A Gallery of Irises Trivia Quiz

Answer: rainbows

As a messenger of the gods, Iris often served as a link between the immortal beings in heaven and the mortals on the earth. The rainbow was seen as Iris's pathway to get from one to the other. She was especially connected to Hera, acting as her personal messenger much like Hermes did for Zeus.

Her ability to travel swiftly from realm to realm became important during godly conflicts, such as the Titanomachy.

Answer: bearded irises

Bearded irises are known for the fuzzy, beard-like hairs that grow along the center of their petals, called "falls." These hairs help guide pollinators, such as bees, toward the flower's nectar and reproductive structures, increasing the chance of successful pollination.

Species like Iris germanica and its many hybrids, widely grown in gardens for their colorful blooms, are the best-known examples of bearded irises. In contrast, species such as Siberian irises (Iris sibirica) and Japanese irises (Iris ensata) do not have beards; instead, they use smooth or patterned petals to attract pollinators.

Answer: Rape of Nanjing

Iris Chang's 1997 book "The Rape of Nanking" (the former spelling for "Nanjing") brought worldwide attention to the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in the Chinese city of Nanjing in 1937, when hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed and many women were assaulted. The book quickly made Chang famous, as it was one of the first major English-language works to detail the event for a broad audience.

While it was praised for exposing a neglected part of history, some historians criticized the book for factual errors and a lack of balance. Its publication led to several threats against Chang from Japanese ultranationalists until her death in 2004.

Answer: Siberian Husky

Many huskies may have one blue eye and one brown eye, or even eyes that are partly two colors. This trait is not considered a defect but a normal and accepted part of the breed. The trait is so common within the breed that the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes heterochromia as a standard feature in Siberian Huskies.

Answer: diabetes

High blood sugar levels can harm the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy, but the iris can also be affected. In advanced cases, a condition called rubeosis iridis can occur, where abnormal blood vessels grow on the surface of the iris.

This can progress to neovascular glaucoma, in which the new vessels block the normal drainage of fluid from the eye. The resulting rise in eye pressure may cause pain and, if left untreated, permanent vision loss.

Answer: Geoffrey de Havilland

Geoffrey de Havilland was best known for founding the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1920. Early in his career, before achieving fame in aviation, he designed his first aero engine and commissioned the short-lived Iris Motor Company to build it for him. This collaboration produced what became known as the Iris engine, which powered his earliest aircraft experiments.

Although the Iris company itself did not last, the experience de Havilland gained from designing and testing engines helped shape his later success in building numerous aircraft, including the famous de Havilland Mosquito of World War II.

Answer: Google

Project Iris was Google's secret development project from around 2021 to early 2023, focused on making a sleek augmented reality headset that looked more like ordinary eyeglasses. It was ultimately cancelled in mid-2023, after prototypes were shown in 2022 and while competing mixed-reality products (like Apple's Vision Pro) were gaining ground.

This followed Google's earlier failure with Google Glass, which launched in 2013 and was later discontinued amid criticism over privacy concerns and limited appeal.

Answer: Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh painted "Irises" in 1889 during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where he admitted himself after struggling with mental health crises. The asylum provided him with a small room as well as access to its walled garden, which became a source of inspiration and comfort. Van Gogh was influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, which inspired him in his use of bold colors and flat areas of space.

Answer: nebula

The Iris Nebula, also known as NGC 7023, is a reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. It was discovered in 1794 by the astronomer William Herschel, who cataloged many nebulae and star clusters. The nebula is about 1,300 light years away and is best observed from the Northern Hemisphere, where its position in the sky makes it more visible. Because it reflects the light of a nearby young star rather than producing its own, the Iris Nebula appears with a bluish glow.

Answer: shrinks in size

The iris-out is a classic cinematography technique where the visible image gradually shrinks into a closing circle until the screen goes completely dark. This effect was commonly used in silent films as a way to signal the end of a scene or the entire film.

It was also popular in early animation and is sometimes used in modern cinematography, though often as a throwback to earlier film eras.