Environmental Research and Challenges Quiz

Earth Day 2024: Planet vs. Plastics

• Celebrated annually on April 22nd, focusing on environmental protection.
• Global movement began in 1970 with Gaylord Nelson mobilizing 20 million people.
• Earth Day Network (EDN) has over 50,000 partners in 190+ countries.
• Key environmental laws resulting from EDN's efforts include the Clean Water Act (1972), Endangered Species Act (1973), and the Paris Agreement (2015).
• 2024 theme is "Planet vs. Plastics," highlighting the annual production of 380 million tons of plastic, 50% for single-use purposes.
• EDN demands a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040.
• Four ways to achieve this goal include raising public awareness of plastic health risks (cancer, marine wildlife deaths), phasing out single-use plastics by 2030, implementing policies to end fast fashion, and corporate investment in sustainable substitutes.

Nova Outburst in 2024

• NASA predicts a nova outburst visible to the naked eye sometime before September 2024.
• Novae occur in binary star systems: a red giant and a white dwarf.
• Material shed by the red giant accumulates on the white dwarf, eventually exploding in a burst of energy.
• The upcoming T Coronae Borealis nova, located 3,000 light-years away, has a periodic outburst roughly every 80 years.
• The last outburst occurred in 1946.
• The explosion is due to the red giant's shedding of material, accumulating on the white dwarf, causing an eruption.

Taiwan Earthquake 2024

• 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan's east coast on April 3, 2024, causing 13 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries.
• Strongest quake to hit the island in 25 years.
• Preemptive measures, including sensors and drills, significantly reduced casualties compared to the 1999 7.7 earthquake (2,400 deaths).
• Strict building codes, aiding resident escape, were another factor.
• Taiwan's advanced earthquake preparedness is attributed to strict building codes, a robust seismological network, and public education.
• Earthquakes are frequent in Taiwan due to its location on the Ring of Fire, where 90% of the world's earthquakes occur.

Long Island Woman's Solo Circumnavigation

• Cole Brauer (29, Long Island, NY), completed the Global Solo Challenge, first American woman to sail solo around the world without stopping in 130 days.
• Faced 30-foot waves and dehydration.
• Route included Africa's Cape of Good Hope, Australia's Cape Leeuwin, and South America's Cape Horn (challenging as Mount Everest).

Chimpanzee Military Tactics

• Chimpanzees employ human-like military tactics to evaluate risk and expand territories.
• Observations on two western chimpanzee groups in West Africa's Tai National Park (2013–2016), with GPS trackers, recorded for 8–12 hours daily.
• Patrolled territory edges, seeking higher ground for observation.
• Tactics reveal complex cognitive abilities.

Revolutionary War Sketch Discovery

• Revolutionary War sketch (1777), depicting two women and a baby in a horse-drawn carriage with Continental Army soldiers, discovered in a private collection after 40 years.
• Sketch details the North Carolina Brigade's passage through Philadelphia in 1777.
• Highlights women's vital role in supporting the Continental Army.
• Artist identified as Pierre Eugene du Simitiere.

Crab Spider Cooperation

• Crab spiders, male and female, cooperate to camouflage and resemble a single flower to catch prey.
• First example of cooperation mimicry in any species.
• Female crab spiders commonly camouflage themselves to blend with flowers.

New Ichthyosaur Species

• New, massive ichthyosaur species (Ichthyotitan severnensis) discovered by a father-daughter team on Blue Anchor Beach, England.
• Fossil found in spring 2020; complete lower jaw reconstructed in 2022.
• Estimated at 80 feet long, among the largest marine animals.

Periodical Cicada Emergence

• Trillions of noisy cicadas emerging in 16 US states, with two broods (13-year and 17-year) overlapping.
• Unusual event, last occurred in 1803.
• Cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years (prime numbers) to reproduce.
• Avoidance of predictable prey periods is a key feature of their life cycle.
• Harmless to humans, might damage young trees.

Paris 2024 Olympics New Sports

• Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will include breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing.
• Breaking makes major debut with two events for men and women.
• Surfing returns from Tokyo 2020 (Tahiti).
• Skateboarding includes park and street disciplines.
• Sport climbing features bouldering, speed climbing, and lead climbing (bouldering and lead combined for overall medal).

Sumatran Orangutan Healing

• Sumatran orangutan, Rakus, observed using a liana plant to treat a cheek wound.
• First known example of a wild animal actively using a medicinal plant for wound treatment.
• Sophisticated cognitive abilities shown.

Tornado Outbreak 2024

• Above-average tornado outbreak in April and May 2024, with over 300 tornadoes reported.
• One death and numerous structures damaged by an EF-4 tornado in Marietta, OK, significant damage in Minden, IA.
• Tornado Alley (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, etc.) is highly susceptible to tornadoes.
• Tornadoes form when cold, dry air meets warm, moist air, causing rotation and creating a low-pressure area.

Zombie Fires in Canada

• Canada experienced record-breaking wildfires in 2023, with over 6,500 blazes.
• "Zombie" fires (holdover fires) reappeared when snow began to melt.
• Emergence linked to vegetation, lack of snowfall, and potentially lightning.
• Difficult to detect and pose a challenge to firefighters.

NASA's X-59 Aircraft

• NASA's X-59 aircraft, designed for quiet supersonic flight, aims to revolutionize air travel.
• Design reduces shock waves (sonic booms).
• Testing to be done in California and over select cities to gather community feedback.

Floating City Project (N-Ark)

• Japan's N-Ark project aims to build a self-sufficient floating city, Dogen City, to combat rising sea levels.
• Dogen City will be 1 mile in diameter and house 10,000 inhabitants.
• Includes food production, healthcare, and space tourism facilities.

Personalized Cancer Vaccines

• Dr. Catherine Wu and her team are developing custom cancer vaccines tailored to each person's unique cancer characteristics.
• Approach utilizes the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.
• Initial trial results demonstrated effectiveness of personalized vaccines.

Sphere Entertainment Venue

• The Sphere in Las Vegas is a new entertainment venue designed for dynamic performances.
• 366 ft. tall structure integrates advanced technology into the performance.
• Features a massive wrap-around LED screen, advanced audio system, and seating for 17,500.
• Hosts "The Sphere Experience," interactive programs with humanoid robots.

Cheese Rolling Competition

• Thousands gather at Cooper's Hill, England, yearly for the Cheese Rolling competition.
• Event involves running down a steep hill to catch a rolling cheese wheel.
• Four downhill races (men's and women's) and three uphill races (kids and adults) comprise the competition.

First Female President of Mexico

• Claudia Sheinbaum became the first female president of Mexico in 2024.
• First Jewish leader in the primarily Catholic nation.
• Climate scientist, focused on transitioning to clean energy.
• Aims to tackle country's violence through increased security.

Chang'e 6 Lunar Probe

• China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe returned soil samples from the Moon's far side, a historic first.
• Planted a flag on the Moon's surface.
• Samples will be used for research on the Moon's evolution.
• Future lunar exploration plans include water and resource extraction.

2024 US Gymnastics Team Success

• American gymnastics teams won a substantial number of medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• US men's team won a bronze medal.
• Team captain Brody Malone overcame prior injuries for the success.

18th-Century Bottles Found at Mount Vernon

• Archaeologists unearthed 35 glass bottles containing preserved cherries and berries from George Washington's Mount Vernon home.
• Likely stored during the Revolutionary War era.
• Provides insights into culinary practices of that time.

Elephant Naming

• Elephants show evidence of assigning names to each other.
• First non-human species to exhibit this capability.
• Researchers observed specific calls directed at specific elephants, using machine learning tools to analyze audio.

Herculaneum Beach Restoration

• Herculaneum beach, buried by Mount Vesuvius's 79 AD eruption, has been restored.
• Provides a glimpse into ancient daily life/interactions (79 AD).
• Visitors can see original 79 AD beach environment.

Florida Carpenter Ant Surgery

• A new study reveals that Florida carpenter ants perform life-saving surgeries on injured nestmates.
• Injured ants treated for different injuries (muscle tissue).
• Ants receiving amputations or cleaning have significantly better survival than those not treated.

Large Diamond Discovery in Botswana

• 2,492-carat diamond discovered in Botswana in 2024, the second-largest ever found.

Boeing Starliner Spacecraft Return

• NASA's Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth uncrewed due to helium leaks and thruster failures.
• Crew will return aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Banksy Animal Art Series

• Banksy unveiled a series of animal artworks in London (August 5-13, 2024).
• Artworks placed at various locations throughout London.

Redwood Tree Recovery

• Big Basin Redwood State Park, scorched by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, began to sprout green needles quickly (2020).
• Remarkable resilience due to thick bark and energy storage.
• Full recovery will take years; 90% of charred trees showing regrowth.

Friday the 13th Superstition

• Friday the 13th considered an unlucky day by many worldwide.
• Reasons include superstitions about the number 13 and historical events coinciding with the date.
• Many businesses attempt to offset negative economic impact with discounts and promotions.

Climeworks' Mammoth DAC Plant

• Climeworks' Mammoth DAC plant, the world's largest, turned on in May 2024.
• Direct air capture (DAC) plant captures CO2 emissions for reduced atmospheric carbon.
• Uses geothermal energy, no carbon emissions.
• Critics argue DAC plants are expensive.

SpaceX Polaris Dawn Mission

• SpaceX's Polaris Dawn (first of three Polaris missions) successfully completed, with civilian astronauts.
• Broke higher-than-ever altitude records, first civilian spacewalk.
• Data valuable for future missions (lunar, deep space).

Herculaneum Scrolls

• Thousands of papyrus scrolls, unearthed in a Herculaneum mansion's library, are being decoded through advanced AI programs.
• Scrolls provide valuable insight into ancient life and philosophy.
• Global competition accelerates decoding process.

Alex Morgan's Retirement

• Alex Morgan, prominent American soccer player, retired from professional soccer in 2024.
• Won back-to-back FIFA Women's World Cup titles.
• Played pivotal role in the US Women's National Team (USWNT), inspiring a generation.

Bronze Sword of Ramses II

• Egyptian archaeologists discovered a bronze sword inscribed with Ramses II's insignia in a 3,000-year-old fort in Egypt.
• Belonged to a prominent military official.

Hurricane Helene 2024

• Hurricane Helene made landfall as a dangerous Category 4 storm in Florida (September 26, 2024). - Most powerful hurricane to hit the region since record-keeping began (1851).
• Widespread damage, including significant flooding, resulted in many deaths.
• Weakened to a tropical storm soon after landfall.
• Brought torrential rains, generating numerous tornadoes.
• Strong winds and floodwaters washed away roads, destroyed countless buildings/homes/vehicles.
• Millions lost power/cell service.
• 170 storm-related deaths confirmed (October 2, 2024) (potentially higher).

Earthworm Impact on Plant Growth Studies

• Recent studies highlight earthworms' impact on plant growth and resilience to microplastics.
• Earthworms contribute significantly to global food production.
• Earthworms create channels, aerating soil, aiding water drainage and nutrient availability.
• Studies provide a broader perspective on soil health and interaction with sustainable methods.

Spider Manipulating Firefly Signals

• Crafty orb-weaver spider species (Araneus ventricosus) manipulates male firefly mating signals to increase prey capture.
• Spiders modify firefly light signals to attract more fireflies.
• Observed in China, Japan, and Korea.
• Female fireflies emit single flashes, males use two flashes.
• Spiders wrap fireflies in light silk for better visibility of flashes.
• Male fireflies kept alive longer than other prey, only emitting single flashes, mimicking females, near spiders.
• Spiders likely use venom to alter normal flashing behavior by interfering with oxygen supply.

US Presidential Election 2024

• US Presidential election scheduled for November 5, 2024.
• Two candidates: Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
• Winning Electoral College (270 votes), not just popular vote, is essential to secure presidency.
• Electoral College comprises electors.
• Each state has electoral votes based on senators and House representatives.
• Larger states have more electors. Smaller states have a minimum of three.
• Winner-takes-all system in most states.
• President's term begins January 20 of the following year.
• This year, President Trump faced legal challenges associated with his role as president.

Greenland Landslide and Tsunami (2023)

• A large landslide and tsunami in East Greenland (Dickson Fjord) caused a worldwide seismic event that lasted for nine days (September 16, 2023).
• The landslide dumped millions of cubic yards of material into the fjord.
• This triggered a significant 650-foot tsunami, but the prolonged shaking was attributed to a seiche (standing wave) in the narrow fjord.
• Scientists linked the landslide to rising Greenland temperatures and glacier melt.

Banksy's London Animal Art Series

• Banksy created a series of animal artworks in London between August 5 and 13, 2024.
• Appearing gradually, the artwork portrayed different animals in various locations.
• Included a mountain goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, and a rhino.
• The final piece appeared on the shutters of the London Zoo, featuring a gorilla freeing a sea lion and birds.
• Zoo officials preserved the artwork by replacing the shutter with a photo.

Big Basin Redwood Recovery

• Big Basin Redwood State Park, heavily damaged during the CZU Lightning Complex Fire (August 2020) exhibited rapid green needle regrowth.
• Thick bark and high energy storage in redwood tree trunks contribute to resilience.
• Sprigs were growing from ancient tissue from the 1920s.
• The park's full recovery will take years, but regrowth is promising.

Friday the 13th Superstition

• Friday the 13th is perceived as unlucky, with origins tied to the superstition of the number 13 and legends.
• Examples include the Scandinavian legend of Loki influencing the death of Balder, Jesus' crucifixion on Friday, the Norse gods, and Friday's biblical references.
• The fear of Friday the 13th affects millions, potentially causing accidents, particularly in risky occupations.
• Yet, economic impact is modest despite people avoiding purchases. Studies show that Friday the 13th does not correspond with an increase in accidents.

Octopus Hunting Strategies

• Octopuses are strong leaders in hunting packs of fish.
• Observed in hunting groups in the Red Sea, the octopus dictates hunting strategy.
• Fish aid in locating/trapping prey in crevices.
• Blue goatfish are favored partners.
• The octopus disciplines ambush predators (blacktip groupers) who try to exploit the group without contributing.