| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| This region is the target of the proposed Discovery Program observatory Whipple. This region is composed of an outer spherical portion and an inner disk-like region that is named for Hills. This region lies beyond the (+) heliosphere, making it the edge of the solar system. Most long-period comets originate from (*), for the points, what distant region which lies beyond the Kuiper Belt? | Oort Cloud (or Öpik–Oort cloud) |
| One element in this group is found within a chlorin ring structure at the center of a chlorophyll molecule. Another of these elements is found in the minerals dolomite and (+) aragonite, which make up a large portion of limestone. Magnesium and (*) calcium are examples of, for the points, what family of elements that form group 2 on the periodic table? | Alkaline Earth Metals (accept Group 2 before mention; do not accept or prompt on "Metals" or "Alkali Metals") |
| The mean value theorem says that one of these lines always exists that is parallel to a secant through a curve’s endpoints. The (+) slope of one of these lines at a point gives the definition of a derivative. (*) For the points, name these types of lines that touch a curve at only one point, which share their name with a trigonometric function equal to sine over cosine? | Tangent Line |
| These objects were conclusively shown to exist using data from the Hubble Space Telescope that showed dust and stars exhibiting Keplerian orbits. These objects are believed to be the cause of the energy emitted from AGNs. The Event Horizon (+) telescope has taken images of some of these objects named M87* [[“M87-star”]] and Sagittarius A* [[“A-star”]]. (*) For the points, name these extremely large objects at the center of every galaxy, from which light cannot escape. | Supermassive Black Holes (accept SMBH or SBH) |
| The movement of the leads within one of these devices can lead to a malfunction called Twiddler's syndrome. This device offers an alternative to the transcutaneous and transvenous varieties of one process. The ICD is a specific version of this device that is able to perform (+) defibrillation. The ventricles and atria can receive (*) electrical signals from this device. For the points, name this often-implanted medical device in the heart. | Artificial [Cardiac] Pacemaker |
| One enzyme that adds this functional group to molecules has a rotating F1 subunit that juts into the mitochondrial matrix. Enzymes called kinases add this functional group to substrates during signal transduction cascades. The backbone of DNA contains (+) sugars alternating with this functional group, three of which are bound to adenosine in the "energy currency of the cell," (*) ATP. For the points, name this functional group with formula P-O-4 3-minus. | Phosphate (accept P-O-4 3-minus before mention) |
| The total momentum equates to zero in the namesake reference frame of this point. A weighted relative position sums to zero of the distributed variety of one quantity at this point, which is sometimes referred to as the (+) balance point. In a uniform gravitational field, this point is equivalent to the center of (*) gravity. For the points, name this point about which an object will freely balance. | Center of Mass (accept Balance Point before mentioned; prompt on "Center of Gravity" before mentioned) |
| In this biome, earthquakes, hummocks, and palsa development are a few of the causes of a phenomenon called drunken trees. This biome is characterized by the presence of muskegs, which form when water drainage is prevented by (+) bedrock, clay, and permafrost. The lynx and (*) caribou live in, for the points, what biome mainly located at subarctic regions, characterized by coniferous trees and is referred to as snow forests? | Taiga (or Boreal Forest; accept Snow Forest before mentioned) |
| A harmless condition partially called "pilaris" is caused by the buildup of this protein. In animal cells, this protein makes up the most common type of intermediate filament. The beta- type of this protein is only found in sauropsids, while the (+) alpha- type of this protein is the main component of claws and horns. (*) For the points, name this protein which is the main component of feathers, hair, and nails. | Keratin (accept Alpha-keratin; accept Beta-keratin) |
| These phenomena are formed in temperature gradients as a result of hydrostatic and geostrophic balance. These phenomena are deformed by changes in the Coriolis effect with latitude. The (+) subtropical type of these phenomena are formed at the boundary of the Hadley and Ferrel cells. Polar (*) vortexes are contained by these phenomena. For the points, name these atmospheric currents of strong wind. | Jet streams |
| This man utilized Robert H. Goddard’s research while developing the Agregat project. This man was the most notable scientist moved to the United States by Operation Paper Clip, after which he produced the rockets for Explorer 1, as well as the (+) Saturn V rockets. His most notable invention was the first artificial object to (*) enter space. For the points, name this German rocket scientist who developed the V-2 rocket, known as the “father of space travel.” | Wernher von Braun |
| This disease is caused by a mutation to the HEXA gene that causes GM2 gangliosides to build up in lysosomes. The prevalence of this disease among French Canadians has led to the theory that recessive carriers may have a resistance to (+) tuberculosis. This disease is diagnosed by a characteristic “cherry red” spot on the (*) retina. For the points, name this recessive genetic disorder that typically causes death by age 5, most commonly observed in Ashkenazi Jews. | Tay-Sachs disease |
| Wolf-Rayet stars exhibit a very powerful form of this phenomenon that causes them to lose mass. This phenomenon causes the ion tails of comets to always point away from the (+) Sun. When this phenomenon causes disturbances in Earth’s magnetosphere around the poles, it induces (*) colorful patterns called auroras. For the points, name this stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun. | Solar Wind (or Stellar Wind) |
| Ran proteins mediate transport in and out of this organelle through pore complexes. DAPI staining allows one to visualize a substructure within this organelle that is the site of ribosome production. A network of intermediate filaments called the (+) lamina supports this organelle's "envelope," which is continuous with the endoplasmic (*) reticulum. For the points, what organelle contains most of the cell's DNA? | Cell Nucleus (accept Nucleolus) |
| The energy produced by this process is decribed by the Lawson Criterion. A discredited experiment performed by Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons tried to achieve a type of this process at (+) room temperature. Mechanisms for this process include the CNO cycle and the (*) proton-proton chain, which both convert hydrogen into helium. For the points, name this process that combines two atomic nuclei, which is used to power stars. | Nuclear Fusion (do not accept or prompt on “fission” or “nuclear fission”) |
| A law named for this author of The Skeptical Chemist was derived from experiments in which he poured mercury into closed (+) J-shaped tubes. This man names the only component of the combined gas law under which (*) temperature is held constant. For the points, name this man which states that a gas’s volume is held to be inversely proportional to its pressure. | Robert Boyle (or Boyle’s Law; accept Boyle temperature) |
| One example of these phenomena forms over the Mexican Plateau and moves into the southwest US while the most famous example arises from the Tibetan Plateau. These phenomena form during the oscillations of the (+) Intertropical Convergence Zone and are characterized by wind reversal. (*) For the points, name these periodic changes in the weather that brings heavy rain. | Monsoons |
| This technique is relied on by divide-and-conquer algorithms. Beginners are often asked to solve the Tower of Hanoi problem using this concept, whose implementations of this concept typically feature a (+) “base case” at which the function ceases and begins to return up the call stack. (*) For the points, name this programming concept in which a function is defined in terms of itself. | Recursion (accept word forms such as Recursive) |
| This nucleotide is converted to xanthine by a namesake deaminase, which is also called cypin. Sequences rich in this compound form namesake quadruplexes in extremely stable strands of DNA. While (+) adenine only forms two, this purine molecule base-pairs using three hydrogen bonds to its counterpart. (*) For the points, name this nucleobase that pairs with cytosine. | Guanine (or G; or Gua; accept Guanosine) |
| A three-mile plume of this gas was detected in the atmosphere of Tehran, Iran, while a two- mile plume of it occurred near Carlsbad, New Mexico. In the biogenic carbon cycle, this greenhouse gas is converted back into (+) carbon dioxide after being emitted by animals such as goats, (*) cattle, and sheep. For the points, name this simplest alkane, the main component of natural gas. | Methane (or CH4) |
| The distal ends of these organs contain a set of four microsporangia that form sac-like locules. Collectively, these organs are known as the androecium, and they individually consist of the filament and anther. These organs produce a substance that is transported to the (+) stigma. Flowers that only contain these organs and not their counterpart are known by the misnomer (*) “male flowers.” For the points, name this flower part that produces pollen. | Stamen |
| During this period, the Iapetus Ocean began to close as Avalonia and Baltica drew together. This period’s epochs include the Furongian, Miaolingian, and Terreneuvian. Canada’s fossil-rich Burgess (+) Shale was formed during this period. This period began with the breakup of the supercontinent Pannotia, also known as Greater (*) Gondwana. For the points, name this Paleozoic Era period that experienced an “explosion” of animal life diversity. | Cambrian Period |
| Objects that exceed this quantity emit Cherenkov radiation. Velocity divided by this quantity equals relativistic beta, which is found in the denominator of the Lorentz factor. This value is (+) constant in all inertial reference frames according to Einstein's theory of (*) special relativity. For the points, name this quantity symbolized c which is about 300 million meters per second, and represents the maximum speed at which objects can travel. | Speed of Light (accept c before mention; prompt on partial answers) |
| Mistakes when performing this technique include the endpoint error and color misinterpretation. The first reagent observed in this technique is housed in a (+) conical flask while the second reagent drips from a long glass tube called a (*) burette. A solution is reacted with an analyte in, for the points, what technique where a solution of known concentration is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution? | Titration (or Titremetry; or Volumetric Analysis; accept Acid-Base Titrations) |
| This set of seven things was given their original designation in the year 2000 by the Denver- based Clay Institute, and was inspired by a similar grouping developed by David Hilbert. Navier- Stokes existence versus smoothness and (+) P versus NP are among the six unsolved instances of these problems, to which (*) $1 million is pledged for the first solution. For the points, name these extremely difficult mathematical prize problems. | Millennium Prize Problems (prompt on partial answers; accept Millennium after "problems" is read) |
| This process initiates using the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in bacteria. Tetracycline antibiotics block this process by binding to the 30S subunit of a structure with (+) A, P, and E sites. This process begins at the AUG start codon and continues as the (*) ribosome forms peptide bonds between amino acids. For the points, name this process in which mRNA is read to produce proteins, which follows transcription. | Translation (prompt on "Protein Synthesis") |
| Along this feature is an area where ships may get stuck due to low pressure and weak winds called a doldrum. Between this feature and 30 degrees latitude is an atmospheric circulation pattern called the (+) Hadley cell. Centrifugal force exerted by the Earth's rotation causes this feature's namesake (*) "bulge." For the points, name this imaginary line at zero degrees latitude that divides the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres. | Equator (accept Equatorial Bulge) |
| A highly radioactive isotope of this element was used to assassinate the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko after he ingested its 210 isotope. This element, which was discovered in 1898 after being extracted from the uranium ore pitchblende, (+) is obtained as the result of bismuth-210 decay after the neutron bombardment of (*) bismuth-209. For the points, identify this rare radioactive semi-metal named after the home country of Marie Curie. | Polonium (or Po; accept Polonium-210) |
| Individuals can move between these concepts if the adaptive zones are sufficiently close, which occurs more often for generalist organisms. Highly derived adaptations cause the realized width of these concepts to be narrower than the theoretical (+) “fundamental” width. Interspecies competition occurs when these concepts overlap. (*) For the points, name this foundational concept in ecology that refers to the specific role filled by a species in the ecosystem. | Ecological Niche |
| Anio Vetus was the second oldest of these structures built by one civilization. That example of this structure descended toward Tivoli from a valley. A limestone example of these structures traversed over 30 miles to reach Nîmes. (+) The Pont du Gard is the tallest of the Roman varieties of these structures and takes the form of an (*) arch bridge. For the points, name these structures that carry water. | Roman Aqueducts |
| Stanley Janus and Theresa Janus were among those who were killed due to tampering with this compound. In 1982, seven people died in and around Chicago from cyanide-laced examples of the (+) Extra-Strength variety of this medicine, resulting in a mass recall carried out by Johnson and Johnson. (*) Acetaminophen is another name for this over-the-counter medicine. For the points, name this medicine often used for pain relief and fever reduction. | Tylenol (accept Acetaminophen before mentioned; accept N-acetyl-para-aminophenol; accept Paracetamol; accept Para-hydroxyacetanilide) |
| Two of these structures that connect to the occipital bone are called the atlas and axis. These structures include the L1 example in the lumbar region. The tissue between these structures can be affected in a (+) disc herniation. A series of these structures make up the (*) spinal column. For the points, name these body parts that lend their name to species containing a backbone. | Vertebrae (accept Vertebral Column; prompt on "Backbone" before mentioned; prompt on "Spine" or "Spinal column" before the latter is mentioned) |
| In this country, a previously unknown extinct species, referred to as Homo naledi, was found in the Rising Star Cave. Raymond Dart discovered a fossilized skull of an Australopithecus africanus in this country's city of Taung. The first adult (+) Australopithecine was found in this country's Sterkfontein caves. (*) For the points, name this country where the Cradle of Humankind is located nearly 30 miles northwest of Johannesburg. | Republic of South Africa (prompt on "Africa") |