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STEM
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What are the names of the two bones of the leg that are found between the knee and the ankle?
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Tibia, Fibula
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What name is given to group 17 elements, all of which end in "ine," because they can commonly form ionic bonds to make salts?
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Halogen
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Mangoes, Peruvian peppers, and sumac are all part of a family named for what common edible fruit, surrounded by a toxic double shell, that is classified culinarily as a nut?
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Cashew
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A differential equation that includes partial derivatives of one or more variables is a "partial differential equation" (PDE). What term is used for a differential equation with only one single dependent variable, abbreviated ODE?
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Ordinary Differential Equation
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What large ancestor of the armadillo, weighing approximately 400 kilograms, roamed South America around 3 million years ago?
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Glyptodon
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What Latin word for "mirror" can also describe a copper-tin alloy that was commonly used for reflective surfaces until the invention of glass silvering in the 19th century?
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Speculum
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The phase velocity of a wave can be defined as ω/k, where k is the wavenumber. Give the two word name of the concept denoted by ω.
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Angular frequency
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Reclusive Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman is strongly associated, especially around the year 2010, with what French mathematician who lived one hundred years earlier?
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Henri Poincaré
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"Every symmetry has a corresponding conservation law" is a simplified restatement of what scientist's first namesake theorem? Einstein called her the most important woman in the history of mathematics.
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Emmy Noether
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What term is used for two chemical elements that can interconvert, usually, but not always, by the repositioning of a hydrogen atom?
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Tautomers
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Arts & Lit
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"The Aleph" and "Labyrinths" are two well known stories by what Argentine magic realist?
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Jorge Luis Borges
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What is either name (first or last) of the main character of the most well-known erotic romance that began as a fanfiction of the Twilight Series?
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Anastasia Steele
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An artistic prize awarded by Tate Britain is named after what Romantic artist who specialized in imaginative landscapes and seascapes that were often stormy?
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J.M.W. Turner
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The Instructions of Amenemhat from Egypt, the biblical Book of Proverbs, the Sanskrit Subhashita and the Analects of Confucius are all categorized as what genre of literature? The genre sometimes appears in alternate names for the Book of Sirach.
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Wisdom Literature
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What creatures, who sometimes have a green star on their belly, are the title characters of a four part Dr. Seuss series meant to teach concepts of tolerance and diversity?
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Sneetches
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A literary award in Japan is named after what author who wrote both "In a Grove" and "Rashōmon"? Confusingly, the film Rashomon is actually based on "In a Grove".
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Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
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What leucistic feline titles a book by Aravind Adiga where Balram Halwai writes letters to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao describing his life?
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The White Tiger
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A chart indicating which zodiac sign each planet is in during that month precedes every chapter of what 2013 novel that chronicles one year in New Zealand in the 1860s?
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The Luminaries
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Both Titian and Bronzino have paintings titled "The Flaying of" what satyr who had the nerve to challenge Apollo to a music contest?
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Marsyas
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Which Romanian historian, who focused heavily on alchemy, shamanism and yoga, is also known for the 1933 work Maitreyi (also called Bengal Nights)?
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Mircea Eliade
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Movies & TV
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An innovative use of the dolly zoom with the camera looking down a tower shaft was used to convey the title condition of what film?
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Vertigo
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The Swedish show "Expedition Robinson" was brought to the USA and renamed what? It has become one of the most successful franchises ever with 40 seasons completed as of 2026.
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Survivor
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The "Odessa Steps" scene, exemplifying the "Soviet montage" approach, is a feature of what 1925 Sergei Eistenstein masterpiece?
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Battleship Potemkin
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The misadventures of naive rabbi Avram Belinski as he travels from Philadelphia to San Francisco, often in the company of bank robber Tommy Lillard, is the plot of what comedy?
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The Frisco Kid
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The disappearance of teenager Laura Palmer provides the premise of what surrealist show that was cancelled in 1991 but revived in 2017?
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Twin Peaks
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Katherine Hepburn's character from "Woman of the Year" and Melanie Griffith's character from "Working Girl" both have the same first name as what title character of an 1891 tragic novel?
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Tess
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A 1972 Jack Nicholson/Bruce Dern film is titled "The King of " what property on the original US Monopoly board?
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Marvin Gardens
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What ten-part late 80's Polish miniseries that discusses the moral dilemmas in housing projects was the most acclaimed work of Krzysztof Kieślowski?
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Dekalog
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The character Han Lue played by Sung Kang, who appeared in several Fast & Furious movies, first appeared in what 2002 film where overachieving Asian-American teens get bored and start engaging in petty crime?
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Better Luck Tomorrow
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Although it sounds set in biblical times, what 2023 Nigerian film directed by Funke Akindele is actually set in modern times and has Funke playing a family patriarch with five sons from five different mothers?
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A Tribe Called Judah
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Music
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For forty years, Lemmy Kilmister was the bassist and lead singer of what metal band with an unncessary umlaut?
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Motörhead
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In the movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much," Doris Day sings that she asked her mother "What will I be? Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?" and her mother answers with what three Spanish words?
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Que Será, Será
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Unsurprisingly, the studio albums titled "Lil Boat 2" and "Lil Boat 3" are creations of what musician?
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Lil Yachty
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What Italian city has hosted a music festival since 1951? The festival is the oldest TV music competition in the world and inspired the Eurovision song contest.
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San Remo
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The Hungarian Dances of Johannes Brahms inspired Antonín Dvořák to publish his own set of dances which he called what?
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Slavonic Dances
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With John M. Hanert, who invented an electric organ in 1935? The B-3 model was popularized by jazz musician Jimmy Smith.
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Laurens Hammond
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Although it's more commonly used for ballet performances today, what famous opera house built in the late 19th century is located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris?
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Palais Garnier
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"Dur dur d'être bébé!" (It's hard to be a baby) was a 1992 hit single by what artist born in 1988?
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Jordy Lemoine
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What mononym is used by the German-born singer who released Şımarık in 1998?
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Tarkan
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Named after a Smokey Robinson album, what US radio format featured smooth, romantic, jazz-influenced R&B?
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Quiet Storm
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Sports & Games
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Originally played by hundreds of people over multiple days in 12th century North America, what modern day sport has reduced the player count to 11 per team, each equipped with a stick?
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Lacrosse
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Name either of the Serie A teams that use San Siro, with a seating capacity of 75,817, as a home stadium.
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Inter Milan, AC Milan
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"The art of striking with foot and striking with hand" is a rough translation of what martial art that has been an Olympic event since 2000?
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Taekwondo
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The underground laboratory called the Black Mesa Research Facility, which has contacted the alien world of Xen, is the setting of what series of FPS games?
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Half-Life
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What Swedish swimmer has a record 23 gold medals in long course World Championships along with victories in the 50 and 100m freestyle in the 2024 Paris Olympics?
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Sarah Sjöström
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Expedition 33 is the second half of the title of what award-winning 2025 RPG released by indie French studio Sandfall Interactive?
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Clair Obscur
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Named after a nickname of the city it occurred in, what NFL play had Frank Wycheck throw a cross-field lateral pass to Kevin Dyson to allow the Tennessee Titans to score on a kickoff with 16 seconds left in the game?
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Music City Miracle
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What is the rule in baseball where an umpire can call a batter out while a ball is in the air and not yet caught? It can only occur when runners are on first and second (and possibly third) and there are fewer than two outs in the inning.
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Infield Fly Rule
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Having won the marathon barefoot in the 1960 Olympics, who was the first person to successfully defend his marathon medal, accomplishing the feat in the 1964 Tokyo games?
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Abebe Bikila
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The oldest attested card game is what German trick-taking game mentioned in a municipal ordinance in Bavaria?
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Karnöffel
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Geography & Language
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Due to its extreme depth, what lake has more freshwater than the entire Great Lake system of the Americas?
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Lake Baikal
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The Trucial states, named for treaties with the British empire in the 19th century, became what country in 1971, after the treaties with the United Kingdom were revoked?
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United Arab Emirates
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The largest of the US Virgin Islands has an equivalent meaning with the common name of what major Bolivian city?
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Santa Cruz de la Sierra
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What, by far, is the largest language in the Lechitic language group?
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Polish
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Formerly called Élisabethville, what city with a population over 2 million is located very close to the border with Zambia?
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Lubumbashi
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For 55 years Leninabad was the name of what city that dates back to Achaemenid Persia and is located in modern-day Tajikistan?
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Khujand
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What archaeological site on Pohnpei was the political seat of the Saudeleur dynasty and was constructed on artificial islands in a lagoon linked by canals?
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Nan Madol
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What German derived word describes a curve of lowest elevation? It often, but not always, occurs along a river or stream.
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Thalweg
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What atoll with a permanent population of zero is France's only possession in the North Pacific?
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Clipperton Island
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A mix of architectural styles and an ancient water-supply system are features of the UNESCO-heritage old town of what Yunnan city in the shadow of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?
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Lijiang
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History
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What is the better known moniker of the man born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Buenos Aires?
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Pope Francis
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The Merina kingdom ruled most of what island from the late 16th century to 1894 when it was fully conquered by France in the second Franco-Hova war?
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Madagascar
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The First Triumvirate fell apart when Crassus met his death in an ill-advised campaign against what Persian empire?
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Parthian Empire
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Franklin D. Roosevelt's policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of Latin American countries was given what name?
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Good Neighbor policy
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What 6th century BCE Roman hero is credited with defending the Pons Sublicius against invading Etruscans allowing a Roman army to safely retreat behind the walls?
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Horatius (Cocles)
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The end of the Han dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period is often attributed to a rebellion from 185-205 by people wearing what headgear?
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Yellow Turbans
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Distinct projectile points are relics of what culture that flourished for a short period of time 13,000 years across North America? There are significant debates whether they were the first people in the Americas.
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Clovis Culture
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What was the name of the Fante royal who led a Jamaican slave rebellion against the occupying British in 1760?
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Tacky
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Serving as the first president of Algeria, what Arab socialist was overthrown in a bloodless coup in 1965 by Houari Boumédiène?
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Ahmed Ben Bella
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What clan was defeated by the Minamoto in the Genpei war (1180-1185), having previously dominated Japanese politics during the late Heian period?
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Taira
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Food & Drink
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Commonly used to make hummus, baba ghanoush, or halva, what liquid condiment is made from ground hulled sesame seeds?
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Tahini
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A croque monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich) that is dipped in egg and deep fried is called what? When the words are combined into one, it is an Italian island or a Cuban cigar company.
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Monte Cristo
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Roughly meaning "grilled as you like" what savory pancake is a staple of both the Kansai region and Hiroshima area of Japan?
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Okonomiyaki
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What name is given to a tall cylindrical glass that is often used to serve sparkling cocktails because its shape minimizes the surface area between the drink and the air?
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Collins Glass
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A griddle cake from El Salvador or Honduras that is stuffed with cheese, beans, or other ingredients, is known as what?
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Pupusa
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What savory sauce is made from the brine of a pickled fruit seasoned with chili and is commonly used throughout Mexico?
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Chamoy
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What chef and co-host of a TV show with Julia Child got his start as the personal chef of Charles de Gaulle?
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Jacques Pépin
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What sometimes fermented beer from the Andes region has a "morada" version made from purple maize? The drink had ceremonial uses in Inca culture.
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Chicha
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Meaning "head of the shop," what Maghrebi spice mixture does not have a set list of ingredients, with blends varying from family to family?
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Ras el Hanout
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What Korean dish, traditionally eaten during New Year celebrations, is a soup that includes sliced rice cakes and is often garnished with eggs and marinated meat?
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Tteokguk
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World Culture
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Name the type of tower from which a muezzin calls out the adhan instructing people to perform salat.
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Minaret
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What Christian holiday is the analog to the Jewish holiday of Shavuot (which occurs 50 days after Passover)?
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Pentecost
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What is the name of the texts that contain the liturgies of the Zoroastrian religion? In its adjectival form, the texts' name is the language that the work is written in.
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Avesta
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The Heaven's Gate cult performed a mass suicide in 1997 with practitioners believing they would leave earth on what comet that was passing by at the time?
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Hale-Bopp
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What dagger, carried by Gurkhas, is the national weapon of Nepal?
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Kukri
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What Hindu pilgrimage occurs on 12 year cycles at various cities corresponding to the revolution of Jupiter? Pilgrims enter the river to be cleansed of sins.
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Kumbh Mela
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What Welsh word, roughly equivalent with the English "longing," means to have a homesickness for Wales?
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Hiraeth
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What cooperative living group, somewhat similar to Israeli kibbutzim, was central to Julius Nyerere's plan for post-colonial Tanzania?
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Ujamaa
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Norse warriors who have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries are known as what, roughly translating as "those who fight alone"?
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Einherjar
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What is the musical style of "Alma Llanera," the unofficial national anthem of Venezuela? The style is also known as Música Llanera and is similar to the fandango.
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Joropo
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Miscellaneous
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Sometimes called plaid in North America, what fabric style has crossing bands of multiple colors? Specific patterns are linked to individual Scottish clans.
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Tartan
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What semordnilap titles a 21 Savage song and is derived from a 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film where it serves as a major plot point?
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Redrum
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Switch the vowels of a word meaning a clerical robe and you get an East Slavic semi-nomadic person. Give either word.
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Cossack, Cassock
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Referring to a specific formation of a phospholipid where the lipid "tails" all point towards the center of a sphere, what dilute solution is often used to remove makeup or oil from the face?
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Micellar Water
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What are the letters of the English Morse code signal " -.-. --.- -.. " which was used as a distress call prior to the adoption of SOS?
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CQD
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What is the name of the legislative body in Germany, also known as the Federal Diet, that has 630 members directly elected by the German people?
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Bundestag
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What term is used for a formal description of a flag or coat of arms using heraldric terms such as "Tierced per pale azure, argent, and gules"?
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Blazon
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If you knowingly possess a counterfeit bill or a debased coin, you are more likely to spend it immediately. This leads to the maxim "Bad money drives out good" also known as whose law?
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Thomas Gresham
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What Tunisian couturier became globally known for the women's dresses that he designed with his twin sister Hafida?
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Azzedine Alaia
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What Greek term did Epicurus use to describe the unpredictability in the course of atoms? Some modern translations refer to it as "swerve."
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Clinamen
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