| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| For an ellipse, this quantity is calculated with the formula "square root all over 1 minus b-squared divided by a-squared." For any (+) conic section, this constant is calculated with the formula "e equals c divided by a." In a parabola, this constant is always equal to (*) one, and in a circle, this quantity is always equal to zero. For the points, name this mathematical constant that characterizes the shape of a curve. | Eccentricity (prompt on “e”) |
| The Stueckelberg action is a special case of this phenomenon where it is affine and nonlinear. Gerard't Hooft’s version of Yang-Mills theory relies on renormalization caused by this phenomenon. This phenomenon can be reformulated to be (+) gauge invariant as the Fröhlich–Morchio–Strocchi mechanism in order to overcome Elitzur’s theorem. At low energy levels, this phenomenon results in (*) spontaneous symmetry breaking, preventing the W and Z bosons from becoming Goldstone bosons. For the points, name this mechanism that confers mass to bosons. | Higgs Mechanism |
| Organisms living in these biomes limit the amount of methane and hydrogen sulfides that is absorbed into the broader ocean waters in a phenomenon dubbed the Benthic Filter. These biomes’ (+) hydraulic theory states that they are replaced by deep sea corals after their central feature becomes inactive and its characteristic tube worms die out. These biomes form around areas where (*) hydrocarbons passively leak from the sea floor. For the points, name these deep biomes that are relatively less hot than hydrothermal vents. | Cold Seep (or Cold Vent; prompt on “Sea Floor” before read) |
| One form of this property named for Lev Landau describes the effect of curved trajectories caused by the Lorentz force in a free electron gas. Paul Langevin described a form of this property that applies to atoms with closed electron shells. In the (+) Meissner effect, superconductors exhibit the perfect form of this property by reducing their internal magnetic field to near zero. If all electrons in a substance are (*) paired, it is commonly stated to have this property and not paramagnetism. For the points, name this property of materials that repel applied magnetic fields. | Diamagnetism (accept word forms) |
| This element is the sole cofactor of pyridoxal oxidase, an essential enzyme for vitamin B6 metabolism. Two atoms of this element are bound to two flavins and eight iron atoms in an enzyme involved in purine catabolism named (+) xanthine oxidase. In a process exacerbated by excessive sulfur levels, consumption of high amounts of this element prevents uptake of copper. This element is the most common cofactor for (*) bacterial enzymes used in nitrogen fixation. For the points, name this transition metal that appears along with iron in the active sites of most nitrogenases and has chemical symbol Mo. | Molybdenum |
| Blue-white screening depends on an enzyme produced by this system that cleaves the sugar analogue X-gal. This system is activated when cyclic AMP binds to the catabolite activator protein, which produces a (+) single mRNA encoding both a transacetylase and a permease. One of the three structural genes in this system encodes the enzyme (*) beta-galactosidase [[beta-ga-LAC-toe-SIGH-dase]], which cleaves a sugar into glucose and galactose. For the points, name this set of genes found in E. coli that controls metabolism of the sugar found in milk. | Lac Operon (or Lactose Operon; prompt on "Lac;" prompt on "Operon") |
| When awarded the National Medal of Science, Richard Nixon told this scientist, "I have read [explanations of your scientific work] and I want you to know that I do not understand them.” In 1983, this scientist became the first (+) woman to win a solo Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. A class of DNA sequences discovered by this scientist includes LINEs, SINEs, and Alu elements, which can (*) change their location in the genome. For the points, name this American scientist whose research on maize led to the discovery of transposons, or “jumping genes.” | Barbara McClintock (or Eleanor McClintock) |
| Bridging is used in audio engineering when the source form of this quantity is much smaller than the load form. The input and output forms of this quantity can be matched in order to minimize (+) signal reflection. In an ideal inductor, this quantity is purely imaginary and reactive. This quantity can be represented as a (*) complex number whose imaginary part is reactance and this quantity’s reciprocal is admittance. For the points, name this complex analogue of resistance that is used in AC circuits. | Impedance |
| A specialized form of this organelle in plants is the site of the glyoxylate cycle for breaking down lipids. Defects in plasmalogen synthesis or the breakdown of (+) very-long-chain fatty acids in this organelle are both markers of Zellweger syndrome. To prevent buildup of reactive oxygen species, these organelles use the enzyme (*) catalase to decompose a toxic molecule into water and oxygen. For the points, name these membrane-bound organelles that metabolize a compound with formula H2O2. | Peroxisomes |
| This value is always equal to the number of angular nodes. This value, which is denoted with the symbol ℓ [[ELL]], is found by subtracting one from the value of the (+) principal quantum number. This value indicates whether an orbital is shaped like a sphere, dumbbell double-dumbbell, or a tetrahedron. The (*) angular momentum of an electron is described by, for the points, what second quantum number, which describes the shape of an orbital? | Azimuthal Quantum Number (or Orbital Angular Momentum Quantum Number before mentioned; accept Second Quantum Number before mentioned; accept ℓ before mentioned) |
| For acoustics in a simple cavity, this quantity is equal to 4 times volume over surface area. Ballistic transport is characterized by having very large values for this quantity. The cross section can be calculated as (+) 1 over number density times this quantity. When hole diameter is smaller than this quantity, effusion is possible. For an ideal gas, the (*) diffusion coefficient is proportional to this quantity times average velocity. For the points, give this quantity, the average distance a particle travels between collisions. | Mean Free Path (or MFP) |
| While working for the Department of Defense, this scientist reformulated Kerckhoffs's principle as “the enemy knows the system.” This man wrote the article “A Mathematical Theory of Communication,” which was later expanded to a book including an article by (+) Warren Weaver. The maximum efficiency of error correcting methods is given by this scientist’s limit, given in the noisy channel coding theorem. Along with (*) Harry Nyquist, this man names a sampling theorem that links continuous and discrete time signals. For the points, name this American engineer, known as the “father of information theory.” | Claude Shannon |
| A Raschig ring can be used to carry out this technique in a more efficient manner than is possible with the typical tray setup. Products of the binary form of this technique can be analyzed with the (+) McCabe–Thiele method. The number of theoretical plates needed in this technique can be calculated with the Fenske equation. This technique is carried out in namesake (*) “columns” where the lightest components are removed from the top and the heaviest ones from the bottom. For the points, name this technique used to separate crude oil into components like gasoline and kerosene. | Fractional Distillation (prompt on “Distillation”) |
| This task is performed by DBSCAN, an algorithm that connects points satisfying a certain density criterion. The "hierarchical" form of this task is divided into agglomerative and divisive strategies. To perform this task, a data space is repeatedly (+) partitioned into tesselations of Voronoi cells by the k-means algorithm. Within machine learning, this task is the (*) "unsupervised" counterpart to the "supervised" tasks of regression and classification. For the points, name this task that involves sorting similar data points into namesake groups. | Clustering (or Cluster Analysis; accept Creating Clusters; prompt on "Grouping") |
| This mineral’s rare contemporary generation may be evidence that it was primarily created in ancient anoxic oceans. Today, this mineral primarily forms with the help of sulfate-reducing bacteria in hypersaline lakes. This mineral was first documented in (+) northern Italy in a range of the Alps it now names. Along with gypsum and limestone, this is the most common mineral found in karst terrain. This mineral is differentiated from (*) aragonite by the presence of magnesium. For the points, name this evaporite mineral composed of magnesium, calcium, and carbonate. | Dolomite |
| A measure that finds this quantity as greater than or equal to the difference of a Hamiltonian and the product of two other quantities is the Bogoliubov Inequality. One formulation of this quantity sets its value equal to (+) negative kT times the log of the partition function. Temperature, instead of pressure, is held constant when calculating this quantity, thus distinguishing it from (*) a similar quantity named for Josiah Gibbs. For the points, give this measure of work that can be harnessed from a closed thermodynamic system, a form of "free energy" named for a German physicist. | Helmholtz Free Energy (accept Helmholtz after "free energy;" prompt on "Free Energy" before mentioned) |
| When used as a food dye, this compound is labeled E171. This compound or an iron oxide is used to coat mica to make Iriodin pigments. Nanoparticles of this compound are used as a (+) bed to rest perovskite on in most solar cell constructions. This compound is able to absorb UV light without reflecting visible light, making it useful for raising the (*) SPF of sunscreen. For the points, name this inorganic metallic compound that replaced lead white used as a paint pigment. | Titanium Dioxide (or TiO2; or Titanium IV Oxide [[“titanium four”]]; or Titania; prompt on “Titanium Oxide”) |
| The Menan Complex in Idaho is a set of very large examples of these landforms created from volcanic tuff cones. A pair of these landforms in Arizona’s portion of Monument Valley are known as the (+) West and East Mittens. One of these landforms made from igneous rock in Wyoming’s Black Hills is the Devil’s Tower. These landforms are created through the same process as (*) hoodoos on a large scale, whereby a caprock of wind resistant material remains after softer rock around it is removed. For the points, name these isolated hill landforms with steep sides and a flat top. | Butte (prompt on “Monolith”) |
| An enzyme that breaks down this molecule can be inhibited by organophosphate agents such as VX and Sarin, as well as drugs that treat (+) myasthenia gravis. Receptors for this molecule are classified by their ability to bind either muscarine or nicotine. A namesake (*) esterase [[ESS-ter-ace]] degrades this molecule, whose release from nerve terminals is blocked by botulinum [[bah-tyoo-"LIE"- num]] toxin, causing a form of paralysis. For the points, name this neurotransmitter released by motor neurons that stimulates muscle contractions. | Acetylcholine (or ACh) |
| This phenomenon’s optical depth is defined as the number of stars that undergo it at any given time. This phenomenon was used to discover the blue supergiant Icarus, the (+) farthest star from Earth ever discovered. The first exoplanets to be discovered using this phenomenon were detected by the University of Warsaw’s OGLE project. Unlike (*) weak and strong counterparts, this phenomenon cannot be used to image specific details but instead can only detect changes in magnitude. For the points, name this type of gravitational lensing that can be used to detect objects as small as a star. | Gravitational Microlensing (prompt on “Lensing” or “Gravitational Lensing”) |
| Consuming disulfiram causes this compound to accumulate in the body. During alcoholic fermentation, yeasts or bacteria transform pyruvate into carbon dioxide and this compound using (+) pyruvate decarboxylase. The inability of the body to quickly turn this compound into acetic acid in the liver is a primary cause of (*) hangovers. A defect in an enzyme that breaks down this compound causes some people to experience a so-called “Asian flush” after drinking alcohol. For the points, name this organic compound converted from alcohol in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase. | Acetaldehyde (or Ethanal; do not accept or prompt on “ethanol”) |
| FMO controls and Fc-blocking are used to increase the specificity of this assay, particularly with complex panels. DRAQ7 or SYTOX can be used to exclude non-viable entities in this assay, which are usually excluded through an initial gating step. (+) Propidium iodide staining is commonly used to measure genome size in this technique, and data in this technique is usually displayed on plots showing different markers on two axes. Charging the (*) droplets in this technique allows for the sorting of individual cells in FACS. For the points, name this technique in which cells are fluorescently labelled in order to measure their markers. | Flow Cytometry (accept FACS before "FACS" is mentioned; prompt on “Flow”) |
| The first telescope for use in this field was developed by Martin Ryle through his invention of aperture synthesis. This field of astronomy is by far the most suitable for ground-based telescopes, as its central (+) regime is not blocked by the atmosphere. This field originated from an observation of data noise that followed a 23 hour 56 minute cycle, equal to the sidereal day. The unit of (*) spectral flux density used in this field is named for its founder, Karl Jansky. For the points, name this field of astronomy that focuses on light with extremely long wavelengths. | Radio Astronomy (prompt on “Astronomy”) |
| Materials such as oil can demonstrate this phenomenon as a result of thin-film interference. A bird species from the Pavo has a coloration described by this phenomenon, which appears in its (+) feathers and ocelli. Goniochromism is another word for this phenomenon, which takes its name from a Greek goddess associated with (*) rainbows. Pearlescense is another word that describes, for the points, what optical phenomenon that creates a shimmering, color-shifting effect? | Iridescence (accept Iridescent Coloration; Goniochromism before mentioned; accept Pearlescence before mentioned) |
| These substances can be modeled as highly crosslinked chemical formations whose shear modulus is equal to the Boltzmann constant times temperature times the number of polymer chains per unit volume. A type of these materials made from (+) alginate is often used in wound dressings to maintain site moisture. High oxygen permeability characterizes a (*) silicone-based type of these materials that is used to make soft contact lenses. For the points, name these substances that are composed of a matrix of porous solids and a large amount of water. | Hydrogels (prompt on “Gels” or “Colloids”) |
| Members of this phylum appear to have independently evolved a nervous system that operates as a nerve net that exclusively uses L-glutamate to signal. Many members of this phylum hunt using tentilla that are covered in (+) sticky colloblast cells. Along with porifera, this phylum is the primary candidate for being the sister taxa of all other animal life. This phylum consists of the (*) largest life forms to swim using cilia. For the points, name this basal animal phylum that is commonly named in reference to their resemblance to a type of stinging cnidarian. | Ctenophora (or Comb Jellies; do not accept or prompt on “jellyfish”) |
| The “strong” problem of this phenomenon refers to the lack of this phenomenon in quantum chromodynamics. James Cronin and Val Fitch originally discovered this phenomenon in the decay of neutral (+) kaons. The weak nuclear force is the only fundamental force known to exhibit this phenomenon. In the Sakharov conditions, this phenomenon is listed with (*) thermal disequilibrium and violation of the baryon number to explain matter-antimatter imbalance. For the points, name this phenomenon where the laws of physics do not equally apply to particles and their antiparticles. | CP violation (or charge-parity symmetry violation) |
| Ring strain in norbornene [[nor-BOR-neen]] drives one type of these reactions called ROMP, which can be classified as "living" if the products have low (+) polydispersity. One form of the Carothers equation gives the degree to which these reactions make (*) branched products. Ziegler-Natta catalysts promote these types of reactions, which come in "step-growth" and "chain-growth" varieties. For the points, name this class of reactions that forms chains of subunits called monomers [[MAH-noh-mers]]. | Polymerization reactions (accept answers describing making Polymers; accept Chain-Growth Polymerization; accept Step-Growth Polymerization) |
| Before moving to The Family Handyman, this magazine contained Roy Doty's "Wordless Workshop," a series that provided home improvement information to readers. Edgar Franklin Wittmack was known for employing (+) retro-futuristic themes in his covers for this magazine that was founded in 1872 by Edward L. Youmans. This publication ran from its founding until 2016 as a (*) monthly publication before switching to its current bimonthly format. A competitor to Nature, this is, for the points, what magazine originally founded to provide science articles to the lay populace? | Popular Science (accept PopSci) |
| According to the Norwegian model, this process occurs by movement along a frontal boundary until a barotropically cold environment is reached. During this process, the (+) baroclinic zone can wrap up and lengthen due to flow deformation. During winters in subtropical areas, the (*) bomb, or explosive, type of this process occurs when low pressure zones undergo rapid deepening. During this process, cold fronts can overtake warm fronts to form occluded fronts. For the points, name this process of creating rotating storms. | Cyclogenesis (accept any answer indicating the formation of a Cyclone or Hurricane) |
| In the Shakura and Sunyaev model, gas in these structures undergoes increasing viscosity due to turbulence. Angular momentum transfer in these structures is believed to be caused by magnetorotational instability. Matter traveling through these structures follows a path known as a (+) tendex line. Friction between these structures and the bodies they orbit cause its component material to (*) spiral inwards, causing high energy radiation astrophysical jets. For the points, name these structures made up of extremely hot material being pulled in by a proto-star, neutron star, or black hole. | Accretion Disks (or Circumstellar Disks) |
| This law can be applied to gases when the Klinkenberg correction is applied to account for Knudsen friction. This law linearly relates the volume flow rate to the hydraulic head difference, making it the (+) fluid dynamics equivalent of Ohm’s law. Applying the Dupuit assumption to this law reduces it to a 2d relation of vertical pressure gradient by (*) specific weight and is used to describe aquifers. For the points, name this equation that models the flow of groundwater through a porous medium. | Darcy’s Law (accept equation or formula in place of law; do not accept or prompt on “Darcy-Weisbach” equation) |
| These structures can originate from a free-living planktonic cell using van der Waals forces to adhere to a layer of organic material on a surface, then anchoring itself with pili. Cells in these structures release of N-acyl homoserine lactones during a (+) so-called colonization phase to exhibit quorum sensing. These structures convey antibiotic properties by secreting a (*) matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. The classic example of these structures is dental plague on teeth. For the points, name these structures that form when microbes adhere to a surface. | Biofilms |
| In monocots, this process features the growth of the coleorhiza and development of the coleoptile. During this process, aleurone cells release alpha- amylase that hydrolyzes the (+) starch found in the endosperm. The start of this process can be visibly confirmed by the emergence of the (*) radicle. This process is inhibited by abscisic acid but is initiated by elevated levels of gibberellin hormones. For the points, name this process of a plant embryo emerging from a seed. | Germination (or Sprouting) |
| Marguerite Catherine Prey discovered this element while studying actinium's decay sequence. This element is naturally produced from the alpha radioactive decay of (+) actinium and is produced by bombarding thorium with protons. Because this element is primarily produced in laboratories in minute quantities, (*) cesium is considered the most reactive metal on the periodic table. For the points, name this heaviest of the alkali metals. | Francium (or Fr) |
| The ARE was the first of these locations that relied on molten salt for one process. Increases in one quantity at equilibrium can occur in these places in a process called (+) subcritical multiplication. Types of these places that create more of one material than is consumed are known as breeders. (*) Chicago Pile-1 was the first of these places that can experience core overheating during a meltdown, as was the case on Three Mile Island. For the points, name these locations often conduct fission reactions on isotopes like uranium-235. | Nuclear Reactors (accept Atomic Pile or Nuclear Pile before mentioned; prompt on partial answers; prompt on "Nuclear" Plant or "Nuclear" Power Plant) |
| The gene that encodes the neurotoxin of this infection is found on the PE88 plasmid. That neurotoxin which causes this infection is the spasmogenic toxin, which is produced by the (+) vegetative cell of a soil bacterium belonging to the genus Clostridium. This infection, along with (*) diphtheria and acellular pertussis, is prevented with the DTaP vaccine. For the points, name this bacterial infection also known as "lockjaw." | Tetanus (accept Lockjaw before mentioned) |
| The shear stress involved in initiating movement of this material is represented by the Shield's parameter. The sizes of these materials are given by the Wentworth and Krumbein [[KRUM-bine]] (+) phi scales. The conservation of mass of this material in a fluvial system is described by the Exner equation. In soil, (*) unconsolidated examples of this material can undergo liquefaction, behaving as a fluid. For the points, name this type of material composed of several small pieces, exemplified by sand. | Sediment (accept Sand until mentioned) |