FSE Dean’s Christmas quiz
How well do you really know the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the University and the community around you? Put your knowledge to the test! A huge thank you to all our contributors for crafting these wonderfully tricky questions.
You can download the full Christmas quiz here.
1. How did a bird cause a delay in the operation of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN?
Submitted by Darren Price, Physics and Astronomy
Answer
The bird dropped a piece of baguette into the high voltage power supply. The baguette dropped by the bird caused a capacitor to overhead, cutting power to one of the cooling plants, in turn causing some of the cryogenic superconducting magnets that steer the proton beams to overheat and stop operation for three days. CERN is a European particle physics laboratory that works with Universities on large-scale research projects. Link to further information.
2. Dame Jocelyn Burnell gave the Physics & Astronomy department annual Bragg lecture earlier this year to celebrate the 80th anniversary of our Jodrell Bank Observatory. She labelled the first Pulsar she discovered ‘LGM’. What did LGM stand for?
Submitted by Chris Parkes, Physics and Astronomy
Answer
Little Green Men. In 1967 in Cambridge she observed periodic pulses of radio waves from a point in the sky and hence jokingly labelled them with a name to suggest an extraterrestrial origin. It turned out to be the discovery of a pulsar – a rotating neutron star that emits electromagnetic radiation from its magnetic poles. Jodrell Bank has been at the forefront of pulsar research since their discovery. Recently our researchers have been using the timing of pulsars to find evidence for gravitational waves from supermassive black holes.
3. At the University of Manchester, we have students from over 160 countries. In the world, there are only two double landlocked countries. One is Uzbekistan, what is the other?
Submitted by Carol Jeffery, TLSE School Of Natural Sciences
Answer
Liechtenstein. Link to further information.
4. In July 2025, Andy Burnham announced plans for a new Manchester underground network. However, this wasn’t the first time a Manchester underground has been proposed. In the 1970s, an underground railway was proposed and subsequently cancelled. What was its name?
Submitted by Lainey, Physics and Astronomy student
Answer
The Picc-Vic Tunnel. Link to further information.
5. How many times would you have to search Google to use as much energy as it takes to charge the latest iPhone?
Submitted by Robin Preece, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Answer
50. Google has reported 0.3 Wh per search, often quoted. Apple provide battery details of 14.351 Wh for the iphone 17. So we just divide one by the other.
6. Some SCIENTISTS are playing CHARADES around a FAMOUS TABLE! They have great CHEMISTRY but unfortunately they are stuck. Help them out by uncovering the NAMED ELEMENTS of seasonal cheer.
Submitted by David Stewart, Mathematics
Answer
Elves, Noel, goose, Scrooge, snowflakes, Xmas
7. The invention of which component that replaced vacuum tubes for electronic switching heralded in the new Digital age of Electronics in the 1950s onwards?
Submitted by Claire Fuzipeg, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Answer
The transistor. Vacuum tubes had several drawbacks and the invention of the semiconductor transistor allowed Electronics to progress and miniaturise and heralded in the modern era of electronics. Link to further information.
8. Sarah is the first female Dean of the University of Manchester Faculty of Science and Engineering. But what is the only country named after a woman?
Submitted by Ciaran Gutteridge, TLSE School of Engineering
Answer
Saint Lucia
9. If Santa wanted to certify his sleigh before take off he could use CFD. What does CFD stand for?
Submitted by Alejandro Frangi, Computer Science
Answer
Computational Fluid Dynamics
10. The Department of Materials at the University of Manchester has roots going back to the Industrial Revolution. Which two original disciplines formed part of the Mechanics’ Institution in 1824, laying the foundation for today’s department?
Submitted by David Lewis, Materials
Answer
Textiles / Paper. These were among the original departments created when the Mechanics’ Institution was founded in 1824, reflecting Manchester’s role as “Cottonopolis” during the Industrial Revolution. Over time, these areas evolved and merged with others, eventually forming the modern Department of Materials after the UMIST and Victoria University of Manchester merger in 2004. Link to further information.
11. If the code for NAPE is QDSH, what is IXHO the code for?
Submitted by Wai Ling Tang, TLSE School of Engineering
Answer
Fuel. The code works by moving each letter forward 3 places in the alphabet. To decode, move each letter back 3 places.
12. Joseph Whitworth’s name is all over this city and University; Whitworth Street, Whitworth Art Gallery, Whitworth Hall (where our students graduate). Whitworth famously created the quick return mechanism in the mid-1800s. He also devised the British Standard Whitworth system, which created an accepted standard for what?
Submitted by Benedict D. Rogers, Civil Engineering and Management
Answer
Screw threads. Link to further information.
13. In 2023, UoM became one of two Higher Education institutions in the UK to be awarded a Silver Race Equality Charter Award. As of January 2024, there were approximately 24,000 professors in the UK. How many of these were Black-heritage female professors?
Submitted by Lynne Bianchi and the SREDIA team
Answer
61. The HESA (define) data also show that the overall proportion of professors at all UK Universities who are female increased marginally, from 30 per cent in 2021-22 to 31 per cent in 2022-23. This is despite the fact that female staff accounted for 50 per cent of full-time staff, and 66 per cent of part-time staff in 2022-23. Link to further information.
14. Sarah’s previous role was Chief Scientific Adviser of Department for Transport, which has responsibility for Active Travel policy in England. If the UK switched all car travel under 5 miles to walking or cycling, which would be the closest approximate equivalent carbon saving?
Submitted by the SREDIA team
Answer
The annual emissions of 3 coal-fired power stations. Journeys under 5 miles account for 20% of all private care journeys and a have annual emissions of approximately 34 MtCO2e Drax in the UK which is a coal-type power plant (but burns wood chips) has an annual emission of approximately 11.5 Mt CO2e. Link to further information.
15. I’m the unseen guardian that captures what you shouldn’t breathe. I work close to the source, but never roam free. What am I?
Submitted by Hayley Markham, Infrastructure and Facilities
Answer
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). LEV is used in many forms across the Faculty to ensure that we do not expose people in the workplace to hazardous materials. You may have come across them unknowingly. These are items such as fume cupboards, soldering cubes, on tool extraction systems to name just a few. The I&F team work throughout the year to ensure that these are operating as intended and are tested and serviced in line with statutory regulations. Link to further information.
16. What is the total number of gifts in the 12 Days of Christmas song?
Submitted by Tim Pickin, Student Marketing and Recruitment
Answer
364. The partridge in a pear tree is given once on each of the 12 days → 12 partridges. The two turtle doves are given on days 2–12 → 11 days × 2 = 22 doves. The three French hens are given on days 3–12 → 10 days × 3 = 30 hens. The four calling birds → 9 days × 4 = 36 birds. The five gold rings → 8 days × 5 = 40 rings. The six geese a-laying → 7 days × 6 = 42 geese. The seven swans a-swimming → 6 days × 7 = 42 swans. The eight maids a-milking → 5 days × 8 = 40 maids. The nine ladies dancing → 4 days × 9 = 36 ladies. The ten lords a-leaping → 3 days × 10 = 30 lords. The eleven pipers piping → 2 days × 11 = 22 pipers. The twelve drummers drumming → 1 day × 12 = 12 drummers. Add them all up: 12 + 22 + 30 + 36 + 40 + 42 + 42 + 40 + 36 + 30 + 22 + 12 = 364.
17. What is the number of the Gömböc presented to the University of Manchester in 2024, which is on display in the Alan Turing Building?
Submitted by Andrew Hazel, Mathematics
Answer
1824. Link to further information.
18. Which country celebrates Drew Day, named in honour of a UoM lecturer from 1922-1957?
Submitted by Sarah Sharples, Dean of FSE
Answer
Japan. In honour of Kathleen Drew-Baker, a lecturer in botany at the University of Manchester from 1922 until 1957. Her research into a leafy red seaweed showed that it could be replicated to produce edible seaweed, used to scale up the previously difficult to harvest seaweed that was a critical ingredient for sushi. As a result of her work, and in celebration of its contribution to sushi, the Japanese have an annual festival on 14th April called Drew Day).
19. How many football pitches could fit into the Nancy Rothwell Building?
Submitted by Kay Hodgson and Sam Ryder, Directors of School Operations
Answer
11
20. What is the name of the dinosaur in the Williamson building, home of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences?
Submitted by Sarah Sharples, Dean of FSE
Answer
Georgie the Gorgosaurus
21. In the John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester’s ‘Great British Pop Archive’ holds archives of bands including the Sex Pistols, Joy Division, New Order, and which of the following?
Submitted by Duncan Ivison, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Manchester
Answer
The Smiths. Link to further information.
How well did you do?
0-5 points: The naughty list
You’re a snowman, not built to last much like your general knowledge, you melted under pressure.
6-10 points: The nice-ish list
Santa’s apprentice, you know which way is north, but you’re not allowed to drive the sleigh yet.
11-15 points: The nice list
Mariah Carey in November, a little early, but everyone loves you for trying this hard.
16-21 Points: Santa’s Elite
The Christmas Miracle, your knowledge is the gift that keeps on giving.
