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Which figure skater sported costumes designed by Vera Wang at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, winning a gold medal following his "Scheherazade" long program? The first male skater to be outfitted by Wang, he partnered with Anna Trebunskaya for season 10 of Dancing with the Stars, where they finished runners-up.
First used by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in 1946, this pictogram is used as a warning symbol for danger caused by what? It is specifically used for the “ionizing” type of this danger while the non-ionizing type has a different symbol.
The fifth circle of hell in Dante's Inferno is WHICH RIVER, a swampy marsh that forms the boundary between Earth and Underworld? The river is also a deity in Greek myth, represented as the daughter of Tethys whose powers made the river miraculous. She has also lent her name to a 1970s hard rock band and a moon of Pluto.
Identify the staple missing ingredient in this recipe of Som Tam, a Thai salad from the Isan region and a national dish of Laos.
Tomates, green beans, fish sauce, chillies, lime zest, and [blank]. It is used in other dishes of the region, such as the Filipino Tenilo soup and Buntil. Specifically, a green variety is used.
Identify this middle distance runner who had a 2.54% margin of victory in the 1,500 metres event at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. This Romanian was the first woman to break the 4-minute barrier in the event, when she broke Mary Decker's world record.
What internet slang (4), used particularly to refer to weird or especially edgy memes, is speculated to have been coined on the /s4s/ (shit 4chan says) board? This term is also used to express the quality of excellence, from as far back as the 1980s, when it was used for describing marijuana.
What term is given to a horse with a reddish-brown coat? This name comes from its similarity to the fruit of the genus Castanea, which has a spiky exterior but reveals a warm brown interior that is roasted and eaten in winter.
John Warren, a legend in the country's football history, wrote that the team consulted a witch doctor before a 1970 World Cup game against Zimbabwe. The witch buried bones near the goal posts and ensured the team's win but was not paid by the players. This apparently led to a reverse curse that led to the team failing to qualify for the tournament from 1974 until 2006. Which country's national team, that have since participated in all editions?
These matte paintings of a trench and an entry port of a superweapon were painted by Joe Johnston for a 1970s blockbuster and by Leith Evans for its 1980s sequel of which series of films?
In international politics, a 'failed' state is one that has disintegrated to a point where it has no legitimate authority to make collective decisions, interact with other states, provide public services, or use physical force. The last condition, known simplistically as "monopoly on violence", comes to us from which English philosopher's 1651 work 'Leviathan'?
Which band fronted by Brendon Urie became an overnight sensation following the popularity of “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005)? The group’s 20-year journey saw albums such as Vices & Virtues (2011), Death of a Bachelor (2016) and Viva Las Vengeance (2022), their final album.
On what date is Down Syndrome Day celebrated each year? The condition is caused by a trisomy of a particular chromosome in the human body. The answer should be in the form "name of month + date".
From 1864 to 1924, over 21,000 prisoners from mainland France were deported to a penitentiary establishment in which region in Melanesia, that is now a sui generis (special status) collectivity of overseas France? Its principal island, Grand Terre, was first sighted by James Cook in 1774.
In 2022, fashion designer Anita Dongre, the founder of “AND” and “Global Desi”, released the Crafts of India collection.
The line featured salwar-kameez tailored using what fabric that uses silk for the warp (tana) and cotton for the weft (bana), thus imparting a characteristic sheen? Its creation under the patronage of Rani Ahilyabai led to it being named after her capital, which was the seat of the Holkars until it was moved to Indore.
Identify this rapper who carved a niche for himself through "Live. Love. [redacted]" and "Long. Live. [redacted]". He derives a part of his stage name from the Harlem-based hip hop "mob" he was part of.
In gin-making, the stalks of which plant are used for producing a bright green, zingy citrus nose? Its subtle citrus flavour proflile has made it a staple in the preparation of soups and stews in Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian cuisine.
Identify this 1981 classic by Rockabye Baby!.
What is the name of Ukraine International Airlines' in-flight magazine? It shares its name with a term used to refer to an unbroken view of the region surrounding an observer - also a popular shooting mode in cameras.
Haydn's Symphony no. 94 in G Major gets its nickname from a sudden fortissimo chord at the otherwise piano opening theme in the variation-form second movement. The music then returns to its original quiet dynamic as if nothing has happened. What nickname is given to this piece?
These are scenes from the entrance of Emperor Altoum, father of the titular princess, at the Royal Opera House in which opera? The final act opens with the princess's command for all of Peking to stay awake till sunrise.
This drama film is a modern adaptation of a 1600s work set during the Ottoman–Venetian War. Its plot follows a character named Hugo attempting to convince the protagonist Odin James that his girlfriend has been unfaithful to him. What is this film's one-letter title?
In a scene from a 1953 adaptation of Julius Caesar, which legendary actor can be seen performing the Mark Antony soliloquy, including a particularly empassioned version of "Cry 'Havoc!'"? Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, he's also credited with bringing the concept of method acting to mainstream audiences.
Episode 37 sees Andrej preparing quenelles made of which long, predatory freshwater fish known for its sharp teeth, slender body, and ambush-like hunting style? It is recognised by its "long, pointed snout" and can be found across the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Which Russian artist was influenced by Goethe’s idea that colours are linked to emotions, developing his own soul-oriented theory of colour in 1913 based on two interrelated oppositions: warm versus cold, and light versus dark? He later taught at the Bauhaus in Weimar that primary colours were associated with certain shapes, forming the basis for his abstract ‘compositions’.
The 2700 Club in Chess is an elite group of grandmasters who have achieved a FIDE rating of 2700 or more during their careers. Which Italian-American grandmaster, with a current rating of 2757.7 (and peak rating of 2844), was Magnus Carlsen’s challenger in World Chess Championship 2018? His performance rating of 3098 in the Sinquefield Cup 2014 is the highest by any player in history at the top level.
Strugnell's [BLANK] is a collection of three songs for voice and piano set to poems by Wendy Cope. The collection covers the banal existence of Jason Strugnell, a poet character created by Hope and a southern Londoner who worked at Norwood Library. Fill in the blank with a traditional form of poetry that follows a 5-7-5 syllable structure.
The Cenacle on Mount Zion is an upper room of a building that also houses the tomb of King David of Israel. As its Latin root word suggests, the Cenacle is believed to be the site of what biblical event?
Which country is home to Price Barracks military installation, located in its largest village named Ladyville? It houses the "British Army Training and Support Unit ______" (BATSUB), which is the main international facility for jungle training for the British forces.
S10 of Dissect analysed a genre-bending R&B, hip hop, neo soul album with songs such as "Earfquake", "I Think", "Are We Still Friends?", and "What’s Good". This 2019 album’s title is a reference to the stock character of a villain’s lackey in Gothic literature. Identify the album or the creator.
This pigment first referred to a mixture of blue and yellow created by a 16th century Italian artist known for his large mythological paintings. Identify this pigment, which has been used for multiple robes in this masterpiece. Please provide the painter name + colour.
Which World Cup-winning captain has represented Brazil the most number of times in international football matches? He is likely to be overtaken by Neymar, who's in second place, with Dani Alves and Roberto Carlos following.
This Archibet is based on the works of an Italian Pritzker Prize winner who began his career working with experimental lightweight structures. Who, serving in the Italian senate since 2013, inspired this?
Jose Miguel _______ (7), a respected military hero and a founder of Chile is said to have set up one of the earliest national newspapers in his home country, the Aurora de Chile. Which lake (7) was named to honour him? The lake is referred to as Lake Buenos Aires on the Argentine side.
Which Italian wine is suggested by Food Network Guide as a pair for spaghetti and meatballs? The bold, fruity flavour and the acidity of this red wine is supposed to complement the tartness of tomatoes and meat. Named after the central Tuscan region in which it is based, it is made primarily with Sangiovese grapes and recognised by its "black rooster" (Classico) trademark.
Democrats is a 2015 Tribeca award-winning documentary by Camilla Nielsson in English and Shona. It chronicles the efforts of two bureaucrats with opposing affiliations who are forced to work together to draft the new constitution of which country after a rigged 2008 election? The international scrutiny that followed compelled its autocratic head of state to share power with his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai (visual).
This cruise, starting in Porto and terminating in Salamanca, takes place on which river packed with tours of vineyards in the namesake valley, best known for their port wines?
Zaha Hadid designed this city landmark called the Bridge Pavilion for the World Expo 2008 in which European city? Built to look like a flower over the river Ebro, the city, whose name is the corruption of a Roman Emperor's, is the largest one in the autonomous community of Aragon.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra was a 2022-23 movement led by INC leader Rahul Gandhi, where he walked from Kanyakumari to Srinagar over almost 150 days.
Which town in Kerala's Malappuram district was one of the earliest stops on this journey? It is home to the world's oldest teak plantation, which provides some of the wood for the interior paneling of Rolls-Royce cars.
Merrill Flood worked out the optimal strategy for players indulging in which common childhood pastime? It was approached as a mathematical problem by John von Neumann - player A has to choose a cell in a grid and player B has to choose a row/column. If A's cell falls in B's chosen row/column, A is discovered and loses.
Which 2012 novel got a highly pessimistic title in Macedonian, one that translates to "The World is not a Factory for Fulfilling Wishes"? The original English title is inspired by Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, in which Cassius says to Brutus that their fate comes from being underlings and not because of [blanks].
What term (7) is used for this technique of gliding styling product or conditioner over the hair to enhance curls? The act of _______ (7) often results in a shiny finish similar to (the top of) doughnuts or lemon cake.
Identify this show set in Ostend, Belgium that revolves around workers of the East Bank Station. Its two-word title is also a phrase used in multiple contexts including when one is being attacked or criticised or shot at.
Dan Brown's "Lost Symbol" begins with Robert Langdon being invited to a lecture by a Peter Solomon, who is the head of which American institution whose logo is depicted here? The institution, named after a British Scientist, was created by the US government in 1846 "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge" under the name "United States National Museum" before the name was changed in 1967.
While a literal reading of the lyrics of this song may imply sadomasochistic connotations, the intended meaning was far more innocuous. The speaker is simply longing for the return of an ex-boyfriend. But the songwriter Max Martin's English wasn't perfect at the time, and his attempt at using a popular Americanism ended up sounding strange. Which hit 1998 song was this?
Identify this bot based on the 2024 Candidates runner-up, who now considers himself more of a content creator than a chess player. This bot is known for being confrontational, often taking risk-taking positions.
In the 1930s, Hawaiian music that featured instrumentation with lap-steel guitar or the ukulele became a major fad in mainland USA, leading to a musical genre called Hapa Haole. This genre featured instrumentation and themes that were typically Hawaiian, but the lyrics were in English, as reflected in songs like "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua". Given all this, what exactly does the term "Hapa Haole" mean?
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung is a book by Mao, published and widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution. Since this book was printed in a size that could be easily carried and were bound in covers of a colour which is considered auspicious in Chinese culture,it came to be known by what three word name outside China?
What food item serves as a euphemism for censorship in China, where this is served at events of protest? The most famous incident took place in 2010, when artist Ai WeiWei's studio was ransacked after which the protests saw a serving of this item for dinner each evening.
This pigment, a variation of one from Prussia, came to be associated with an 18th century English painter who used it prominently to break from the traditional view that cool colours should only be used as accents. Identify this pigment. Please provide the painter name + colour.
In 1992, the founder of which religious group published a doctrine (visual) in which he declared himself Christ, his country's only fully enlightened master, and identified with the Lamb of God? In the early 2000s, the group renamed itself to avoid association with the horrific 1995 event that its founder orchestrated. Either name of the group is acceptable.
Pakistan’s only Test whitewash at home was 0-3 in December 2022, by England. Which English batsman was named Player of the Series for his whopping tally of 468 runs, with a century in all 3 tests? He has amassed over 800 runs in just two series he’s played in Pakistan.
In 2014, the Sydney Harbour Stage opened its dressing rooms to four camels, including a six-month-old calf. Which opera by Verdi featured these camels for close to five minutes during the Triumphal March? In this sequence, Radamès returns with gold and hundreds of captives including King Amonasro, the titular protagonist's father.
What nickname was given to this group of young actors who starred in coming-of-age movies in the 1980s? Their name adds a single letter to "Rat Pack" to indicate they were the "ill-mannered children" of Hollywood.
The first millennium BCE saw the establishment of a trade route that started from Cornwall in the far southwest of Britain, went over the sea to France, and then down to Greece, Italy and beyond. What silver-coloured metal was being traded across this route, that would lead to the beginning of the Bronze Age across Europe?
When it was granted autonomy in 1952, this country chose a light blue flag (visual) with an olive wreath as a tribute to the UN colours and to signify their desire for peace. Which country? Following independence after 4 decades of bloodshed, they chose a new flag that overlaid the olive wreath upon the flag of the party that fought for its liberation - comprised of three triangles: red, blue, and green.
What is the title of this 2011 non-fiction book by John Pollack, subtitled "How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More Than Some Antics"? It puns on the title of a 1926 novel by Ernest Hemingway.
What term is given to the great circle traced by the apparent yearly path of the Sun across the celestial sphere? The word in question is a form of another term that appears in astronomical phenomena that involve the obscuring of certain celestial bodies.
The Zenobia Award is an award given to board games with a historical focus.
One of the finalists was Winay Kawsay, which translates to "history" in the Kichwa language. You play as a historian in the game and argue for an interpretation of the functionality of the site, whether it was a citadel, religious site, or royal estate. Which site is this board game set at?
In 1824, the British bought a piece of land from the Sultan of Johor who was nominally ruling over it. The idea came through British Governor Stamford Raffles who established a trading post here, after recognising it as a good choice for a port. WHICH territory is this, that got independence from the Brits in 1963 and became part of a neighbouring country for two years, before becoming sovereign in 1965?
Which three-time F1 World Champion voiced Strip "The King" Weathers in the German version of Cars? The King was severely injured and disfigured in a crash, but made a full recovery just like the racer who voiced him.
Muzio Clementi's Gradus ad Parnassum technique was satirised by Erik Satie in a piece called the [redacted] Bureaucratique. This piece was a diminutive of what type of composition (6) with a few movements that are played solo or by a small ensemble? It refers to a piece that is "played" (6) as opposed to "sung" (cantata).
In this Hitchcock scene, the dissolve from the kiss is more likely symbolic of the mind opening up, but could just as well be interpreted as a visual sexual metaphor. Such theorising itself is apt, given the film. Which one?
10th July marks the Tsardom of Russia's decisive victory over the Swedish Empire in which battle of the Great Northern War in 1709 at a present-day Ukranian city? The greatest military catastrophe in Swedish history, their decisive loss would lead to Tsar Peter I and Russia establishing a supremacy in Eastern Europe.
The title and author’s name have been Photoshopped out of this book cover by S. Neil Fujita. When the author saw the original design, with the drop top right in pure red, his 2 suggested changes were:1) To make the colour more purple than red, to realistically reflect how it darkens as it dries 2) To make his name as large as the book title. Which 1966 book?