Art, Nature, and Superstitions Quiz

Banksy's London Art Series 2024

• Banksy unveiled a series of animal artworks in London from August 5th to 13th, 2024.
• The artworks featured various animals, including a mountain goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, and a gorilla.
• Each artwork was posted on Banksy's Instagram.
• London Zoo displayed a Banksy mural depicting a gorilla releasing a sea lion and birds, which was later preserved.

Big Basin Redwood State Park Fire Recovery

• In 2020, a massive fire (CZU Lightning Complex Fire) scorched 97% of Big Basin Redwood State Park.
• The park's redwood trees, despite apparent devastation, exhibited remarkably fast regrowth.
• Research by Drew Peltier et al discovered two adaptive strategies:
  • Stored energy from past leaf photosynthesis, potentially decades old.
  • Dormant bud tissue enabling leaf regrowth from the tree's core.

Friday the 13th Superstition

• Friday the 13th is widely perceived as unlucky by many worldwide, with over 20 million Americans experiencing anxiety.
• Theories for the superstition include :
  • The perceived 'incompleteness' of 13 following 12.
  • A Scandinavian legend involving the Norse god Loki and the death of Balder.
  • Biblical associations, including Jesus' crucifixion, the Last Supper, the temptation of Adam and Eve, and Cain killing Abel.
• Despite the superstition, a 2008 study found no statistical correlation with increased accidents, fires, or thefts.

Climeworks Mammoth DAC Plant

• The Mammoth DAC plant, the world's largest direct air capture (DAC) plant, began operating in Iceland on May 8, 2024.
• It uses fans and specialized filters to capture carbon dioxide (CO2).
• CO2 is processed and stored deep underground via a geothermal-powered process that prevents carbon emissions.
• Mammoth's capacity is 39,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing over 7,000 cars from the road.
• Critics point to the expense and potential distraction from reducing reliance on fossil fuels, while proponents underscore the importance of complementing reduction efforts.

SpaceX Polaris Dawn Mission

• The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, the first of three under the Polaris program, completed on September 15, 2024.
• This all-civilian crew mission reached a record high altitude of 870 miles above Earth.
• The mission evaluated the impact of increased radiation on the Dragon capsule and its crew for future lunar and deep-space missions.
• A pioneering, successful civilian spacewalk was also performed.

Herculaneum Scrolls Decryption

• Hundreds of papyrus scrolls were discovered in a Herculaneum mansion in Italy, largely preserved due to 79 AD’s Vesuvius eruption oxygen-lacking conditions.
• In 2009, scans were developed that allowed for internal images without physical unwrapping.
• An international digital decipherment competition (Vesuvius Challenge) was launched, facilitating contributions and identifying words with the goal of eventually decrypting all the passages.
• The first word, "porphyras," (Greek for purple), was decoded by a student in 2023.

Alex Morgan Soccer Retirement

• American soccer star Alex Morgan retired from professional soccer on September 5, 2024.
• This was due to her pregnancy and desire to focus on her family.
• Her career includes 22 World Cup appearances, 16 Olympic matches, and a pivotal role in the USWNT's championships.
• Morgan and 28 other USWNT players sued the federation for equal pay and treatment, which was won.

Bronze Sword in Egyptian Military Fort

• Egyptian archeologists unearthed a bronze sword inscribed with the insignia of Ramses II, buried for over 3,000 years, in Tell Al-Abqain, Egypt, in 2024.
• This suggests the fort was potentially well-defended and possibly contained a weapons production area.
• Artifacts also uncovered include storerooms, ovens, food remains, jewelry, and kohl applicators, providing insight into daily life.

Hurricane Helene 2024

• Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida on September 26, 2024, resulting in record rainfall and widespread damage.
• Officials confirmed 170 storm-related deaths and many injured/missing.
• Damage to the Asheville, North Carolina area, especially Chimney Rock, was severe due to the downpour's cumulative effect.

Earthworm Impact on Plant Growth

• Two studies revealed that earthworms contribute significantly to global grain production — from 6.5% or 140 million tons annually (similar to Russia's grain harvest.)
• Earthworms enhance soil quality, enabling better plant growth through aeration, nutrient distribution, and prevention of microplastic harm.

Spider's Manipulation of Firefly Signals

• A species of orb-weaver spider, Araneus ventricosus, manipulates male firefly signals to increase its prey capture rate.
• Female fireflies emit single flashes, while males use multiple flashes. The spiders cause the fireflies to alter their signal to a single flash to attract them, capturing more male fireflies while keeping them alive for longer.

US Presidential Election 2024

• The United States Presidential election took place on November 5, 2024.
• Donald Trump was elected as president.
• The Electoral College is a system for electing presidents, where states vote for candidates based on the popular vote of their constituents.

Greenland Landslide and Tsunami

• An unusually large landslide and tsunami occurred in Greenland's Dickson Fjord in September 2023.
• The seismic waves, caused by the confined impact of a mega tsunami within a fjord, continued for nine days, registering on earthquake sensors worldwide.
• Research suggests rising temperatures in Greenland caused the landslide.

Octopuses as Leaders in Hunting Packs

• Octopuses, particularly big blue octopuses, exhibit leadership roles in hunting packs.
• They organize and direct groups of fish to hunt and trap prey within crevices, increasing hunting efficiency.

November Beaver Moon 2024

• The November full moon, the Beaver Moon, is this year's last supermoon.
• The November supermoon is 14% larger and 30% brighter than an average full moon.

Drone Recharging Technology

• A drone recharges itself while airborne via magnetic circuits from overhead power lines, using internal computer systems/radar.

Ancient Silver Coins Discovered

• Metal detectorists unearthed the "Chew Valley Hoard" in Britain — 2,584 silver pennies dating from 1066–1068, minted in England.
• The hoard was purchased in 2024 by the South West Heritage Trust, likely hidden for safekeeping due to 11th-century England's political unrest.

First Wooden Satellite

• LignoSat, made from wood, became the world's first wood-based satellite by reaching the ISS in November 2024.
• The mission aims to test the wood's resilience in space to reduce space junk.

Student-Built Rocket Altitude Record

• Aftershock II, a rocket built by USC Rocket Propulsion Lab students, achieved a record altitude of 470,000 feet (143.3 km), surpassing the 20-year-old record of 380,000 feet.

Winter Solstice 2024

• The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere — December 21, 2024 — marks the shortest day and longest night.
• Ancient cultures viewed the solstice as a time of renewal, often marked by solstice celebrations.