New Scientist - USA (2021-12-18)

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are in Earth’s orbit, according to our

October deep dive on space junk?

A 100,000

B 250,000

C 400,000

D 500,000

23 In February, the mystery of

what killed nine Russian hikers in

the Dyatlov Pass incident in 1959

may have been solved. What did

researchers say was responsible?

A A hurricane

B Infrasound-induced panic

C A slab avalanche

D A secret chemical weapons test

24 In January, we reported on

hyperaccumulator plants such as

Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi. What

does the sap of this shrub (pictured)

contain huge amounts of?

A Nickel

B Gold

C Frankincense

D Myrrh

Answers on the next page.

Quiz compiled by Bethan Ackerley

chemical code used to store a Jane

Austen quote in plastic molecules.

Which novel was the quote from?

A Mansfield Park

B Pride and Prejudice

C Persuasion

D Sense and Sensibility

20 In September, a newly

discovered fossil dinosaur species

on the Isle of Wight, UK, was given

an unusual nickname. What was it?

A Infernal eagle

B Nightmare chicken

C Hell heron

D Pelican of doom

21 All sorts of unusual fossils have

been unearthed this year. Which of

the following ancient remains did

we not report on in 2021?

A A rattlesnake in the jaws

of a dead mastodon

B A turtle impaled on a branch

C A shark eating a proto-squid

D Two sea scorpions mating

22 How many pieces of debris

smaller than 10 centimetres across

“ One of life’s

biggest

questions

was finally

settled”

did it conclude are in this zone?
A 115
B 237
C 375
D 524

16 It has been a great year for
research into artificial intelligence,
but which of the following tasks has
AI not helped us with in 2021?
A Telling us if cows are stressed
B Identifying us from our veins
C Improving robots’ swimming
D Helping cats to show us affection

17 In October, researchers said they
had identified where horses were

first domesticated. In which

modern-day country is this site?

A Mongolia

B Spain

C Russia

D Turkey

18 In November, we learned that

a new mineral had been found in a

diamond (pictured) from Botswana.

What is the mineral called?

A Huttonite

B Davemaoite

C Oreskesite

D Lavoisierite

19 In April, we told you about a

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18/25 December 2021 | New Scientist | 85