X-Mix Trivia Quiz

Answer: Xerox

The company that we know today as Xerox began as The Haloid Photographic Company in 1906. American inventor Chester Carlson developed the process that Xerox would use in its photocopy machines. This process originally known as electrophotography was later renamed xerography, with the name originating from the Greek words "xeros" (dry) and "graphia" (writing).

The Haloid Photographic Company would change its name to Haloid Xerox in 1958 and would change its name again in 1961 to Xerox Corporation.

The company began building its photocopy reputation with the release of the highly successful Xerox 914 model, which was introduced in 1959. The word xerox has since been added to many prominent dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster.

Answer: XNA

XNA is the IATA code for Northwest Arkansas National Airport. The airport serves the cities of Fayetteville, Springdale and most notably Bentonville, which is where the corporate offices of Walmart, Inc. are located. The store in the photograph is of Walton's Five and Dime, which was opened by Walmart's founder Sam Walton in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 1945.

This small store paved the way for the more thousands of Walmart superstores that are currently scattered across the entire globe. The other three airport codes all belong to airports located in China. XMN is the IATA code for Xiamen, XIY is the code for Xi'an and XNN is the code for the city of Xining.

Answer: Eris

The dwarf planet that we know today as Eris was discovered on January 5, 2005 by astronomers Mike Brown, Chad Trujillo and David Rabinowitz. Eris was discovered using instruments at the Palomar Observatory located near the city of San Diego, California. Eris was originally designated as 2003 UB313 and was later given the unofficial name of Xena, after the main character of the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess". Eris' moon, which was discovered several months after the dwarf planet, was given the temporary name of Gabrielle, named after Xena's sidekick in the television series. Eris' size and location in addition to the discovery of other similar sized bodies led to Eris being classified as a dwarf planet along with Ceres and Pluto. It was given its official name Eris by the IAU on September 16, 2006, named after the Greek goddess of discord. Eris' moon was renamed Dysnomia.

The photograph of Eris was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Answer: Los Angeles Xtreme

In 1999, Vince McMahon, chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) attempted to create a new football league dubbed the XFL (Xtreme Football League). The initial run of the league failed after only one season. The original league consisted of eight teams.

The season began on February 3, 2001 (one week after Super Bowl XXXV) and concluded on April 21, 2001 when the Los Angeles Xtreme defeated the San Francisco Demons to claim the initial league's only championship. The original XFL would fold shortly after.

A new version of the XFL would later be relaunched in 2019 only to fold again due to Covid-19, which cut its debut season short. The photograph was taken at Los Angeles International Airport, whose IATA code is LAX, the same initials as the Los Angeles Xtreme.

Answer: Wilhelm Roentgen

On November 8, 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-radiation or x-rays after experimenting with Crookes tubes (a glass tube that allowed for experiments using electricity and magnets). X-rays would later become a vital tool in the medical field as they allow doctors to better diagnose injuries and abnormalities inside the body without having to cut a person open to find out.

The photograph depicts the first attempt to use x-rays on a human being. Wilhelm Roentgen took an x-ray of his wife's hand including her rings.

This would not be allowed today as metal rings would block the x-rays from getting a clear picture a persons insides. Safety precautions are also in place today to protect doctors and patients from getting radiation burns or cancer as a result of x-ray exposure.

Answer: X-Warriors

Marvel released the first issue of "X-Men" in September, 1963. The "X-Men" were led by Professor Charles Xavier, a mutant with telepathic abilities. Other notable members of the "X-Men" include Cyclops, Wolverine and Storm. The "X-Men" series has since expanded to include animated television programs as well as a series of blockbuster movies. "X-Factor" is a Marvel superhero faction that debuted in February, 1986. "X-Factor" was a spinoff faction that originated from the "X-Men" universe. Notable members of "X-Factor" include Havok (Cyclops' brother) and Quicksilver. "X-Force", another spinoff faction of the "X-Men" debuted in April, 1991. Notable members of "X-Force" include Cable, Domino and Deadpool.

There is no "X-Warriors" faction in the Marvel universe, but there is a faction named the "New Warriors", which debuted in December, 1989.

Answer: Sigma

"Mega Man X" was the first of a spinoff series based on CAPCOM's successful "Mega Man" franchise. Mega Man X was built by scientist Dr. Light, who also created the original Mega Man. Mega Man X was sealed away for a century and was revived in a future where robots (reploids) co-inhabited the Earth with humans.

The primary villain of the X series was Sigma, a powerful reploid who went "maverick" and turned other maverick robots against humanity. The cause of the revolt was revealed to be a virus created by the evil Dr. Wily, the main antagonist of the original "Mega Man" series.

The photograph depicts Sigma 7, a spacecraft used during Project Mercury of the American space program. The mission was flown on October 3, 1962 with astronaut Wally Schirra as its pilot.

Answer: X-15

The North American X-15 was an experimental aircraft that first flew on June 8, 1959. A total of twelve test pilots were involved with the X-15 project including future Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong who was a test pilot with the United States Air Force prior to becoming an astronaut.

The aircraft was dropped from an escort aircraft where it would fire its engine, subjecting its pilots to extreme altitudes and speeds. The highest altitude achieved by the X-15 was 59.6 miles above sea level. The X-15 also achieved speeds in excess of 4,000 mph. Only three X-15s were ever built. One of them is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. while another is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

The third was destroyed when the aircraft crashed on November 15, 1967, killing its pilot Michael J. Adams.

Answer: The Smashing Pumpkins

"... and in the eyes of a jackal I say KABOOM!!". The song "X.Y.U." was released by The Smashing Pumpkins in 1995 as part of their album "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness". The song is one of, if not the heaviest song of the album, contrasting lighter songs such as "1979" and "Tonight, Tonight".

In the song, Billy Corgan sings a macabre version of the children's song "Mary Had a Little Lamb" which is meshed within the rest of the song's lyrics. The photograph featuring a watermelon and a border collie hopefully helped lead you to the correct answer here.

Answer: her skin was dry

When the doctor told my grandmother she had xerotic skin, it was not intended to be a pick-up line. The word "xerotic" or "xerosis" is derived from the term "xeroderma," a word of Greek origin which translates to "dry skin". Having xerotic skin would mean that your skin is abnormally dry and may require some lotion to help moisturize the skin.

There are more severe conditions featuring the words xerosis and xeroderma, such as xerotic eczema, a dry skin condition which may require more invasive treatment.

There is also xeroderma pigmentosum, a genetic disorder that makes a person more vulnerable to sunburns.