Final Jeopardy: Science Etymology (11-23-23)
Today’s Final Jeopardy question (11/23/2023) in the category “Science Etymology” was:
First detected in the sun’s atmosphere in 1868, it got its name from an old word for sun
The Champions Wild Card quarter-finals continue today with these three champs: Jen Jazwinski, a youth services librarian from Algonquin, IL; Ed Hashima, a community college history professor from Sacramento, CA; and Amy Bekkerman, a copy editor from Durham, NH.
Round 1 Categories: The “A” List – Biblical Zoo – Whatchamacallit – They Come in Sevens – Put Me In – Coach
Jen found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Biblical Zoo” under the $1,000 clue on the 3rd pick of the round. She was in second place with $200, $400 less than Amy’s lead. Jen bet the $1,000 allowance and she was RIGHT.
After crossing this, Miriam led a chorus of “the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea” show
Ed finished in the lead with $7,000. Amy was in second place with $6,600. Jen was last with $2,800. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Nordic Literature – Cartoon Theme Songs – Name that Rebellion – Modern Architectural Styles – ____ of ____ – Oxymorons
Ed found the first Daily Double in “Name That Rebellion” under the $800 clue on the 10th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $11,000, $2,000 more than Amy in second place. Ed bet $4,000 and he was RIGHT.
Pennsylvania, 1794: The Feds versus Farmers over a tax on liquor show
Jen got the last Daily Double in “____ of ____” under the $1,200 clue with 7 clues left. She was in last place with $9,600, $11,800 less than Ed’s lead. Jen bet $9,000 and she was RIGHT.
Similes, metaphors & personification, for example show
Ed finished in the lead with $23,000. Jen was in second place with $20,200. Amy was last with $14,600. All clues were shown.
TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS HELIUM?
According to Etymology Online, in 1868, “helium” was coined from Greek hēlios for “sun” “because the element was detected in the solar spectrum during the eclipse of Aug. 18, 1868, by English astronomer Sir Joseph N. Lockyer (1836-1920) and English chemist Sir Edward Frankland (1825-1899). It was not actually obtained until 1895; before then it was assumed to be an alkali metal, hence the ending in -ium.”
A “This Month in Physics History” article on AdvancingPhysics.com credits Joseph Lockyer with coining “helium” for the element but also credits French astronomer Pierre Janssen with helium’s discovery. They say it was Janssen who was watching the August 18, 1863 eclipse in India while Lockyer made his observations “in broad daylight” on October 20, 1868. Both men submitted their findings to the French Academy of Sciences and both men got credit for discovering helium, as their papers were received on the same day.
Amy got it right. She bet $14,500 and finished with $29,100.
Jen got it right, too. She bet it all and doubled her score to $40,400.
Ed had hydrogen and “thanks for having me back.” That thank you message cost him dearly when he had second thoughts about hydrogen. He crossed it out furiously but had no time left to switch to the right response. Ed lost his $18,000 and finished with $5,000. Jen Jazwinski is our second finalist.
A triple stumper from each round:
CARTOON THEME SONGS ($1600) “Long tails and ears for hats”
MODERN ARCHITECTURAL STYLES ($800) New Hague School
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “History”
In 1985 the mayor of Rome went to a suburb of Tunis to sign a treaty ending this after more than 2,100 years show
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Missed the show entirely while overeating at my daughter’s place, so dependent on the recap. One of those rare times I got all 3 DDs and FJ. Sure helps to know word derivations sometimes. Those Sevens and Oxymorons clues were fun to answer. Surprised no one knew the substitute MC.
The other night I had a mild reaction to a booster shot, and wrote a poem about it based on “Sounds of Silence.” S&G graduated from my HS 10 years earlier.
I misunderstood Final, so I missed it. I thought they were asking about a part of the sun, so, I first said “corona” (which is what you see in a total solar eclipse), then, “heliosphere”, so, I did get the “Helios” part, but, misapplied it.
This game, though, was a lights out, bang up great one!
I always get miffed when The Magnificent Seven is called Steve McQueen’s film, like today in the “Sevens” category.
Yul Brynner was the star of The Magnificent Seven and the one who got top billing. McQueen was second banana.
P.S. I am a big Yul Brynner fan.
That’s a remarkable list, and, I approve, greatly! All I recall of Yul is that he smoked 5 packs a day, and made a video before he died that smoking kills.
I’m glad you liked that list, Jason. I hope you watch “The Brothers Karamazov” sometime. It’s my favorite.
Congrats to Jen for making it to the finals. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.