STEM in Pop Culture
It's Giving... Nobel Energy
Rom-Com Logic
Meme The Science
Planet, Please
100
In this 2010 film, the concept of “shared dreaming” and the science of dream within dreams is explored, with a certain famous actor leading a team of “extractors”.
What is Inception?
100
This chemist was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977 for his work on the structure of DNA alongside James Watson and Maurice Wilkins.
Who is Francis Crick?
100
In When Harry Met Sally, the characters debate whether men and women can just be friends. Using social psychology, what concept suggests that romantic attraction may develop in friendships due to frequent interaction and emotional closeness?
What is the Mere Exposure Effect?
100
This physical principle is often seen in memes where people say "If you drop it, it falls." It explains why objects fall towards Earth’s center.
What is Gravity?
100
This naturally occurring greenhouse gas is 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO₂ over a 100-year period and is released during agricultural practices, particularly rice cultivation and livestock farming.
What is Methane (CH₄)?
200
In this 2002 film, a team of scientists and engineers use advanced technology to travel to the core of the Earth, hoping to trigger a restart of its failing core.
What is The Core?
200
This physicist was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, a key discovery in quantum theory.
Who is Albert Einstein?
200
In 10 Things I Hate About You, Patrick’s grand romantic gesture involves singing in front of the entire school. From a psychological perspective, what cognitive bias could explain why grand gestures are often seen as more romantic, even if they’re over-the-top?
What is the Halo Effect?
200
The classic “This is fine” meme, where a dog sits calmly in a burning room, can be used to describe this law of thermodynamics, which states that energy spontaneously disperses from high to low concentrations.
What is the Second Law of Thermodynamics?
200
This term refers to the ongoing loss of biodiversity, primarily due to human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change, and is often considered a "sixth mass extinction."
What is the Anthropocene Extinction?
300
In this 2015 film, scientists attempt to communicate with an alien species using a language based on the concept of linguistic relativity and time perception.
What is Arrival?
300
This biochemist won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 for his discovery of how DNA is repaired, impacting the field of genetics and cancer research.
Who is Tomas Lindahl?
300
In The Proposal, Sandra Bullock’s character pretends to be married to her assistant, leading to fake feelings becoming real. This scenario can be explained through which psychological concept, where people may begin to believe in the roles they are assigned to play in a social context?
What is the Role Theory?
300
In meme culture, when something is overcomplicated or too much to handle, it’s often referred to as “The Matrix.” In science, this concept is linked to the philosophical and theoretical idea of this type of reality.
What is Simulated Reality?
300
This atmospheric phenomenon, often associated with El Niño and La Niña, is a long-term shift in ocean temperatures that affects global climate patterns, leading to more intense weather events.
What is the Pacific Decadal Oscillation?
400
This 2014 film directed by Christopher Nolan, is the most scientifically accurate film based on the current theories surrounding relativity.
What is Interstellar?
400
This duo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for their discovery of a "molecular machine" that can perform specific tasks, such as the movement of small objects.
Who are Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard L. Feringa?
400
In Notting Hill, the main characters come from very different social worlds. From a sociology standpoint, this kind of relationship might face challenges due to the theory of "homogamy," which suggests people are more likely to marry someone with similar characteristics.
What is Homogamy?
400
The “But... Why though?” meme is often used when something doesn't seem to make sense. In biology, this concept explains why species evolve traits, even if they seem pointless at first.
What is Natural Selection?
400
This international environmental protocol, adopted in 1997, aimed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, but the United States withdrew from it in 2001, citing economic concerns.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
500
In this 2001 film, based on a true story, follows a group of mathematicians who work to break German codes during WWII, focusing heavily on cryptography and computer science.
What is The Imitation Game?
500
In 2012, this physicist was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, sometimes referred to as the "God particle," at CERN.
Who is Peter Higgs?
500
In Love Actually, multiple storylines weave together, with characters making dramatic romantic decisions in the name of love. From a mathematical perspective, this could be analyzed using which branch of probability theory that deals with decision-making under uncertainty, where the risk of an unpredictable outcome might guide one’s actions?
What is Game Theory?
500
This concept is about “Quantum mechanics” and particles being in multiple states at once. This is a phenomenon in physics where particles can exist in a superposition of states.
What is Quantum Superposition?
500
This large-scale process involves pumping carbon dioxide into underground geological formations, such as depleted oil fields or deep saline aquifers, to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels.
What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?