IAC Question Database

(ES) Science Bee Round C1.pdf

Question Answer
Located above Lugaro cells of this body part are a class of GABAergic inhibitory neurons called Purkinje [[pur-KIN-jee]] cells. The degenerative disease ataxia is caused from damage to this body part, whose name comes from the Latin for "little brain." For the point, name this part of the brain responsible for coordinate movements and balance? Cerebellum
(prompt on "Brain"; prompt on "Brainstem")
Gravity and the weak force are the only forces responsible for these particles, which come in electron, tau and muon flavors. This class of fermions, sometimes referred to as "ghost particles," are the most abundant particles that have mass in the universe. For the point, name these subatomic particles partly named for their incredibly small mass. Neutrinos
(prompt on "Ghost Particles" before mentioned)
Phosphate groups in this process are added by the enzymes PFK and hexokinase. The "investment" and "payoff" phases of this process combine to yield two net molecules of ATP. This process produces two molecules of pyruvate, which are then oxidized to acetyl-CoA and fed into the Krebs cycle. For the point, name this first stage of cellular respiration that breaks down glucose. Glycolysis
(prompt on "Respiration" or "Cellular Respiration")
The German's production of a nuclear bomb was the subject of this scientist's 1941 meeting with Werner Heisenberg, which took place in Copenhagen. This physicist’s atomic model depicts electrons orbiting the nucleus in fixed orbits. For the point, name this Danish physicist whose namesake "model" supplanted Ernest Rutherford's model of the atom. Niels Bohr
(or Niels Henrik David Bohr; accept Bohr Model)
The derivation of a subset of elements from one of these structures is known as its namesake slicing. Indexed elements are placed in these structures, of which dictionaries are among the associative type. Sometimes referred to as matrices, for the point, what are these data structures whose elements are found within square brackets? Arrays
(accept Array Slicing; accept Associative Arrays; accept Matrices before mentioned)
The Alvarez hypothesis is the most widely accepted explanation for this event and was strongly bolstered by a discovery near Chicxulub [[CHICK-soo-loob]], Mexico. This event is indicated in the geologic record by heightened levels of iridium, likely from an asteroid impact. For the point, name this mass die-off event that occurred roughly 65 million years ago. K-T Extinction
(or the Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction; accept the K-PG Extinction; or the Cretaceous-Paleocene Extinction Event; accept the Extinction of the dinosaurs)
The quotient of two rates of this process can be found by taking the square root of the quotient of two molar masses by Graham's Law. A Gibbs free energy gradient can cause this process, of which osmosis is a type. For the point, name this chemical movement from areas of high to low concentration. Diffusion
An observation of one of these entities led to the discovery of a series of absorption lines called the Lyman-alpha forest. These entities, classified as active galactic nuclei, are split into two categories based on the size of its emission lines. Radio-loud and optically violent variable are subtypes of, for the point, what luminous beacons of light powered by supermassive black holes? Quasars
(or Quasi-stellar Radio Source; accept Radio-loud Quasars; accept Optically Violent Variable Quasars)
Melvin Dresher was among the RAND employees who first put forth this situation, which involves two individuals named "A" and "B" are offered the opportunity to remain silent. Among the outcomes of this situation is the sentencing of both parties to two years in a certain location. For the point, name this game theory situation involving a pair facing incarceration. Prisoner's Dilemma
An issue with this organ is commonly indicated by tenderness around McBurney’s point. The word "vermiform" sometimes precedes the name of this worm-shaped organ, which is closed at one end and attached to the cecum [[SEE-kum]] at the other end. For the point, name this possibly vestigial [[ves-TIJ-ahl]] organ that, if blocked and inflamed, can "burst"? Appendix
(or Vermiform Appendix)
Robert Brout did not receive a Nobel Prize due to his death before this discovery of this particle, whose often-criticized nickname was given to it by Leon Lederman. This particle is produced by the excited state of its namesake's field. The "God particle" was a name given to, for the point, what particle whose existence provided evidence for the Standard Model? Higgs Boson
(accept Higgs Particle; accept Higgs Field; prompt on "God Particle")
The Philips variety of this object has a slightly conical shape. 50 milimeter increments can be found on a graduated one of these objects, whose straight sides distinguish it from the sloping sides of a flask. For the point, name these cylindrical objects with a flat bottom that are used in lab experiments. Beakers
(accept Beckers; accept Philips Beakers)
In 2023, this region was discovered to possess an internal crystal structure discontinuity that causes waves to travel at different speeds depending on which direction they travel. Intense pressure makes this layer stay a solid ball of iron and nickel. For the point, name this deepest layer of the Earth located below a similarly named "outer" region. Earth's Inner Core
(prompt on "Core"; do not accept or prompt on "Outer Core")
The thumb, pointer, and middle finger can be used to find the direction of this operation by the right- hand rule. The result of this operation is perpendicular to the linearly independent inputs. For the point, name this operation on a pair of vectors that is denoted by an "x" sign. Cross Product
(accept Vector Product; accept Directed Area Product)
The perceived depression of these phenomena is explained by the Wilson effect. These phenomena are caused by disturbances of the magnetic field of the photosphere, which generate coronal mass ejections. The penumbra surrounds the darker, central umbra of, for the point, what these dark, cooler regions found on the surface of the Sun? Sunspots
(or Solar Spots; accept Relative Sunspot Number; prompt on “Sun”)
Derrick Rossi and Timothy Springer were among the founders of this company, which was approved in March 2020 for clinical trials by the FDA, as part of an effort that led to Spikevax. This company sued Pfizer for alleged violations of one of its patents. For the point, name this biotechnology company, based in Cambridge, which developed an mRNA COVID vaccine. Moderna, Inc.
One study has shown that the most common bacteria that causes this disease attacked Haemophilus influenzae with hydrogen peroxide. This disease can be fatal when fluid accumulates and induces acute respiratory distress syndrome. A chest X-ray can diagnose, for the point, what condition defined as inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs? Pneumonia
(accept Streptococcus pneumoniae)
In Karachi, the Orangi Pilot Project saw a community build a small-bore variety of these systems. Biogenic sulfide corrosion can damage these systems, whose gravity variety makes use of elevation differences. Combined examples of these systems collect surface runoff, as well as their central fluid. For the point, name these systems through which wastewater passes. Sewage System
(accept Sewerage; accept Small-bore Sewage; accept Combined Sewage; prompt on "Sanitation" System; do not accept or prompt on "Sewage Treatment Plant" or "Septic Tank")
This constellation names a nebula that contains the Trapezium Cluster. This constellation contains minor stars such as Mintaka and Bellatrix, as well as the stars Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. The most prominent stars in his constellation include Betelgeuse [[BEE-tehl-joos]] and Rigel. For the point, name this constellation in which three stars make up its namesake "belt." Orion
(accept Orion Nebula; accept Orion's Belt)
A team led by Dr. Toshio Fukuda created a robot resembling one of these animals called the Brachiator III [[Three]]. One of these animals, named Tetra, was the first animal of its kind to undergo split embryo cloning, while another one of these animals, named David Greybeard, was studied by Jane Goodall. For the point, name these animals studied by primatologist. Monkeys
(accept specific types of monkeys; accept Gibbons; accept Chimpanzees; accept Rhesus Monkeys; accept Squirrel Monkeys)
Phytoplankton and marine sediment are among the factors that affect this quality, the former of which does so due to the occurrence of chlorophyll-a. The preferential absorption of red light, results in the reflection of such light that makes this quality often blue. For the point, name this quality of the pigmentation of bodies such as the Atlantic. Ocean Color
(accept the Color of water or other equivalents)
Among the effects that this process attempts to prevent include the demineralization of enamel. Toothpaste often undergoes this process, which can also involve an additive being included in public water supplies. For the point, name this process in which an anion of an element with symbol F is added to a substance. Fluoridation
(accept Water Fluoridation; accept answers synonymous to "Addition of fluoride" before "symbol F" is mentioned)
The erosion of these structures towards each other forms a sharp ridge of rock called an arête [[AH- reht]]. The ablation zone and accumulation zone are the two main sections of these structures, whose erosion also create U-shaped valleys. Icebergs detach from, for the point, what massive structures made from the accumulations of crystalline ice, snow, and rock? Glaciers
(accept Ice Sheets; do not prompt of accept "Icebergs")
This unit of measurement is approximately equivalent to 0.3 parsecs. Approximately four units of this measurement mark the distance to Proxima Centauri. For the point, name this unit used to measure distances between Earth and other stars and galaxies, based on the amount of time photons move as Earth completes a rotation around the sun. Light-years
A type of precipitation called diamond dust can be formed from this phenomenon in cold environments. This phenomenon, which provides much of the moisture to redwood forests and the Atacama Desert, resembles a low-lying stratus cloud. For the point, name this phenomenon where condensed water vapor lies close to the ground. Fog
(anti-prompt on “Smog”)
Kopi luwak [[KOH-pee LOO-wak]] is a variety of this crop that is prepared by first feeding its "cherries" to a civet and then collecting the partially fermented product from the feces. This crop's most commonly consumed varieties are robusta and arabica [[ah-RAH-bih-kuh]]. For the point, name this crop, whose so-called "beans" are ground up to make a caffeine-rich drink. Coffee
(accept Coffee Beans; accept Civet Coffee; accept Robusta Coffee or Arabica Coffee)
These systems are bounded by and connected to land by the often vegetation-rich riparian buffer zone. When these systems have a high sediment load, they can form their braided type and also deposit grains into an alluvial fan. For the point, name these hydrological systems that discharge into lakes and oceans at deltas. Rivers
(accept equivalents such as Streams, Creeks, or Brooks)
In 2004, Camila Gonzalez was the youngest child in the U.S. to undergo a successful "piggyback" type of this process. Louis Washkansky died only 18 days after completing this process, which was performed by Christiaan Barnard. For the point, name this surgical procedure which involves the replacement of an organ sometimes as a result from corona artery disease. Heart Transplant
(or Cardiac Transplant; accept Piggyback Heart Transplant; prompt on "Transplant" or "Surgery" alone)
In 1936, the first live kind of these animals were introduced to the United States by the American socialite Ruth Elizabeth Harkness. The home of many of this species' members, who are the featured animal for the World Wildlife Fund, is located in Sichuan. Endemic to China, these are, for the point, what black-and- white-coated bears? Giant Panda
(accept Panda Bear; accept Ailuropoda melanoleuca before mentioned)
On May 4, 1989, the spacecraft Magellan was launched to survey the surface and measure the gravitational field of this planet. Kunapipi Mons and Gula Mons are found on this planet, whose three continental terrae regions are Ishtar Terra, Lada Terra, and Aphrodite Terra. Known as the "evening star," this is, for the point, what rocky planet that is the second from the Sun? Venus
In 2000, a Hill City-based institute found 10% a skeleton of a member of this genus described as BHI 6248. Some consider Tarbosaurus bataar to belong to this theropod genus, whose weight of the tail allowed for its skull to be balanced. A bipedal carnivore, this is, for the point, what genus of dinosaur whose name means “king of the tyrant lizards”? Tyrannosaurus Rex
(or T-Rex; prompt on “Dinosaur”)