Big Brain
What is the term for the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections?
Neuroplasticity
What is the name of the fluid-filled cavity located between the arachnoid mater and pia mater in the central nervous system?
The subarachnoid space
-(expl.)This space contains cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions the brain and spinal cord, provides shock absorption, and aids in the removal of metabolic waste.
"A singer in a smoky room, a smell of wine and cheap perfume..."
Don't Stop Believin' – Journey
In quantum mechanics, what mathematical object is used to describe the probabilistic state of a system?
A wavefunction
The disappearance of this early English colony in North America, established in 1587, remains one of the greatest mysteries in history.
Roanoke
-Side note: this is TOTALLY my version of the Roman Empire lol..
In Alzheimer's disease, which protein forms abnormal clumps that disrupt neuronal function and communication?
Beta-Amyloid
In the nephron, what is the name of the structure responsible for filtering blood plasma and initiating urine formation, and what specific process occurs there?
the glomerulus
-(expl.)The glomerulus is a network of capillaries in the nephron of the kidneys, where blood filtration occurs through a process called ✨glomerular filtration✨.
"Hello darkness, my old friend..."
The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
What is the philosophical argument that posits an all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good deity cannot coexist with the presence of evil?
the Problem of Evil
This 19th-century war between Britain and China was fought over trade disputes, particularly the British sale of a highly addictive drug.
The Opium War
What is the term for the misperception that one event is more or less likely based on past occurrences, despite each event being independent?
The Gambler’s Fallacy
What is the name of the specialized junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released, and how does synaptic transmission occur at this junction?
the synapse
-(expl.) At the synapse, neurotransmitters are released from vesicles in the presynaptic neuron and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, transmitting the signal across the synaptic cleft.
"Cause baby, now we got bad blood..."
Bad Blood by Taylor Swift
What is the precise mechanism by which prions propagate misfolded proteins in diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
Templated conformational change
This bizarre event in 1518 saw dozens of people dance uncontrollably for days in what is now France, some collapsing from exhaustion.
The Dancing Plague of 1518
-According to my (minimal) research, they still aren't really sure what caused this. Ergot poisoning seems to be the most likely (especially since it is a psychoactive mold and grows on grains used for bread). However, it could have been mass hysteria as a result of starvation, illness/STDs, or demonic possession (yes, Google did mention that 🥴).
The fornix is a major fiber tract in the brain that connects the hippocampus to several other structures. What is the name of the brain structure to which the fornix primarily transmits information related to long-term memory consolidation?
The Mammillary Bodies
Which ion is most critical for the depolarization phase of an action potential, and what is its role in the electrical signal transmission along neurons?
Sodium (Na+)
-(expl.) Sodium ions rush into the neuron during depolarization, causing the inside of the cell to become more positive, which initiates the action potential and propagates the electrical signal along the axon.
"I travel the world and the seven seas..."
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
What is the name of the paradox that highlights the apparent contradiction between quantum mechanics and general relativity when discussing black holes?
The black hole information paradox
Who was the Byzantine general under Emperor Justinian I who led successful campaigns to reclaim parts of the Western Roman Empire?
Belisarius
What is the name of the cognitive model that explains the way the brain processes different types of memory, such as sensory, short-term, and long-term memory?
the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model of Memory
Which structure in the respiratory system serves as the primary site for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the air?
the alveoli
"I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride..."
Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
-Sorry guys, I at least had to *try* to make this category a little hard lol...
Which famous theorem states that no consistent system of axioms whose theorems can be listed by an algorithm is capable of proving all truths about arithmetic?
Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem
The disappearance of this 19th-century Arctic expedition, led by a British explorer seeking the Northwest Passage, remains a mystery despite recent discoveries of their ships.
The Franklin Expedition