Tornadoes and Zombie Fires Quiz

A type of climbing competition where climbers race against the clock to reach the top of a wall.

A type of climbing competition where climbers attempt to climb a challenging route without falling, with the highest climber winning.

A type of climbing competition where climbers try to complete as many difficult climbing routes as possible within a set timeframe.

A critically endangered species of orangutan found only in the northern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia.

A medicinal plant used by Rakus, the orangutan, to treat his wound.

The behavior of Rakus, the orangutan, using a plant to treat a wound.

Loss of rainforest habitat due to activities like oil palm plantations.

The capture of Sumatran orangutans for food or pets.

A rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground.

A region in the central US known for frequent tornado activity.

A scale used to classify tornado intensity based on wind speed and damage.

A tornado with wind speeds reaching 166-200 mph, causing significant destruction.

Occurs from March to July, with peak activity in April and May.

A period of intense tornado activity, often resulting in numerous tornadoes in a short time.

The year with the highest recorded number of tornadoes in the US.

The number of tornadoes recorded in a given period, exceeding the average.

Wildfires that continue to burn underground during winter, often hidden beneath layers of snow.

The melted snow typically extinguishes underground fires in the spring. However, due to reduced snowfall in recent years, these fires can survive and spread undetected.

Zombie fires are hard to detect because they burn underground, making them invisible from above. They also often occur in remote, hard-to-reach areas.

The ground typically freezes in winter, making it difficult for firefighters to access and excavate the fire.

A loud, intense sound produced when an object travels faster than the speed of sound.

A type of aircraft designed to fly at supersonic speeds (faster than the speed of sound) without producing a sonic boom.

The Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger airplane, faced challenges due to its sonic boom. The noise was disruptive and unacceptable for many communities.

The X-59's unique design allows it to break the sound barrier without creating a sonic boom, reducing noise levels and improving public acceptance of supersonic flights.

The system used to elect the US president where voters choose electors who then vote for the president.

People chosen by each state to vote for the president. The number of electors per state is based on its population.

The number of votes needed to win the US presidential election. It's more than half of the total number of electors.

The total number of votes cast by Americans for a candidate. It doesn't guarantee victory but is a significant indicator of support.

The official act of voting for a candidate in an election, either in person or by mail.

The process of creating, preserving, and studying artifacts from the past to understand historical events and cultures.

The preservation of a food item, such as cherries, in a sealed environment, which slows down its decay and allows it to last for a long time.

The process of analyzing DNA from a sample to determine its genetic makeup, which can reveal a species' origin and relationships.

The ability of an individual to recognize and identify other individuals within their social group using unique vocalizations or other cues.

A distinctive sound or vocalization used by an animal to communicate with other members of its species.

A type of communication in which individuals use specific sounds or signals to address each other by name, similar to how humans use names.

The study of animal behavior focusing on how they interact with each other and their environment.

The ability of an animal to perform complex tasks that require intelligence, such as problem-solving, planning, and tool use.

The highest altitude reached by a spacecraft carrying humans since the Apollo missions to the Moon, set by SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission on September 11, 2024.

The Inspiration4 mission aimed to assess the impact of increased radiation on humans and spacecraft during future missions to the Moon and beyond.

A crucial test conducted during the Inspiration4 mission involving the first-ever civilian spacewalk, where astronauts emerged from the capsule and performed a spacesuit functionality test.

Specialized suits worn by astronauts during the Inspiration4 mission's spacewalk, featuring unique design elements, including a tether for oxygen supply and the absence of traditional life support systems.

The historic Inspiration4 mission concluded with the safe return of the Dragon capsule and its crew to Earth on September 15, 2024, in the Gulf of Mexico.

Research conducted on the astronauts of the Inspiration4 mission after their return to Earth, analyzing the physical effects of space travel to inform future astronaut health and safety measures.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD that buried the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, leading to the discovery of preserved scrolls in the library of a Herculaneum mansion.

The scrolls found in the library of Herculaneum mansion, being severely charred on the outside but well-preserved on the inside due to the lack of oxygen during the eruption.