities?

Q4. Which blood feeding worm releases an anti-clotting enzyme into blood, causing prolonged bleeding even after the bite?

Q5. Which substance is referred to as "burning ice"? It has potential as a large scale source of natural gas in the future.

Notice

Dear Participants,

You will be able to find all the questions on Twitter by searching using "#STQuiz". Nevertheless, for your convenience, I am posting all questions on this blog from today onwards. So all you need to do is visit this blog whenever you are free, put in your answers in the Comments section or reply to me @S_Chaitanya on Twitter. Answers will be posted on this blog after 9 AM the next day. DO NOT forget to leave your Twitter ID when you put your answers in the Comments section.

Thank you and Happy Quizzing :-)

Answers 16th Nov 2010

16Nov10 #Q1. Where in India is the world's earliest known dock located?

A: Lothal, Gujarat. This is an Indus Valley Civilization site. It is more than 4000 years old. Oceanographers opine that the dock must have been constructed after an indepth study of tides in the region. Lothal was the main port for trade with West Asia. The people of Lothal achieved a high level of civilization, accompanied by advancements in science and technology, art and architecture. Read about Lothal's contributions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothal#Civilization

Correct answers: @kirankarlmarx, @quietist

16Nov10 #Q2. Which satellite system is used for Direct-to-Home (DTH) television (Tata Sky etc.) in India?

A: INSAT or Indian National Satellite System. Most satellite-based communication and broadcasting services in India are handled through the INSAT system. Your DTH dish antenna receives signals directly from an INSAT satellite.

16Nov10 #Q3. The most abundant element in the universe is Hydrogen. Which element is the second most abundant?

A: Helium. The two lightest elements Hydrogen and Helium make up 74% and 24% of the mass of the universe respectively. The remaining elements make up only 2%. This is because Hydrogen and Helium were formed during the very birth of the Universe just after the Big Bang, while the heavier elements formed much later in stars through nuclear fusion of Hydrogen and Helium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elements#Abundance_of_elements_in_the_Universe

Correct answers: @kirankarlxmarx, @avinashbhat01

16Nov10 #Q4. The widely used 'anti-fever' drug, para-acetyl-amino-phenol, is commonly known as?

A: Paracetamol, from para-acetyl-amino-phenol. It is basically the shortened version. It is more commonly known as Crocin etc. @kppradeepdr has the best explanation: http://twitter.com/kppradeepdr/statuses/4570822924570624

Correct answers: @kirankarlxmarx, @quietist, @KVSarmaJ, @kppradeepdr, @aaindian, @ssudhirkumar

16Nov10 #Q5. Who is called "Father of the atomic bomb"? He's known to have quoted a verse from Bhagvadgita after the 1st n-explosion in 1945

A: Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was already a highly accomplished physicist before he became director of the Manhattan Project. Manhattan Project is the codename for a World War II US-led project to develop nuclear weapons [before the Nazis could :-) ]. He reportedly quoted from Bhagvadgita: "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one." and "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds," completely out of context of course.

Enrico Fermi is also called "Father of the atomic bomb." He was also a member of the Manhattan Project and made crucial contributions. For example, he demonstrated the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. Earlier, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1938 for his groundbreaking work in the nuclear field.

Correct answers: @nondescriptguy, @niknathind, @KVSarmaJ, @quietist, @kirankarlmarx

Scores

@kirankarlmarx 40

@quietist 30

@KVSarmaJ 20

@kppradeepdr 10

@aaindian 10

@ssudhirkumar 10

@niknathind 10

@nondescriptguy 10

@avinashbhat01 10

Congratulations to all !

Answers 15th Nov 2010

15Nov10 #Q1. The first modern sine table was compiled by which ancient Indian astronomer?

A: Aryabhata. Aryabhata's sine table was the first in mathematics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Āryabhaṭa's_sine_table

Correct answers: @ranganaathan

15Nov10 #Q2. Genetics studies the replication and transmission of genes. Which field is concerned with replication and spread of ideas?

A: Memetics. It was originated by Richard Dawkins (the author of "The God Delusion".) It uses analogies with biological evolution to explain culture and cultural evolution. The crux is that like genes, memes (ideas, thoughts, beliefs etc.) also replicate and spread, and the 'fittest' memes – the ones that provide benefits to people – spread more and survive longer. More on this fascinating science: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MEMES.html

15Nov10 #Q3. What is responsible for the formation of the greyish coating on the yolk of a hardboiled egg?

A: The formation of iron sulphide, especially when the eggs are overcooked. More:

http://www.open2.net/healtheducation/home_lifestyle/eggsecrets.html

http://newton.ex.ac.uk/teaching/CDHW/egg/

Correct answers: @tnk13

15Nov10 #Q4. This year we are celebrating the 115th anniversary of the discovery of X-Rays. Who discovered X-Rays?

A: Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. He was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 for his discovery.

Correct answers: @ranganaathan, @ssudhirkumar, @kirankarlmarx

15Nov10 #Q5. (my fav) Which famous fictional AI became the first inductee in the Robot Hall of Fame (fiction), with R2D2 from Star Wars?

A: HAL9000. It is a central character in Arthur Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is the computer of the Discovery One spacecraft. Its objective of ensuring the success of the mission at any cost leads to results that interest a wide range of people, from philosophers to scientists, to this day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000#Characterization

The Robot Hall of Fame is an initiative of Carnegie Mellon University, USA. Here's their article on HAL: http://www.robothalloffame.org/hal.html

Scores:

@ranganaathan 20

@ssudhirkumar 10

@kirankarlmarx 10

@tnk13 10

Answers 13th Nov 2010

13Nov10 #Q1. We come across the term 'jwala mukhi' frequently in Indian art and literature. But there is only one active volcano in India. Where is it?

A: Barren Island. It is a remote island in the Andaman group. There are no volcanoes on the Indian mainland. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barren_Island_(Andaman_Islands)

Correct answers: @dubash, @arvindsaraswat, @rushikeshgk, @quietist, @PiSingh_, @KiranKS, @kishor_narayan

13Nov10 #Q2. Which scientist would you associate the ship HMS Beagle with? Last year was the 150th anniversary of his most famous work.

A: Charles Darwin. The observations that he made on the HMS Beagle voyage led to his theory of evolution, which was put forward in "The Origin of the Species" (1859.) Nice read here: http://history1800s.about.com/od/innovators/a/hmsbeagle.htm

Correct answers: @dubash, @arvindsaraswat, @amargov, @kishor_narayan, @rushikeshgk

13Nov10 #Q3. The concentration of which hormone rises in the blood when you are afraid or excited?

A: Adrenaline or Epinephrine. It plays a central role in the socalled 'fight or flight' response. Whenever you are faced with a dangerous situation, the adrenal glands inject a shot of adrenaline into your blood to give you that extra boost to escape or fight successfully. That's not all: http://stress.about.com/od/situationalstress/a/adrenaline0528.htm

Correct answers: @dubash, @KiranKS, @rushikeshgk, @kishor_narayan

13Nov10 #Q4. The "Chandrashekar limit", named after Indian-origin astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, is related to which phenomenon ?

A: The formation of a white dwarf. Stars continuously burn themselves out and when they age and run out of fuel, they turn into either of three kinds of objects: white dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes. If the mass of a star is less than the Chandrashekar limit (equal to 1.44 times of the sun), it remains as a white dwarf. Subrahmanyan Chandrashekar won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1983.

Correct answers: @KiranKS, @kishor_narayan

13Nov10 #Q5. Dry ice is the solid form of which gas?

A: Carbon dioxide. It is used in cooling applications. When exposed to room temperature, it does not melt and simply sublimates into the air.

Correct answers: @Karmasura, @quietist, @Vijay_Vikram, @rushikeshgk, @kishor_narayan

Scores

@kishor_narayan 50

@rushikeshgk 40

@dubash 30

@KiranKS 30

@arvindsaraswat 20

@quietist 20

@Vijay_Vikram 10

@amargov 10

@Karmasura 10

@PiSingh_ 10

Well done guys!

Answers 12th Nov 2010

Thank you for the encouraging response people. I hope you had fun.

Here are the answers for yesterday's quiz:


12Nov10 #Q1. The first high quality steel was made in India around 300 BC. It was later called Damascus steel. What is its original name?

A: Wootz steel

The name comes from "ukku", which means steel or iron in South Indian languages. It had a high carbon content and was used to make high quality swords and other weapons.

Correct answers: @KiranKS

12Nov10 #Q2. The meteorite ALH84001 (discovered in Antarctica) is speculated to contain evidence for extraterrestrial life. On which planet?

A: Mars. It is named after Allan Hills in Antarctica, where it was discovered in the year 1984. You've seen this picture before, havent you? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/ALH84001_structures.jpg

The rock originated on Mars some 4 billion years ago, when conditions might have been conducive for life. It came to Earth 13,000 years ago after it was blasted off Mars by a large meteorite impact.

For more: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/marslife.html

Correct answers: @pavanvoice, @kishor_narayan, @KiranKS

12Nov10 #Q3. Which major epidemic during the medieval era is believed to have indirectly led to the Renaissance in Europe?

A: The Black Death or The Plague or The Bubonic Plague. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It took away half of Europe's population. How it may have led to the Renaissance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance#Black_Death

Correct answers: @dubash @rushikeshgk, @KiranKS

12Nov10 #Q4. Its inventor called it "medicine for the soul." What is this potent but *non-addictive* and controversial hallucinogenic drug?

A: LSD. They went to war over Opium but probably no other drug is as controversial as LSD is. Interestingly, it is not addictive http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/4094/Overview

12Nov10 #Q5. (my favourite) Which drink is known as "liquid bread" ?

A: Beer, especially strong or stout beers like Guiness, which are nutrient-rich: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3266819.stm

Correct answers: @dubash, @kishor_narayan