Science encompasses a vast array of fascinating facts, concepts, and discoveries. This article explores some intriguing science trivia, riddles, and puzzles to challenge what you know spanning biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, technology, mathematics and more. How much can you solve on your own scientific knowledge?
- 1 Science Trivia Questions
- 2 Science Riddles and Puzzles
- 3 Science Puzzles
- 4 Science Trivia and Puzzles Comparison
- 5 Science Trivia FAQ
- 5.1 What is the hardest naturally occurring material on Earth?
- 5.2 How many bones are there in the adult human body?
- 5.3 What layer of the Earth’s atmosphere protects us from UV radiation?
- 5.4 What is the most abundant element in the universe?
- 5.5 Which planet has the strongest gravity?
- 5.6 What is the largest known star by radius?
- 5.7 What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
- 5.8 What mammal has no blood?
Science Trivia Questions
- What is the hardest natural substance on Earth? (Diamond)
- How many elements are there on the periodic table? (118)
- What is the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere? (Nitrogen at 78%)
- What is the fastest land animal? (Cheetah)
- Who developed the theory of general relativity? (Albert Einstein)
- What is the largest moon in our solar system? (Ganymede)
- What is the name of the first artificial Earth satellite? (Sputnik 1)
- What is the nearest planet to the sun? (Mercury)
- What percentage of an atom’s mass comes from protons and neutrons? (99.9%)
- Which planet has the most moons? (Jupiter with 79 moons)
Science Riddles and Puzzles
- I have billions of cells, but no brain, no heart, and no blood. What am I? Answer: Bacteria
- The more of me you remove, the larger I become. What am I? Answer: A hole.
- I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I’m the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. What am I? Answer: The letter E.
- What has many keys but can’t open a single lock? Answer: A piano.
- You see me once in June, twice in November and not at all in May. What am I? Answer: The letter “e”.
- If you drop me I’m sure to crack, but give me a smile and I’ll always smile back. What am I? Answer: A mirror.
- I’m tall when I’m young, short when I’m old. What am I? Answer: A candle.
- What tastes better than it smells? Answer: A tongue.
- What body part is pronounced as one letter but written with three, only has one letter, and is in the middle of the face? Answer: Eye.
- Feed me and I live, give me something to drink and I die. What am I? Answer: Fire.
Science Puzzles
- If you melt dry ice, what do you get? Water.
- What are the four states of matter? Solid, liquid, gas, plasma.
- What is the symbol for sodium on the periodic table? Na (from its Latin name natrium).
- How many neutrinos pass through your body every second? Around 10 trillion.
- How many muscles are there in the human body? Over 650.
- What is the largest bone in the human body? The femur in the thigh.
- What is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust? Aluminum.
- What is the collective name for a group of crows? A murder.
- What part of the eye allows you to see color? The retina.
- At what temperature are Celsius and Fahrenheit equal? -40°
Science Trivia and Puzzles Comparison
| Type | Examples | Benefits | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trivia Questions | Fact-based questions testing knowledge | Great for verifying science learning | Can feel like a test; limited interactivity |
| Riddles | Clever metaphors and wordplay | Engaging critical thinking and “aha” moments | May not teach new concepts directly |
| Puzzles | Interactive problems with correct answers | Promotes inquiry and verifies understanding | Takes work to develop accurate, interesting puzzles |
Science Trivia FAQ
What is the hardest naturally occurring material on Earth?
Diamond is the hardest known naturally occurring material, rating 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Diamond’s extremely strong carbon bonds make it resistant to scratching and cutting.
How many bones are there in the adult human body?
The adult human body has 206 bones. The largest bone is the femur in your thigh, while the smallest is the stapes bone in the ear. At birth, babies have around 270 bones, but many fuse together as they grow.
What layer of the Earth’s atmosphere protects us from UV radiation?
The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation that reaches Earth, protecting life from UV damage. Ozone forms when oxygen molecules bond together into ozone (O3).
What is the most abundant element in the universe?
Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe, accounting for roughly 75% of all normal matter. Most stars are primarily composed of hydrogen. Helium is the second most abundant element.
Which planet has the strongest gravity?
Jupiter has the strongest gravitational pull of all the planets in our solar system. Being the largest planet, its gravity is 2.4 times that of Earth. This causes everything to be stretched out and squashed on Jupiter.
What is the largest known star by radius?
UY Scuti is currently the largest known star by radius, with an estimated average radius around 1,700 times larger than the Sun. It is approximately 5 billion miles wide.
What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
Mercury is the only metal element that is liquid at standard room temperature and pressure. Its melting point is -38.83 ̊C (-37.89 ̊F) due to it being relatively unreactive.
What mammal has no blood?
Jellyfish and other marine invertebrates like starfish have no blood. They absorb oxygen directly from seawater through diffusion. Most mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians use blood to transport oxygen.
