Season 218

What is the psychological term for the tendency to perceive patterns, connections, or meaningful relationships in random or meaningless data, often leading to phenomena like seeing faces in clouds or attributing significance to coincidences?

What is the name of the traditional Central Asian horseback sport, often described as the world's most brutal equestrian game, in which riders compete to grab and carry a goat or calf carcass to a goal while fending off opponents?

What is the name of the economic paradox, first described in the 19th century, which states that increasing the efficiency of resource use can lead to a rise in overall consumption rather than a reduction, as observed with coal use during the Industrial Revolution?

What is the name of the fictional character created by James Thurber in a 1939 short story, who escapes his mundane life through elaborate daydreams of heroism and adventure, and whose name has since become shorthand for someone lost in fantasies of grandeur?

What is the name of the 1572 massacre in France, occurring on a feast day honoring one of the Twelve Apostles, during which thousands of Huguenots were killed in Paris and across the country, largely instigated by the French Catholic monarchy amid the Wars of Religion?

What is the name of the innovative golf league, founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley in partnership with the PGA Tour, that combines traditional golf play with simulated indoor golf and features teams of PGA Tour players competing in primetime matches?

In rural Welsh communities, young men who could not afford expensive jewelry or costly gifts would carve which everyday utensil as a token of love and devotion to a potential partner? T
raditionally made from wood and featuring intricate designs, these objects showcased a suitor’s craftsmanship, patience, and dedication.

Which 1967 social experiment, conducted by high school teacher Ron Jones at Cubberley High School in California, sought to demonstrate how easily students could be drawn into a fascist-like movement by enforcing strict discipline, unity, and slogans, eventually spiraling out of control before being abruptly terminated?

What is the name of the scale used to classify hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds, ranging from Category 1 (least severe) to Category 5 (most severe), and originally developed in the 1970s by a civil engineer and a meteorologist?

What is the name of the pioneering steam locomotive, designed by George and Robert Stephenson in 1829, that won the Rainhill Trials by proving it could reliably pull heavy loads at speed? This locomotive helped establish steam-powered railways as a viable mode of transportation and set the standard for future locomotive design.

What is the name of the small bouquet of flowers, typically worn on the wrist or pinned to a dress, that is traditionally given to a woman as a formal accessory for events such as proms, weddings, or homecomings?

What is the name of the ancient Greek sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, famed for its Temple of Apollo and oracle, where the Pythia was believed to deliver prophecies under divine inspiration?

What is the commonly used term for the identification card that grants a non-U.S. citizen the legal right to live and work permanently in the United States, typically obtained through family sponsorship, employment, refugee status, or the Diversity Visa Lottery?

Which 1979 film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando, was inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, reimagining its central themes of moral descent and the madness of imperialism in a modern setting?