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Question of the Week

January 9, 2012

Was there nuclear testing near San Diego in the 1950's?

Yes. Operation WIGWAM was a deep underwater nuclear test conducted as part of the 1945-1962 United States series of atmospheric nuclear tests. It took place in May 1955 in the Pacific Ocean approximately 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California, under the joint administration of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Defense (DoD). The purpose of the operation was to determine the radiation and pressure phenomenology associated with nuclear detonations at great depths and to ascertain the effects such explosions would have on submerged and surface vessels. Approximately 6,800 personnel and 30 ships took part in this operation under the Commander, Joint Task Force Seven.

Source: http://www.dtra.mil/documents/ntpr/factsheets/Wigwam.pdf

Past Questions of the Week

December 19, 2011

Who is Krampus?

Also known as Krampusz, Krumpus, or Grampus, a gift-bringer's helper in Central Europe, especially lower Austria. A devil carrying a rod or whip, he accompanies St. Nicholas and intimidates children; he wears a wooden basket on his back in which to throw bad kids, but always the saint kindly intercedes.

In the 1990s Macy's department store was forced to pull two Czech-made ornaments in the shape of Krampus from their stores when customers complained.

Source: The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, 2000.

December 12, 2011

Were Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn related?

No. They were not related.

Katharine Hepburn was born May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the daughter of a doctor and a suffragette, both of whom always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential. An athletic tomboy as a child, she was also very close to her brother, Tom, and was devastated at age 14 to find him dead, the apparent result of accidentally hanging himself while practicing a hanging trick their father had taught them. For many years after this, Katharine used his birthdate, November 8, as her own. She then became very shy around girls her age, and was largely schooled at home. She did attend Bryn Mawr College, however, and it was here that she decided to become an actress, appearing in many of their productions.

Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. She really was blue-blood from the beginning with her father, a wealthy English banker, and her mother, a Dutch baroness. After her parents divorced, Audrey went to London with her mother where she went to a private girls school. Later, when her mother moved back to the Netherlands, she attended private schools as well. While vacationing with her mother in Arnhem, Holland, Hitler's army took over the town. It was here that she fell on hard times during the Nazi occupation. Audrey suffered from depression and malnutrition. After the liberation, Audrey went to a ballet school in London on a scholarship and later began a modeling career. As a model, she was graceful and, it seemed, she had found her niche in life - until the film producers came calling

Source: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000031/bio http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000030/bio

December 5, 2011

What is mitosis?

Mitosis is a process of cell division which results in the production of two daughter cells from a single parent cell. The daughter cells are identical to one another and to the original parent cell.

In a typical animal cell, mitosis can be divided into four principals stages:

Prophase: The chromatin, diffuse in interphase, condenses into chromosomes. Each chromosome has duplicated and now consists of two sister chromatids. At the end of prophase, the nuclear envelope breaks down into vesicles.

Metaphase: The chromosomes align at the equitorial plate and are held in place by microtubules attached to the mitotic spindle and to part of the centromere.

Anaphase: The centromeres divide. Sister chromatids separate and move toward the corresponding poles.

Telophase: Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles and the microtubules disappear. The condensed chromatin expands and the nuclear envelope reappears. The cytoplasm divides, the cell membrane pinches inward ultimately producing two daughter cells (phase: Cytokinesis).

Source: http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/mitosis.php

November 28, 2011

What is a person who collects coins called?

A numismatist.

Numismatics is the study or collection of money, coins, and often medals.

Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/numismatist

November 7, 2011

What is chemical change?

Chemical changes take place on the molecular level. A chemical change produces a new substance. Examples of chemical changes include combustion (burning), cooking an egg, rusting of an iron pan, and mixing hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide to make salt and water.

Source: http://chemistry.about.com/od/lecturenotesl3/a/chemphyschanges.htm

October 31, 2011

What is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is hair loss from repeated urges to pull or twist the hair until it breaks off. Patients are unable to stop this behavior, even as their hair becomes thinner.

Trichotillomania is a type of impulsive control disorder. Its causes are not clearly understood.

It may affect as much as 4% of the population. Women are four times more likely to be affected than men.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001517.htm

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