| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| These materials’ interface layer is typically made up of organic molecules arranged as passivating agents or surface ligands. These are the smallest materials to be labeled as a Janus when they possess two distinct properties. Colloidal gold is made by suspending a type of these materials in water. Because these materials are made of components smaller than the wavelength of visible light, they can be made invisible in suspensions. For the point, name these substances made of pieces between 1 and 100 nanometers. | Nanoparticles (prompt on “Microparticles”) |
| These objects can come in conical, columnar, and domal varieties which are contrasted with their branching types. The presence of aragonite microcrystals in these objects was the first near conclusive evidence that they were biological in origin. Fossilized examples of these objects are the oldest macroscopic evidence of life on Earth. These objects are formed by the petrification of microbial mats and the intrusion of natural cements. For the point, name these layered rocks created by microscopic photosynthetic organisms. | Stromatolites |
| One tensor in this law can be reduced to the bulk modulus and the shear modulus for isotropic media. The proportionality constant of this law is measured in units of Newtons per meter or kilograms per second squared. On a stress-strain curve, this law is only valid for the linear elastic portion of the curve between the origin and the yield point. For the point, name this empirical law that states that force is proportional to compression for a spring. | Hooke's Law |
| Two of these animals named Kanzi and Panbanisha at Des Moines’ Great Ape Trust have been taught to communicate with lexigram boards. The term “sex for peace” was coined by Franz de Waal to describe these animals. These animals avoid conflict when new food sources are discovered by engaging in both homo and heterosexual mating activities. The peaceful nature of these animals was described by Takayoshi Kano in The Last Ape. For the point, name these apes, the closest living relative of the common chimpanzee. | Bonobos (or Pan paniscus; or Pygmy Chimpanzee; or Dwarf Chimpanzee; or Gracile Chimpanzee; prompt on “Ape” or “Monkey” or “Primate”; reject just “chimpanzee”) |
| President Truman approved this operation that sought would-be members through the earlier Operation Overcast. The Soviet Union launched Operation Osoaviakhim, a counterpart to this operation that was predominantly executed by the U.S. Army’s Counterintelligence Corps between 1945 and 1959. Breakthroughs credited to this intelligence operation include the construction of the Saturn V launch vehicle, which was created by one of this operation's subjects, Wernher von Braun. For the point, name this U.S. intelligence operation that procured German scientists following World War Two. | Operation Paperclip |
| Wood pulp is used as a source of this molecule when producing the synthetic fiber rayon. This polymer contains beta-1,4-glycosidic linkages, unlike the alpha bonds found in starch and glycogen. Microfibrils of this molecule are arranged with proteins such as pectin and lignin into a matrix that gives tree bark its high tensile strength. Since this sugar and its "hemi" form are a primary source of insoluble fiber, ruminants that can digest it are able to eat grass. For the point, name this polymer of glucose that is the primary component of plant cell walls. | Cellulose (accept Hemicellulose) |
| This scientist was the first person to posit that gravity could be strong enough to prevent the escape of light, preceding the idea of black holes. This scientist solved the great Jupiter-Saturn inequality by demonstrating that anomalies in their orbits could be explained by commensurability in the orbital ratio. This scientist received a grant from Louis Philippe’s government to write his five volume “Treatise of celestial mechanics,” which earned him the nickname the “French Newton.” A function of a real variable is converted to a function of complex variables by, for the point, what French polymath’s namesake transform? | Pierre-Simon Laplace (accept Laplace Transform) |
| Project FAMOUS found that this process did not occur at a symmetric rate across one boundary. A characteristic appearance of overlapping centers of this process is indicated by "over-stretching" when attempting to "shake hands," an occurrence which was predicted by Harry Hess. The Vine‐Matthews‐Morley hypothesis describes this process and the direction of magnetization of one entity arising from the center. Taking place along mid- ocean ridges, this is, for the point, what process in which volcanic activity leads to the creation of new oceanic crust? | Seafloor Spreading (prompt on "Plate Tectonics") |
| One of these devices in Vancouver’s One Wall Center consists of a pair of 60,000- gallon water tanks. Some of these devices that are calibrated to the wind-induced natural frequency are designed to prevent motion sickness. In the Shanghai Tower, a gold and granite statue shaped like intersecting arcs serves as one of these devices. One of these devices in the shape of a sphere made of layers of circles is located near the top of the Taipei 101 skyscraper. For the point, name these devices used by bridges and skyscrapers to offset motion from wind or earthquakes. | Tuned Mass Damper (or TMD; or Harmonic Absorber; or Seismic Damper; prompt on “Damper”; prompt on “Pendulum”) |
| An animal from this period is from the genus Hallucigenia, whose fossils were found in Burgess Shale deposits in Canada and China. Epochs of this period include the Terreneuvian and the Furongian. The formation of subcontinents Laurentia and Baltica occurred during this period, which was also when subsequent collisions formed the supercontinent, Gondwana. Rodinia began to fragment just prior to, for the point, what first period of the Paleozoic era? | Cambrian Period (accept Early Cambrian; accept Middle Cambrian; accept Late Cambrian) |
| Kazimierz Kordylewski lends his name to a set of "clouds" that can be found at two of these locations, another of which can be found at the apex of the Roche lobe. Three of the five of these locations lie within the line passing through the center of two entities to which their existence refers. A solution to the three-body problem makes use of these locations that exist within the orbital plane of such bodies as the Sun and the Earth. For the point, name these points of gravitational equilibrium named for a French mathematician. | Lagrange Points (accept Lagrangian Points; accept L-points; accept Libration Point) |
| The Drude model required quantum statistics to account for the lack of this property before the introduction of a theory by Wolfgang Pauli. Materials with this property can be studied in electron spin resonance, and one constant over temperature times magnetic susceptibility can give the strength of this phenomenon, according to Curie's law. Involving the creation of internal magnetic fields in response to applied external ones, this is, for the point, what inducible type of magnetism contrasted with diamagnetism? | Paramagnetism (accept word forms; do not accept or prompt on “ferromagnetism”) |
| This technique uses devices like Penning traps to confine particles. This technique is performed in “tandem” to isolate amino acids. This technique is often paired with gas chromatography in forensics, and is preceded by “hard” and “soft” methods such as ESI and MALDI. This technique often measures the “time-of-flight” of an ion across a medium. For the point, name this technique that sorts molecules by their m-to-z ratio. | Mass Spectrometry (or MS) |
| One of these molecules causes an extremely rare fatal form of insomnia called FFI. One of these molecules called PrP exists in protease-resistant and disease-causing scrapie isoforms. Spongiform encephalopathies caused by these molecules include kuru, which was transmitted by cannibalism among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, as well as a disease marked by frenzied behavior in cattle. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease are both caused by, for the point, what misfolded proteins? | Prions (prompt on "Proteins") |
| The interaction of this quantity with a magnetic field is described by the Pauli matrices [[MAY-trih-sees]]. Particles with even integer values for this quantity can be described by Bose-Einstein statistics. A black hole can be described in terms of charge, mass, and this quantity according to the "no hair" theorem. Bosons are defined as having integer values for this quantity. For the point, name this quantity that is one-half for leptons, the intrinsic form of angular momentum. | Spin (or Spin Angular Momentum; prompt on "Angular Momentum" before mentioned; do not accept or prompt on "momentum") |
| This element is bonded to plant-derived triglycerides to form a controversial emulsifying agent used in citrus flavored soda. This element is added in an allylic or benzylic position to hydrocarbons in the Wohl-Ziegler reaction. This element forms a photosensitive silver salt that is the basis for most modern film photography technology. In a formerly popular qualitative test for alkenes, this element transitions from a brown liquid to a clear one. For the point, name this halogen that exists as a liquid at standard temperature and pressure. | Bromine |
| Researchers at Trinity College Dublin created non-layered 2D platelets from this substance through liquid-phase exfoliation. The “white” version of this mineral, known as marcasite, readily oxides, producing iron(II) sulfate and sulfuric acid. This substance shares its name with a group of minerals that possess a diploidal structure and have a unit cell in the shape of a cube, which includes minerals such as sperrylite and aurostibite. For the point, name this most abundant sulfide mineral that is sometimes referred to as “fool’s gold.” | Pyrite (or Iron Pyrite; accept FeS2; prompt on “Fool’s Gold”) |
| The Burroughs Large Systems Group created mainframes based on these data structures, one type of which is composed of activation frames and is known as the "Call" variety. The addition of elements to these data structures can be undergone by a pop, as contrasted to a push. Incrementation that results in the surpassing of these data structures can lead to their namesake “overflow.” For the point, name this type of data structure that operates according to a last in, first out rule. | Stacks (accept LIFO before "Last" is read; accept Last In, First Out before mentioned) |
| A technique used to construct molecular orbitals describes them as this type of combination of atomic orbitals. This word names a molecular geometry within the C-sub- infinity-V point group that is possessed by the central carbon of allenes, which is sp- [[S-P]] hybridized. This is the molecular geometry of acetylene [[ah-SEH-tih-leen]], which contains a carbon-carbon triple bond. Carbon dioxide possesses, for the point, what molecular geometry with a bond angle of 180 degrees? | Linear molecular geometry (accept Linear combination of atomic orbitals) |
| This trait is present in 22.6 percent of the Yanomami [[yah-noh-MAH-mee]] tribe of Burkina Faso, a fact that has been controversially used as evidence that this trait is maintained due to the benefits it conveys in combat. People with this trait are more likely to have the primary functions of their brain hemispheres swapped and to have higher levels of inter-hemisphere symmetry and communication. For the point, name this trait found in roughly ten percent of the population, which in baseball and boxing is known as being a "southpaw." | Left hand dominance (or Left-handedness; accept descriptive answers involving primary use of the Left hand) |
| These biomes may exhibit a phenomenon referred to as "drunken trees," and the southernmost of these biomes have ashy gray, acidic soils called spodosols. Plants that are endemic to this biome include the fireweed and the Dahurian larch. The lynx live in these biomes, as well as the American Black Bear and the moose. Sometimes referred to as the "snow forest," this is, for the point, what subarctic biome characterized by thick coniferous trees? | Taiga (or Boreal Forest; accept Snow Forest before mentioned; accept Coniferous Forest before "coniferous" is mentioned) |
| Late in their life-cycle, these objects crystallize from the inside out, forming a body- centered cubic lattice. These are the smaller objects known to cool through the emission of neutrinos in the urca [[ER-kah]] process. These objects maintain equilibrium with electron degeneracy pressure. The upper mass bound of these objects is the Chandrasekhar [[chahn- drah-SEH-kar]] limit, or roughly one point five solar masses. For the point, name these small dense stars that are less massive than neutron stars. | White Dwarfs (prompt on "Dwarf" or "Star"; accept Degenerate Dwarf) |
| The deflector type of these devices allow for more efficient scavenging, or the replacement of exhaust with fresh fuel-gas mixtures. In a diesel motor, ignition occurs because of the pressure exerted by these devices rather than a sparkplug. Connecting rods link these devices to the crankshaft, which converts the energy from expanding gas into useful work. The 8 in a V8 engine refers to the number of cylinders housing these devices. For the point, name these devices used by reciprocating engines to convert heat and pressure into rotational motion. | Piston (prompt on “Cylinder” before read) |
| Early electret varieties of these devices functioned by detecting changes in air pressure using a permanently charged material. Nearly all modern varieties of these devices use a bridging load of 2000 ohms, which is equivalent to the device’s open circuit load. The dynamic variety of these devices rely on induction by a moving coil in what is essentially the reverse of a loudspeaker. For the point, name these devices that transform sound into an electric signal. | Microphone (or a Mic) |
| The stochastic empirical loading and dilution model can be used to estimate the rate of this process and is used by government agencies in mitigation projects. This process occurs when the infiltration capacity is overcome by precipitation and it is less likely to occur on highly porous surfaces. This process is enhanced by impervious surfaces such as concrete and it is the most common cause of hydrological soil erosion. For the point, name this process where excess water is unable to be absorbed by the ground. | Surface Runoff (or Overland Flow) |
| This country's space agency is planning a sample return from Phobos called the Martian Moons eXploration. This country’s MINERVA rover, part of its MUSES-C spacecraft, was the first successful attempt at an asteroid sample return. A spacecraft designed by this county discovered jet streams in the atmosphere of Venus as part of its Venus Climate Orbiter, also known as Akatsuki. For the point, name this country which is home to the JAXA space agency. | Japan (or Nippon; or Nihon) |
| The silver mica variety of these devices may be employed in situations where long- term losses are to be minimized. The super variety of these devices has a decreased voltage limit compared to other counterparts, and these devices, once called condensers, often feature two conductors that are separated by a dielectric. The Leyden Jar was an early example of these objects that have a corresponding physical quantity measured in farads. For the point, identify these devices that store energy in an electrical field. | Capacitors (accept Supercapacitors; accept Silver Mica Capacitors; accept Condensers before mentioned) |
| Some bacterial species are able to oxidize compounds of this element through use of the enzyme glutaredoxin. Classified as a class-A carcinogen, this chemical element was extracted from boiling fly paper by the Angel Makers of Nagyrév [[Nog-REEV]] to kill 300 in Hungary. This metalloid was mixed with cacodylic acid to form a “rainbow herbicide” in what was called Agent Blue. For the point, name this chemical element whose trioxide is used as a poison. | Arsenic |
| The central enzyme of this process uses its exonuclease activity for proofreading. Radioactive nitrogen-15 was used by Meselson and Stahl in an experiment that demonstrated the semiconservative nature of this process. Okazaki fragments are created on the lagging strand during this process, whose namesake fork contains enzymes such as helicase, ligase, and DNA polymerase. For the point, name this process that makes a copy of the cell's genome. | DNA replication (accept DNA synthesis; prompt on "Replication") |
| In 2016, a group of citizen scientists announced the discovery of the STEVE type of these phenomena. Common patterns in these phenomena include curtains, spirals, and dynamic flickers. Oxygen precipitation from these phenomena cause green and orange colors, while nitrogen causes blue or purple. These phenomena are caused by disturbances in the magnetosphere by solar wind. For the point, name these colorful lights that appear in the sky near the North and South poles. | Aurora (accept Aurora Borealis; accept Aurora Australis; accept Aurora Polaris; prompt on "Polar lights," "Northern lights," or "Southern lights") |
| This constant's expanded continued fraction consists entirely of ones, making it the hardest value to represent with rationals. This constant is equal to the sum of one and its own reciprocal. This constant is the limit of the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci [[fee-bo-NAH- chee]] numbers. This constant can be calculated as "one plus the square root of five over two." For the point, name this constant, which has a name referencing its supposed aesthetic value and is approximated as 1.618. | Golden Ratio (or Golden Mean; or Golden Section; accept Phi) |
| The strength of these substances is described by their dielectric constant. Supercritical carbon dioxide is often used as one of these substances in the extraction of caffeine from coffee. These substances are removed by a rotovap, and polar aprotic examples of these substances such as dichloromethane and DMSO cannot form hydrogen bonds. Water is often called the "universal" example of, for the point, what type of substances that dissolve solutes to form solutions? | Solvents (prompt on "Liquids") |
| This molecule binds to the ABC domain of the most common class of transporter proteins. Oligomycin stops the synthesis of this molecule by blocking the proton channel of an enzyme with a rotating F0 [[F-zero]] subunit. The high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds found in this molecule are used as a substrate by kinases. About 36 units of this molecule are produced during oxidative phosphorylation performed by the electron transport chain. For the point, name this "energy currency" of the cell. | ATP (or Adenosine Triphosphate) |
| One method of performing this task begins by picking two polynomials which are irreducible over the rational and have a common root. The general number field sieve is the fastest classical algorithm for this task, which can be done in polynomial time Shor's algorithm. The difficulty of this task is why RSA cryptography is secure. The fundamental theorem of algebra ensures that the results of this process are unique. For the point, name this process in which an integer is broken down into a product of smaller integers. | Integer Factorization (accept Factoring) |
| Mathematician Ronald Fisher introduced the term variance in a study of the work of this man, whose findings were independently confirmed by Hugo de Vries. Despite being displayed before the Natural History Society of Brno, the work of this man was initially only published in a few newspapers. The Law of Segregation was developed by this man and explained the recurrence in F2 of traits that were prevalent in the P-generation. For the point, identify this Austrian monk who established numerous hereditary laws in his work on pea plants. | Gregor [Johann] Mendel (accept Řehoř Jan Mendel) |
| One variety of these structures forms from the propagation of an ionization front through a molecular cloud. In addition to H2 regions, another type of these structures form from the gaseous remains of a supernova. The inaccurately named "planetary" variety of these structures are formed from the expelled ionized gas released from red giant stars. The Pillars of Creation are located in, for the point, what star forming clouds made up of dust and gas? | Nebulae (or Nebulas; accept Emission Nebula; accept Diffuse Nebula; accept Planetary Nebula; accept Eagle Nebula) |