2024 is winding to a close and 2025 is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate than with a science quiz!
This quiz contains (almost) all of the science trivia questions featured in Double Helix Extra throughout 2024. There’s over 100 science questions to discover!
To make the quiz more manageable, it only displays 10 questions at a time. If you want more trivia, hit the refresh button to bring up a brand new selection of brain-busting science.
Results
Well done! You’re a real science whiz!
Oh dear! better brush up before the next quiz!
#1. A tsunami is a giant ocean wave often caused by underwater earthquakes. Which country coined the word tsunami?
Tsunami comes from two Japanese words: “tsu” meaning port or harbour and “nami” meaning wave. Japan sits in a very geologically active place, meaning they are more likely than most other countries to experience earthquakes and tsunamis.
#2. What instrument do scientists use to detect earthquakes?
A seismograph is a scientific instrument that detects the seismic waves created by an earthquake. Seismic waves make the ground wiggle and a seismograph records these movements. The first seismographs were invented in the 1800’s.
#3. What amazing feat can axolotls do?
Axolotls have the amazing ability to regrow limbs. When an axolotl loses a limb, they form a blastema which is a big group of cells that form at the injury site. The blastema has the instructions for the old limb, and then grows a new one.
#4. RV Investigator is CSIRO’s 94-metre research ship that can patrol the ocean for 60 days at a time. Which of the following can it do while at sea?
CSIRO’s RV Investigator is equipped with high-tech sensors that can collect data both above and below the ship. This includes weather radar, water sampling equipment, and several sensors that use sound to detect the ocean floor or even schools of fish.
#5. True or false? Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and geologists discover more than 50 new minerals each year.
True. But first, what’s a mineral? A mineral has a specific chemical formula with atoms arranged in a crystal pattern. For example, diamonds are minerals made of carbon atoms arranged in tetrahedrons (like the points of a pyramid). There are more than 6,000 known minerals and about 50–100 new ones are described each year.
#6. True or false? Poo is brown because the digestive system mixes the pigments from all the foods you ate.
Nearly all the pigments in your food get digested, broken down or absorbed before they become poo (red from beetroot being one exception). Poo is always brown because your body is always getting rid of old red blood cells. As part of that process, a brown chemical called stercobilin comes out of your intestine and into your poo!
#7. True or false? The Sun was warmer when Earth first formed about 4.5 billion years ago.
False. The early Sun was actually about 25% dimmer and cooler than today. Despite this, there is evidence of liquid water on early Earth. Scientists are still not sure how Earth was warm enough for water, but greenhouse gases likely played a role.
#8. How many rock-wallaby species are there?
Rock-wallaby is the common name for a genus of wallabies, which is unusually rich in species. Rock-wallabies often live in rocky, rugged terrain, which provides protection from predators. There are at least 17 species recognised.
#9. Which of the following animal species has the longest lifespan?
Bowhead whales are one of the longest-living animals on Earth. They regularly live to over 200 years! African elephants can live to be in their 70’s while naked mole-rats are long-lived for rodents (they get to their late 30’s). Giant tortoises regularly live beyond 100 years.
#10. What type of animal is an axolotl?
Amphibian. Axolotls are amphibians because they can breathe in water through their gills, as well as out of water through their lungs.
Want even more? Try past megaquizzes: