Trivial Pursuits: The Abstract’s 2012 Quiz

The Abstract staff will be taking off for a couple of weeks to prepare for 2012. In an attempt to amuse and entertain ourselves you, we’ve pulled together a quick quiz on some of the research we’ve written about over the past year. See how you do!

QUESTIONS

1). Peanut butter can be healthier if manufacturers do what?

2). Veterinarians used an underwater treadmill to help rehabilitate what kind of animal?

3). Researchers found thousands of bacteria species – and several Archaea species – living on what human body part?

4). Researchers found “microspherules” indicating that what may have happened 12,900 years ago?

5). Engineers developed a way to steer what animal using remotely controlled technology?

6). Using 3-D printing, scientists made a model brain of what prehistoric animal?

7). Economists determined that living within a half-mile of what federal entities boosts home values?

8). Inbreeding appears to be giving an evolutionary advantage to what kind of animal?

9). Physicists developed ways to help players of what sport score points?

10). Fluctuating or extreme environmental conditions lead to increased infidelity in what animals?

Answers below…

ANSWERS

1). Leave the peanut “skins” on.

2). A goat. Naturally.

3). The belly button. It’s a jungle in there.

4). The findings were consistent with an extraterrestrial body, such as a comet, hitting Earth.

5). Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

6). A 22-million-year-old penguin. As one does.

7). National wildlife refuges. This one’s not very funny.

8). Butterflies. Specifically, Heliconius butterflies.

9). Basketball. Their research evaluated means of optimizing free throws and bank shots.

10). Birds. Those faithless, profligate birds.