This strait narrows to 8 miles between Spain & Morocco
(the Strait of) Gibraltar
Listen, pal, this 3-letter protuberance on a stem may develop into a flower or leaf
a bud
The theory of general relativity has been verified through experiments involving this innermost planet
Mercury
1721 saw Robert Walpole become the first person to hold what would be called this high political office
prime minister
It was Brian de Palma who suggested that this director add the now-iconic opening crawl to "Star Wars" to give the film's context
George Lucas
About 1,700 square miles in area, it's the largest inland body of saline water in the Western Hemisphere
the Great Salt Lake
The jumping cholla species of this has detachable spines with barbs that resemble a porcupine's quill
a cactus
John Von Neumann pioneered game theory, starting by analyzing this game where bluffing is commonplace
poker
After 9 years' work, in 1755 Samuel Johnson published this pioneering reference work
the dictionary
The animators counted:
In this film Carl Fredricksen's house floats thanks to 10,297 balloons
Up
The Motagua, this country's longest river, flows into the Gulf of Honduras
Guatemala
In seed-bearing plants, this fine-grained stuff contains the male gametes
pollen
The third law of thermodynamics says entropy tends to reduce as the temperature approaches this 2-word state
absolute zero
Jacobite supporter Lord Lovat was the last person publicly executed this way in Great Britain--he was spared hanging, drawing & quartering
beheading
To portray the "spice" on Arrakis, the sound designers on this 2021 sci-fi film sprinkled sand with Rice Krispies
Dune
This nation on the border of Europe & Asia declared independence in 1991
Georgia
The word for a flower's collection of petals, it's also Toyota's all-time bestselling car
a corolla
This British doc who developed germ theory was the son of a microscope pioneer also named Joseph
(Joseph) Lister
In March 1743 this sacred oratorio received its London premiere conducted by Handel himself
the Messiah
This movie starring Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz was inspired by Jane Austen's "Emma"
Clueless
The first G in this city, Sweden's main seaport, is pronounced in Swedish like a Y
Gothenburg
The business part of this plant, Dionaea muscipula, consists of 2 hinged lobes triggered by hair-like sensors
a Venus flytrap
Legend says this Greek ran naked through Syracuse after discovering his buoyancy principle
Archimedes
Not as famous as James Watt, around 1712 Thomas Newcomen invented an initial version of this machine
a steam engine
John McCain had a cameo as an invited guest in this Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy
Wedding Crashers