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Physics World Quiz, Temple Circus, Temple Way, Bristol BS1 6BE, UK
hoặc e-mail pwld@iop.org.
Hạn chót nhận bài là ngày Thứ sáu, 13 tháng 1 năm 2012 (chọn ngày cũng hay ghê!).
Người thắng cuộc sẽ là người có những câu trả lời đúng nhất. Trong trường hợp khó chọn, ban tổ chức sẽ chọn ra người thắng giải bằng cách... bốc thăm may mắn!
Picture round
Question A
This "off" button was pushed for the final time in September. Where is it located?
Question B
This quasiparticle could help explain why graphene and window curtains wrinkle in a similar way. What is it called?
Question C
A funding shortfall sent this telescope into "hibernation mode" in April. What is its name?
Question D
Which Hollywood actress (pictured) did Stephen Hawking call his "heartthrob" while on a visit to Caltech?
Launches and lurches
1. NASA's Glory satellite failed on take-off in March. What was its intended mission?
2. The US space agency had better luck with its MESSENGER spacecraft, which began orbiting which planet later that month?
3. Construction of a new underwater neutrino telescope, the Gigaton Volume Detector, began in May. Where is it being built?
4. Which telescope was damaged in July by a cooling-system leak?
5. China launched an experimental space lab called Tiangong-1 in September as a test craft for a future manned space station. What does "Tiangong" mean in English?
Spot that reference
6. What was CERN boss Rolf-Dieter Heuer referring to when he noted that "almost everyone" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was "busy with their quantum-mechanical, relativistic machines"?
(A. iPads B. Mobile phones C. Swiss watches)
7. What did Brian Cox cite as "the reason [he's] been able to make programmes" about science for the BBC?
(A. An incredible amount of luck B. A talent for explaining complex subjects C. A degree and a PhD)
8. What activity did US energy secretary Steven Chu praise as "a good release"?
(A. Writing research papers B. Martial arts C. Aligning lasers)
9. What did theoretical physicist Steven Weinberg call "the best game in town" before adding that "it may not be the right game"?
(A. Weakly interacting massive particles B. String theory C. Superluminal neutrinos)
10. "We wish we were able to eat the cucumbers, but we have not been allowed." What is keeping Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa from snacking on the vegetables?
(A. They are part of a microgravity experiment B. They were contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear accident C. They are "virtual vegetables" displayed on a screen)
Says who?
Match the quotes to the people who said them.
11. "By complete chance I met a particle physician last night."
12. "For a woman, you probably have to go abroad while you are young and before you get attached to somebody and a family."
13. "What [students] need is a rooting in the basic scientific principles, Newton's laws of thermodynamics and Boyle's law."
14. "This year the LHC is going to explore virgin territory. Whether there are any virgins in that territory, however, is an altogether different question."
15. "Maybe it is progress that Barbie is at last allowed to aspire to be a computer engineer."
A. Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astronomer
B. David Cameron, UK prime minister
C. Athene Donald, soft-matter biological physicist
D. John Ellis, particle physicist
E. Michael Gove, UK secretary of state for education
Things that make you go "Hmm..."
16. According to researchers Ralph Kenna and Bertrand Berche, what is the optimum size for a group of experimental physicists?
(A. 13 B. 25 C. 42 D. The answer varied by sub-field)
17. What forced US confectioner Candy Dynamics to stop distributing its "Nuclear Sludge" bars?
(A. Public outcry after the Fukushima nuclear accident B. The bars contained actual radioactive material C. The bars contained elevated levels of lead D. It was sued for trademark violation)
18. What activity landed amateur physicist Richard Handl in trouble with the law?
(A. Building a nuclear reactor in his kitchen B. Creating antimatter in his shed C. Impersonating a Nobel laureate at a conference D. Harassing journal editors who refused to publish his work)
19. What celestial object spurred officials in Tynemouth, UK, to scramble a lifeboat and a helicopter before they realized it was not a distress flare?
(A. The Leonids meteor shower B. The comet Elenin C. The planet Jupiter D. A rare atmospheric phenomenon called a "moon dog")
20. In addition to its scientific instruments, NASA's Juno spacecraft (launched in August) carries a LEGO figurine of which famous astronomer?
(A. Nicolaus Copernicus B. Tycho Brahe C. Johannes Kepler D. Galileo Galilei)
Nguồn: physicsworld.com (link gốc)
