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 History of Science Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
 History of Science Quizzes, Trivia

History of Science Trivia

History of Science Trivia Quizzes

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Like everything else, Science has evolved over the centuries. This is the place to test yourself on the history of this fascinating topic.
63 quizzes and 882 trivia questions.
Sub-Categories:
Inventions Inventions (13 quizzes)
1.
  All About Sound, Vol. 3: Advances in Audio    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The twentieth century saw some amazing advances in audio technology. Try this quiz to see what you know and learn more.
Average, 10 Qns, andshar, Mar 20 24
Average
andshar gold member
Mar 20 24
81 plays
2.
Gravity a Heavy Subject
  Gravity, a Heavy Subject   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
History of Gravitational Theory
It has taken millennia and the brilliant minds of each of our times to come to our current conclusions on gravity. Come meet some of the faces that have impacted this all-important concept in physics.
Average, 10 Qns, trident, Feb 16 24
Average
trident editor
Feb 16 24
243 plays
3.
  Oh, That Hertz!   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Watt's that you say? You're after a quiz on how SI units (Systeme International d'Unites) got their names? Look no further - this quiz will delve into the history behind the naming of these common units.
Average, 10 Qns, NatalieW, Jan 08 24
Average
NatalieW gold member
Jan 08 24
7796 plays
4.
  A Short History of Forensic Science   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Officials charged with keeping law and order often call upon science to help them determine the causes of death, solve crimes, absolve the innocent, and bring perpetrators to justice. Identify these historical instances of forensic science at work.
Easier, 10 Qns, nannywoo, Sep 18 13
Easier
nannywoo gold member
2940 plays
5.
  What a Difference a Day Makes   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
While Rome wasn't built in a day, there certainly were individual days that stand out as major discoveries/accomplishments in the history of science. Let's take a peek at a few of them!
Easier, 10 Qns, merylfederman, Jan 23 22
Easier
merylfederman gold member
Jan 23 22
4511 plays
6.
  Look What I Found - Accidental Discoveries   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Did Crick and Watson discover the double helix structure of DNA by chance? Were Tesla's electricity findings pure luck? No, they weren't. But these ten people did have luck on their side! Let's hear the stories of their serendipitous discoveries.
Average, 10 Qns, Matthew_07, May 14 23
Average
Matthew_07 gold member
May 14 23
5103 plays
7.
  A Voyage of Discovery   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
History has seen many discoveries and developments that have changed the world in one way or another. Can you match these discoveries with the people that made them?
Easier, 10 Qns, Red_John, Sep 27 20
Easier
Red_John
Sep 27 20
1005 plays
8.
I Swear
  I Swear   popular trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
"I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant..." Those are the modern words of the vow known as the Hippocratic Oath. Let's examine the original document from ancient Greece.
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jun 25 16
Average
ponycargirl editor
1161 plays
9.
  The 1770s in Science   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The 1770s saw the outbreak of the American Revolution, but the decade was also a time of scientific revolution. I hope you discover something you didn't know about this important scientific era.
Easier, 10 Qns, nannywoo, Jul 17 17
Easier
nannywoo gold member
Jul 17 17
894 plays
10.
  A Brief History of Particle Physics, Part I   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Particle physicists have had an exciting century! In 1890 the field did not exist; in 2005 we are studying a "zoo" of elementary particles. Test your knowledge of how particle physics developed, up to the introduction of the quark model!
Tough, 15 Qns, CellarDoor, Jun 25 19
Tough
CellarDoor gold member
Jun 25 19
3986 plays
trivia question Quick Question
The world's first nuclear reactor was constructed underneath a sports field in which major American city?

From Quiz "Fission Commission"




11.
  Obsolete Science Terms   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many an idea of some of the greatest individuals of science has crashed upon the rocks of progress. Take these ten examples below, terms and ideas that once captured the imagination of scientists...all now part of history!
Tough, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Feb 15 19
Tough
thejazzkickazz gold member
Feb 15 19
7794 plays
12.
  Through the Ages: Man's Fight Against Unseen Foes   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The History of Man is essentially man's need to fight infection. This quiz looks at some of the infections through the ages that threaten the very existence of man.
Average, 10 Qns, 1nn1, Nov 11 16
Average
1nn1 gold member
2437 plays
13.
  A Brief History of Science   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Obviously no short quiz can begin to address every aspect of science, but I hope you will find this one interesting and informative. It has been written as part of the Amazing Trivia Race 2.
Average, 10 Qns, invinoveritas, Jun 15 22
Average
invinoveritas gold member
Jun 15 22
3146 plays
14.
  Harmony, Order and Chaos   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you think science started in the times of Einstein, Newton, or Leonardo, think again! Those were some important eras, but the history of science includes other developments that were just as key in bringing harmony and order out of chaos.
Average, 10 Qns, shorthumbz, Dec 17 19
Average
shorthumbz gold member
Dec 17 19
2736 plays
15.
  Not What I Expected   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"This is not what I expected", is the gist of what many scientists may have said or thought when they made the following discoveries. What do you know about these discoveries by serendipity?
Average, 10 Qns, JanIQ, May 17 20
Average
JanIQ gold member
May 17 20
685 plays
16.
  Never Before!   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz looks at 'firsts', events that had never happened before; a look at world changing events and some of the individuals involved in them.
Easier, 10 Qns, SisterSeagull, Feb 08 18
Easier
SisterSeagull gold member
Feb 08 18
1405 plays
17.
  Eloquent Experiments   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Sometimes, scientific progress comes in stages, each experiment building on the last. Sometimes, though, the results of a single experiment say enough to change the way we look at the world. Test your knowledge of ten eloquent experiments.
Average, 10 Qns, CellarDoor, Feb 03 15
Average
CellarDoor gold member
702 plays
18.
  The Celestial Cosmos   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The ancient Greeks saw the universe as a cosmos, which consisted of both the heavens and earth. They pondered the underlying structure of the cosmos to find universal truth, and explain natural phenomena.
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jul 24 16
Average
ponycargirl editor
2006 plays
19.
  Science Gets It Right (Eventually)   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The history of science is full of situations where those who thought that they knew all the answers were quite wrong.
Average, 10 Qns, Calpurnia09, Dec 07 22
Average
Calpurnia09
Dec 07 22
2086 plays
20.
  Instrumental Outcomes   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
We live in a technical world. Let's take a look at some of the tools that have been instrumental in providing outcomes to build our modern world. We stand on the shoulders of giants.
Average, 10 Qns, BigTriviaDawg, Apr 05 22
Average
BigTriviaDawg gold member
Apr 05 22
269 plays
21.
  Insect Physicians - Creepy Crawly Medicine   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A small insight into the bedside manner of the Bug Doctors. Take an intriguing look at the part insects have played in the world of medicine.
Average, 10 Qns, Nannanut, Feb 28 10
Average
Nannanut
4125 plays
22.
  Haber not Einstein - "Nature's" Choice   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Is Fritz Haber's method for producing ammonia the most important scientific development of the 20th century? Knowledge of a little history and chemistry will insure that you score well as you consider the case made by the prestigious journal "Nature".
Average, 10 Qns, uglybird, Mar 06 12
Average
uglybird
2276 plays
23.
  That's Right, It's Prosthetic    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Prosthetics have changed dramatically over the centuries from crude wooden limbs to computerized "smart" limbs. This quiz will test how much you know about their history.
Average, 10 Qns, kaddarsgirl, Sep 19 13
Average
kaddarsgirl gold member
2036 plays
24.
  Modern Man   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
In the 21st century man continues to push the boundaries of science. Here, match the people or institutions with their significant contribution to modern man.
Average, 10 Qns, pollucci19, Mar 08 19
Average
pollucci19 gold member
Mar 08 19
339 plays
25.
  Light - Particle vs Wave   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here it is! The post match analysis of the showdown to decide once and for all whether light is a particle or a wave. Who will be the victor? Play this quiz and be prepared to be taken through the 350 year face-off!
Average, 10 Qns, doublemm, Aug 17 17
Average
doublemm gold member
Aug 17 17
1524 plays
26.
  Crossed Wires   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz deals with the history and development of the electronic means of sending messages over very long distances. Have fun.
Average, 10 Qns, Creedy, Feb 07 24
Average
Creedy gold member
Feb 07 24
1048 plays
27.
  I Used To Think That...   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Although scientific discoveries have revolutionized the world, here are some incorrect theories that have been published over time.
Average, 10 Qns, George95, Sep 24 13
Average
George95 gold member
2699 plays
28.
  Once Upon a Math Quiz   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Math, whether it's algebra, geometry or calculus, all had to be 'invented' before we all familiarized ourselves with it. Over the years, this is one branch that has evolved a lot. See what you know of the Babylonian and Greek years of math.
Average, 10 Qns, LeoDaVinci, Apr 13 23
Average
LeoDaVinci editor
Apr 13 23
256 plays
29.
  Open Wide - A Painless History of Early Dentistry   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Sit back and relax. Join me as a fascinating history of early dentistry unfolds. A chair-gripping voyage of interesting experiments, practices and techniques. This won't hurt a bit!
Average, 10 Qns, Nannanut, Mar 16 11
Average
Nannanut
1685 plays
30.
  Fun with Cosmology: A Brief History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Since ancient times, people have tried to understand the universe. This quiz looks at some highlights in the development of cosmology over the centuries.
Average, 10 Qns, agentofchaos, Jan 19 20
Average
agentofchaos gold member
Jan 19 20
433 plays
31.
  We Can Make Him Better   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The 1970s Television Show "The Six Million Dollar Man" was based on the premise that advances in science could repair and improve the injured and infirm. This quiz explores the world of medical miracles up to the early twenty-first century.
Average, 10 Qns, adam36, Feb 03 14
Average
adam36 gold member
878 plays
32.
  History of Astronomy - Part 1   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Greetings fans of the night sky. Within this quiz we shall observe the very foundations of the astronomical science from the beginning of history to approximately 500 B.C. I wish you luck!
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Jul 09 03
Very Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
3249 plays
33.
  It was the Best of Time(piece)s...   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Or "A Brief History of Timepieces", the story of how people have kept track of time over the centuries.
Average, 10 Qns, bucknallbabe, Apr 26 10
Average
bucknallbabe gold member
757 plays
34.
  Fission Commission   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz explores the history of mankind's use of nuclear energy for both military and civilian use.
Average, 10 Qns, RedHook13, Oct 05 21
Average
RedHook13 gold member
Oct 05 21
202 plays
35.
  At The Cutting Edge    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Forensic science covers many topics and the men and women involved in it are always at the forefront of their discipline.
Average, 10 Qns, 480154st, Feb 18 21
Average
480154st gold member
Feb 18 21
227 plays
36.
  When all that's left is Serendipity   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz aimed at the accidental discoveries that have changed the world. Serendipity can be a great friend sometimes.
Average, 10 Qns, mitchcumstein, May 06 15
Average
mitchcumstein
764 plays
37.
  History of Astronomy - Part 2   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Continuing from part one, this quiz will explore the history of astronomy as it developed into a genuine science during ancient times. I wish you luck.
Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Oct 13 05
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
1307 plays
38.
  When You're Wrong, You're Right    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many important scientific discoveries have been made by individuals who were trying to solve other problems. Here are just a few of these accidental discoveries that prove that sometimes, "when you are wrong, you're right".
Average, 10 Qns, Trivia_Fan54, Feb 05 21
Average
Trivia_Fan54 gold member
Feb 05 21
444 plays
39.
  Cell Phones    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Cellular phones have become an integral part of modern life. Please take this quiz on the history and technology of mobile phones. Good luck!
Tough, 10 Qns, mrgrouchy, Jul 23 09
Tough
mrgrouchy
1058 plays
40.
  Humor Me!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Let's look back on the medical theories of humorism, which guided physicians from the Classical era through the mid 1800's.
Average, 10 Qns, kscleaves, Jul 29 09
Average
kscleaves
1640 plays
41.
  A Brief History of Particle Physics, Part II   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
As the 1960s began, much more remained for particle physicists to investigate. Here we examine a thrilling four decades of discovery, from the quark model of particle physics to a shocking upset in 1998 ...
Difficult, 10 Qns, CellarDoor, Oct 20 05
Difficult
CellarDoor gold member
1230 plays
42.
  The Quiz of Nothing    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The concept of Nothing seems commonplace today, but it was not always so. Many cultures struggled with the idea or ignored it entirely. Its eventual acceptance into everyday thought has allowed us to explore the Universe further.
Tough, 10 Qns, H0lyAerith, Dec 30 12
Tough
H0lyAerith
759 plays
43.
  Fueling the Fire   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Fire and fuels are often taken for granted in the developed world but this state of affairs is relatively recent. This quiz explores how scientists discovered the true nature of fire and the substances burned to produce it.
Tough, 10 Qns, bucknallbabe, Mar 11 10
Tough
bucknallbabe gold member
920 plays
44.
  History of Astronomy - Part 3   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Another in a series of quizzes that track the history of the science of astronomy from ancient times to the present. This quiz will continue to focus on the development of astronomy among the ancient Greeks and their temporal counterparts. Good luck!
Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Jan 17 18
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
Jan 17 18
1024 plays
45.
  The Hidden Element    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Once upon a time, only a few elements were known but now we know many more. Explore the discovery of ten of those elements.
Average, 10 Qns, bernie73, Feb 17 20
Average
bernie73 gold member
Feb 17 20
328 plays
46.
  Modern Science History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz of mixed science history, mainly from the middle ages to the present.
Tough, 10 Qns, Tristan., Oct 06 16
Tough
Tristan.
6929 plays
47.
  The Bone Wars: Paleontology Gets Vicious    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Bone Wars refers to the competition to find fossils in the 1870s American West between two paleontologists, who unearthed some of the famous dinosaurs we know but bankrupted each other in the process. Watch for hints!
Average, 10 Qns, littlepup, Dec 16 16
Average
littlepup
178 plays
48.
  It Started Where?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Technological and scientific innovations were introduced in some unexpected places. I tell you you what and when - you provide the where.
Tough, 10 Qns, ignotus999, Feb 20 15
Tough
ignotus999
387 plays
49.
  The History of Chemistry: Composition    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
For chemistry & history fans, or pure chemists, here is a quiz on the history of chemistry. How well do you know your chemistry past?
Difficult, 10 Qns, scottycan, May 08 23
Difficult
scottycan
May 08 23
1943 plays
50.
  The Rise of Brain Science in Ancient Times    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Through the story of the birth of brain sciences, familiarize yourself with the brilliance of the ancients and learn a bit about our brain.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, zanazana, Oct 04 07
Very Difficult
zanazana
1543 plays
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History of Science Trivia Questions

1. The individuality of fingerprints is not doubted, but who, in 1823 was the first person to introduce a system of classification for fingerprints?

From Quiz
At The Cutting Edge

Answer: Jan Evangelista Purkynje

Purkynje realised that the papillary ridges on fingers are unique and divided them into nine types, these being arch, tented arch, ulna loop, radial loop, peacock's eye/compound, spiral whorl, elliptical whorl, circular whorl and double loop/composite. His work was largely ignored at the time, partly due to him writing in Latin and partly due to him not promoting his work as he believed that "science is not about names but discoveries". Purkynje is also remembered for the discovery of Purkynje cells, found in the cerebellum, and Purkinje fibres in the heart. Purkynje also experimented with the effects on the human body of substances such as opium, belladonna, turpentine and nutmeg.

2. The world's first nuclear reactor was constructed underneath a sports field in which major American city?

From Quiz Fission Commission

Answer: Chicago, Illinois

The Manhattan Project was formed in 1939 in order to defend against Nazi Germany as they were reported to have begun a nuclear weapons project of their own. Scientists of the Manhattan Project constructed the world's first nuclear reactor, named Chicago Pile-1, under Stagg Field, a football stadium owned by the University of Chicago. Italian physicist Enrico Fermi was the scientist in charge of the experiment. Chicago Pile-1, using natural uranium as its fuel source, first reached criticality (the state in which a mass of fissionable material sustains or is able to sustain a nuclear chain reaction) on December 2, 1942.

3. The artificial sweetener saccharin is an accidental discovery. Approximately how many times sweeter than sugar is it (by weight)?

From Quiz When You're Wrong, You're Right

Answer: 400

Saccharin was discovered in 1878 by Constantine Fahlberg. He was working on an analysis of coal tar at John Hopkins University. At the end of the day, we did not wash his hands before he ate some bread. He noticed that it tasted sweet, so he began tasting all of the chemical compounds that he'd worked with that day (not something recommended in a chemistry lab today!). He discovered the substance resulted from combining o-sulfobenzoic acid with phosphorus chloride and ammonia. He patented the substance. It was discovered that the body cannot metabolize saccharin, so diabetics started using it as a sweetener in 1907. It was also popular as a sweetener during wartime because of sugar rationing.

4. Dating from the days when alchemy and chemistry co-existed, which element was discovered by Hennig Brand in 1699?

From Quiz The Hidden Element

Answer: Phosphorus

Hennig Brand (1630-1692/1710) accidentally discovered phosphorus while trying to find the Philosopher's Stone, which was said to turn lead and other elements into gold. He had heated and boiled down urine and named the substance he discovered phosphorus or "light-bearer". Phosphorus has the atomic number 15 and the chemical symbol P. An important use of phosphorus today is in agricultural fertilizers.

5. "This was not what I expected", could have said an ancient Greek philosopher. Instead he famously exclaimed "I've found it!". What did he find out while preparing to take a bath?

From Quiz Not What I Expected

Answer: Archimedes' principle

A Greek scientist hopping out of his bath? Greeks did obviously take baths, but only one of them has become famous because of this scene. Archimedes was so excited about having solved a problem he jumped out of the bath and into the street, where he exulted "Eureka" ("I've found it") while running around stark naked. Bystanders probably thought Archimedes did not find something, but did lose something - his marbles, so to say. Archimedes was born in Syracuse around 287 BC. In 250 BC, King Hiero of Syracuse asked Archimedes to investigate a crown to be presented in a temple. Hiero had asked for a crown of solid gold, but he doubted whether the craftsman had followed his orders. So Archimedes had to determine if the crown was made of solid gold or of inferior material. When Archimedes entered his bathtub, he noticed that an amount of water was displaced, and that this amount was equal to the mass of the object dipped into the water. He used this principle to show that the crown indeed was less heavy than the mass of the solid gold that had to be used for this crown. Archimedes died in 212 BC - killed by a Roman soldier when interrupted in his studies of circles.

6. 1851: There's a machine on the river bank that makes ice, even in the summer. It's a mechanical gadget using compressed gas. The inventor says it can produce over 6,000 pounds a day. Where can we get a cold one?

From Quiz It Started Where?

Answer: Geelong, Australia

Australian inventor James Harrison used a mechanical compressor to condense gas (originally, ether) into a liquid. The cold liquid ran through pipes, producing ice, and returned to gas in the process. Transportation was a problem, though - he opened a second plant in Sydney in 1860.

7. The concept of artificial limbs has been around for centuries. Which ancient culture is credited with creating the first replacement limbs for humans?

From Quiz We Can Make Him Better

Answer: Egyptian

The Egyptians were the earliest known developers of prosthetic limbs. Rudimentary prosthetics go back as far as 2750 B.C., based on the finding of splints in archeological digs from that period. The first recorded uses of artificial limbs come during the New Kingdom circa 1000 B.C. and include the finding of a prosthetic toe made of wood and fiber. The "Cairo toe", as it is called, is remarkably lifelike and functional. Artificial limbs are also mentioned in the Hindu sacred text, the "Rigveda", also believed to have been created circa 1000 B.C. Greek records on the use of prosthetics include references from Herodotus in the fifth century B.C. Herodotus recounts the story of Hegesistratus, who cut off his foot to escape Spartan enslavement and replaced his foot with a wooden replica.

8. An ancient climate theory believed that areas with human settlement had a higher amount of what than uninhabited areas?

From Quiz I Used To Think That...

Answer: Rain

The theory was called "Rain Follows the Plow". If man was to inhabit more drier areas, more rain would accompany, making the land able to be used for agriculture. It was in believing this theory that more arid areas like the central United States, and South Australia were migrated too. Several settlements in Australia, backed by this theory, did not last long, brought to an end by drought.

9. Leprosy has been around since ancient times, and is mentioned in the Bible. It is a disease of the nervous system that causes gross physical disfigurements. Which Norwegian scientist first isolated the cause of the disease, a bacterium, in 1873?

From Quiz Through the Ages: Man's Fight Against Unseen Foes

Answer: G. H. Armauer Hansen

Hansen isolated the bacteria, and helped curb the disease in his home country. Leprosy is now commonly known as 'Hansen's Disease'. Because the disease takes so long to show, and because of the poor medical conditions in Third World countries, leprosy has not yet been eradicated. Schweitzer won the Nobel Peace Prize for his medical work in western Africa, Bäckman was a Swedish chef and Kamprad was the founder of IKEA.

10. Which civilization is regarded as the first to have a functional theory of the planets?

From Quiz Harmony, Order and Chaos

Answer: Babylonian

"The Venus Tablet of Ammisaduqa," named for a post-Hammurabi king and dated in the first millennium BC, is a cuneiform tablet that records observations of the planet Venus, primarily its rising and setting. Some interpretations place these sightings as far back as the 17th and 18th centuries BC. The early Chinese were certainly keen chroniclers of the heavens, but these observations, dated in the 13th to 14th centuries BC, were more generally of stars and constellations. Similarly, the Egyptians extensively studied the stars as far back as the third millennium BC and used their positioning to predict the flooding of the Nile and in the constuction of the pyramids and great temples. All of these studies laid the groundwork for the Ptolemaic Era of astronomy, which synthesized their work into foundational texts on modern astronomy.

11. The modern science of Genetics is based on work done in the 19th century by a German monk. What did he use when conducting his experiments?

From Quiz A Brief History of Science

Answer: Peas

Between 1856 and 1863 Gregor Mendel experimented with peas, studying such traits as seed and pod shape, flower colour and plant height. He used more than 29,000 plants in his observations, and realised that some traits were dominant, others recessive. From this he was able to formulate what became known as Mendel's Laws of Inheritance. Question by invinoveritas.

12. The word "astronomy" comes from the two Greek words meaning what?

From Quiz The Celestial Cosmos

Answer: Star and Law

The Greek word "astron" means "star", and the suffix "-nomy" means law or culture. Astronomy is not to be confused with astrophysics, as it usually is. Astronomy tends to focus on measurements and positioning of objects, while astrophysics tries to understand how the universe behaves, based on the laws of physics. Since astronomers use astrophysics to support their research, the two fields are quite connected.

13. What 1832-38 invention gave rise to the idea that undersea communication cables might be a real possibility between nations separated by the world's oceans?

From Quiz Crossed Wires

Answer: Telegraph

American Samuel Morse was the man who first came up with the successful method of electrically transmitting messages over very long distances. This followed on from many years of experimentation in electricity by other great men of the past. Born in 1791, Morse commenced studies at Yale College as a young man in mathematics, horse science and religion. During his time there, he attended several lectures on the newfangled electricity that was setting the scientific world buzzing with excitement. His career however initially diverged into one as a successful painter. In 1825 when he was visiting New York on a painting commission, a note was delivered to him by horse messenger to inform him of his wife's illness. By the time he completed his frantic trip back home to be with her, it was too late. She had died and was buried. Morse was heartbroken at the length of time it had taken for that note to reach him - several days - and the thought that if it had arrived much faster he could have been with her during her last days. It was then that he switched from his successful career as a painter to studying and developing the means to implement rapid long distance communication. The telegraph was the result.

14. What do we call the early scientists who conducted experiments where they tried to turn base metals into gold?

From Quiz Science Gets It Right (Eventually)

Answer: Alchemists

Modern chemistry has shown that elements cannot be changed from one to another but earlier seekers of knowledge did not know this. Alchemy was a whole system of belief and was not just about changing other metals, mainly lead, into gold. Alchemists constantly sought the 'philosopher's stone' which they believed would give them the power not only to transmute metals but would be an 'elixir of life' and would enable them to achieve immortality. Sir Isaac Newton, as well as other prominent scientists of his day, believed in its existence.

15. The earliest evidence of fire appears in the fossil record some 420 million years ago. What was happening at the time to account for its appearance?

From Quiz Fueling the Fire

Answer: Plants colonising the land

According to the idea of the fire triangle, three components are necessary - a fuel, heat and oxygen. It was only when land plants began to give out oxygen as a waste product of photosynthesis that there was sufficient (above 13%) in the atmosphere to sustain burning. The fuel was the plants themselves. Lightning strikes. volcanic eruptions and meteorite impacts are possible natural ignition sources.

16. What is the best definition of the word "cell" as it relates to cellular phones?

From Quiz Cell Phones

Answer: A nearby base station

A cellular, or mobile, phone is basically a small portable radio phone. It operates by communicating with a "cell" (nearby base station) which connects it to a large phone network. A cell phone offers us convenient conversation over long distances because it operates without wires. Is this a curse or a blessing? I'm not sure.

17. This 17th century bout began as the two participants entered the ring. In the blue corner was Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, who argued that light was a wave. Which scientist, who believed light to be a particle, was in the red corner?

From Quiz Light - Particle vs Wave

Answer: Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton is one of the world's most familiar and influential scientists. He had his finger in many pies, including calculus, the theories of gravity, optics and mechanics. One of Newton's biggest claims to fame was his three laws of motion as outlined in his "Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica", which was published in 1687. These laws are still taught internationally in schools and are the base of many physical principals. Indeed science itself was greatly influenced by Newton.

18. The unit of electrical charge was named after an 18th century French scientist who began his professional life as an engineer, but ended up devoting most of his time to studies in physics.

From Quiz Oh, That Hertz!

Answer: Coulomb

Charles Augustin de Coulomb was born in Angouleme, France, on the 14th of June, 1736. He was a qualified engineer whose work took him as far afield as Martinique in the West Indies. In the 1770s he began to devote most of his time to writing treatises on applied mechanics, which were highly thought-of by the French Academie de Sciences. Coulomb continued his research in this field, winning several prizes for his papers, which eventually saw him elected to a position in the mechanics section of the Academie de Sciences. From this point, Coulomb devoted all his time to the study of physics, in particular electricity and magnetism. He developed a theory of attraction and repulsion between bodies bearing the same and opposite electric charge; the theory for which he is best known today and remembered in the unit of electrical charge bearing his name.

19. Many ancient Greeks, starting with the philosopher Anaximenes, believed that the essence of life was this substance, related to the Greek word for 'breath'. Name the substance.

From Quiz Obsolete Science Terms

Answer: Pneuma

Anaximenes' 'pneuma' was very much similar to the later idea of 'ether' (see below), in that it was a substance which was essentially everywhere around us. The idea of 'pneuma' could have been the first attempt to grasp the concept of oxygen.

20. On February 8, 1600, Pope Clement VIII ordered the death sentence of which "heretic"?

From Quiz Modern Science History

Answer: Giordano Bruno

Bruno was given the option to retract his 'heretic views' publicly, but unlike Galileo in 1633, chose not to, and was burned at the stake.

21. Wilhelm Roentgen was surprised by his discovery of the X-ray in 1895. Which experiment was he working on when the unexpected outcome lit up a nearby fluorescent screen?

From Quiz Instrumental Outcomes

Answer: Properties of cathode tube radiation

In the 1860s it was discovered light would emit from a partial vacuum tube when a voltage was applied to an electron stream within the tube. More modern scientists have come to realize the light is the result of the electrons hitting atoms within the tube. As the 1890s technology for creating a greater vacuum increased, it was noticed the light did not start appearing at the emission end but rather closer to the other end or even the glass itself. Roentgen, not fully understanding why the light appeared where it did, was trying to see if he could have the light show up outside the tube. He designed an experiment where he completely covered the tube with opaque cardboard in the hope he could detect light beyond the cardboard. What Wilhelm did not expect is for a nearby fluorescent screen (for other experiments!) to light up despite the visible light from the cathode not being able to reach it. Intrigued, he discovered some solids blocked the fluorescent screen and was amazed when the newly discovered rays would go through his flesh but not his bones! Within a year of his discovery, doctors were already using this new tool to see inside the human body.

22. Spaniard Mathieu Orfila is an important figure in forensic science. In which area is he regarded as one of the founding fathers?

From Quiz At The Cutting Edge

Answer: Toxicology

Orfila was well versed in asphyxiation, the decomposition of bodies, and exhumation but it was in the field of toxicology that he really made his mark. The poison of choice during Orfila's lifetime was arsenic and there were no reliable tests to determine the presence of the poison in the human body, until he created new procedures, as outlined in his work, "Traité des poisons" (Treatise on Poisons) published in 1814. Orfila is also credited with being one of the first people to use a microscope to assess blood and semen stains.

23. The X-10 Graphite Reactor was built during the Manhattan Project in order to help produce weapons grade plutonium. Where in the United States was it located?

From Quiz Fission Commission

Answer: Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Following the success with Chicago Pile-1, the Manhattan Project team decided to construct a nuclear reactor in the town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee as part of the Y-12 National Security Complex. Workers who were brought in to the town to work on the project found themselves in a town shrouded in secrecy. The X-10 Graphite Reactor, which was then known as the Clinton Pile, reached criticality on November 4, 1943. The purpose of the reactor was to convert natural uranium into plutonium that would be used in atomic weapons. The reactor can be visited as part of tours of what is now the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

24. What accidental discovery was originally called "Kutol's Rainbow Modelling Compound"?

From Quiz When You're Wrong, You're Right

Answer: Play-Doh

"Play-Doh" didn't start out as a kids' toy. Instead, it was created by Noah McVicker, owner of a soap factory, as a wallpaper cleaner. In the days when coal was used for heating and cooking in many homes, walls became coated with soot. One way to remove it was to use a layer of clay - push it on the wall and pull it off complete with the soot. Unfortunately for Mr. McVicker, vinyl wallpaper was invented at around the same time as his wall clay, and it could be washed with water. A relative was a teacher and she gave some to her students. Apparently, they loved it, so the detergents were removed and colouring was added before the original name was changed to what we know today.

25. It certainly was not copper. Which element used in coinage was discovered in a substance known as "fake copper"?

From Quiz The Hidden Element

Answer: Nickel

Nickel was discovered by chemist Axel Frederik Cronstedt (1722-1765) in 1751. Nickel has the chemical symbol Ni and the atomic number 28. Beginning in the mid-1800s, nickel was be used as a component of an increasing number of world coins. The US five-cent piece is commonly known as a "nickel" because of the presence of this metal in its composition. The metal described as fake copper today is known as nickeline or niccolite and is about 44% nickel and 56% arsenic.

26. 1892: I'm using a "dial" to place a telephone call without talking to an operator. It's complicated, and the network has only 99 lines, but it's great when it works. Where does telephonic freedom ring?

From Quiz It Started Where?

Answer: La Porte, Indiana

By the late 1870s, commercial exchanges brought together multiple lines, but the connections were made manually by operators. The small town of La Porte, Indiana inaugurated the first automatic telephone exchange in 1892. The dialing device was invented by Almon Strowger, a former undertaker. Legend has it that Strowger's funeral business was hurt by a competitor, whose wife was the local telephone operator - she intercepted calls to Strowger's funeral home and sent them to her husband's telephone line.

27. In 1747, James Lind performed one of the first-ever clinical trials, aboard the ship HMS Salisbury. After two months at sea, a daily ration of two oranges and a lemon cured two sailors of what deadly illness?

From Quiz Eloquent Experiments

Answer: Scurvy

Scurvy is a disease of malnutrition. Unlike many other animals, human beings can't synthesize Vitamin C, but we do need it in order to make collagen, which is a critical protein in our connective tissues. Without Vitamin C, scurvy slowly develops, beginning with lethargy and continuing on through even worse symptoms, including bleeding gums, jaundice, convulsions, and death. Over time, greens and citrus fruits -- rich in Vitamin C -- gained a reputation as folk remedies for scurvy, but huge numbers of sailors and travelers still died of the disease. Lind (1716-1794) was the ship's doctor on the Salisbury when he took six pairs of sailors who were dying of scurvy, and added a different supplement to the diet of each pair -- a clinical trial of different remedies, and thus the forebear of modern medical research. The citrus fruits were the clear winner, although problems with cost and availability meant it would be decades more before citrus was routinely available to sailors.

28. What popularly used technology did Percy Spencer discover when a chocolate bar melted in his pocket?

From Quiz When all that's left is Serendipity

Answer: Microwave oven

While working at Raytheon in the 1940s, Percy stood near a magnatron (used for radar defense) for too long and noticed the chocolate bar in his pocket melted. He realized this technology would be useful when he successfully made popcorn. Eventually the home microwave was introduced in 1967 by Amana.

29. Starting in the late 1990s, major developments in knee replacements were introduced that utilized what advancement in computer technology to mimic knee function?

From Quiz We Can Make Him Better

Answer: Microprocessors

In 1997, the pioneering German prosthetic company Ottobock introduced the revolutionary C-Leg, a knee prosthesis that uses computers to vary pressure and resistance to mimic the movement of a patients' natural walk. The computer implanted in the artificial knee requires the use of a microprocessor to fit in the small space. The microprocessor in the unit analyses data from sensors designed to recognize knee angle in order to determine the type of motion desired by the patient. The microprocessor interprets the sensory signals to control the hydraulic cylinders in the knee-joint. Small changes in the levels of hydraulic fluid in the cylinder regulate the extension and compression of the piston connected to the tip of the knee. The microprocessor controlled prosthesis provides a more accurate approximation of the individual patients natural walking pattern. Improvements in the processors and knee-joints allow many patients to vary the speed of their movements and even to run. Similarly, the fast processing time can permit many patients to walk down stairs with a natural step-over-step approach without the need to stop and approach each step individually.

30. This prosthetic has been made famous in Hollywood movies, commonly associated with pirates. However, it actually originated in the Dark Ages, where only the wealthy could afford it for daily use. What prosthetic device was this?

From Quiz That's Right, It's Prosthetic

Answer: Wood leg

The Dark Ages saw the development of the wooden peg leg and the hand hook. Most commonly, prosthetics in the Dark Ages were used by knights who were injured in battle or by people with physical deformities. Knights often had prosthetics made and used for a specific task, such as holding a shield or riding a horse. Only the wealthiest people could afford peg legs or hook hands for everyday use. (Question by kaddarsgirl.)

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