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. Which of the following is a downside of polymer banknotes?
Polymer banknotes are harder to fold compared to paper money. But that trade-off comes with lots of benefits. Polymer banknotes are waterproof and can’t be easily ripped. Polymer banknotes last at least 2.5 times longer than paper and they more recyclable than paper banknotes.
#2. 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.
#3. 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.
#4. 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.
#5. True or false? If solid water is dropped into liquid water, the solid water sinks to the bottom.
False. Ice floats! It happens with big icebergs in lakes and oceans, and with little ice cubes in a refreshing glass of water.
#6. In geometry, what is the name for a 5-pointed star?
The word pentagram comes from Ancient Greek. Penta- means five and -gram means drawing. A pentagram can be drawn with five straight lines, without lifting your pencil. A hexagram is a six-sided star. A pentagon is a five-sided shape. A rhombus is a four-sided shape whose sides are all equal.
#7. Which of the following teamed-up tech companies are developing self-driving cars?
All of these are famous tech teams competing to create the first cars that can drive without any human assistance. Other famous self-driving car companies include Tesla, General Motors, Ford, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. It’s quite the race!
#8. Which of the following pieces of hardware help protect your digital files?
USB security keys are computer chips that are specially designed to hold passwords and be tamper resistant. Biometric scanners are also hardware that use your body as a type of password. Last but not least, your house’s locks physically protect your devices!
#9. Which of the following is NOT considered part of your digital footprint?
At least for now, our real-time conversations are not recorded and uploaded! It is important to know that our digital footprint consists of active activities like posting to social media, sending emails and shopping online. It also consists of passive activities like information collected while visiting websites that use cookies.
#10. True or false? Scientists have linked climate change to more frequent earthquakes.
True! Climate change is increasing rainfall and glacial melt, both of which change the weight sitting on top of the Earth’s crust. More weight stabilises the crust but when it disappears, the land rebounds and more earthquakes occur.
Want even more? Try past megaquizzes:
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