Question for June 22, 2011

X is an organism organized in a hexagonal crystal shaped structure. It requires pure energy for growth which it uses with high efficiency, producing no excretory waste. While green in colour under normal circumstances, it changes to a purplish colour during mitotic division. X can grow only under a highly specific set of conditions. The pH range required for its growth is 7.39 to 7.43. The best conditions are under ultra-violet light with the air rich in carbon dioxide while the worst conditions are under infra-red light with the air rich in oxygen.

When introduced in the human body it immediately coagulates the entire blood stream resulting in near instant death. In certain cases it attacks the brain resulting in insanity leading to death. While extremely deadly at the time it was discovered, it has since mutated into a relatively harmless organism with the ability to "eat" through rubber, and is believed to have migrated to upper space.

Identify X.

Question for Jun 14

Who employs the ladies shown in the visual?

One for the monsoon!

X is an Arabic name for a country (called Y today) derived from the Persian work "The three princes of ____" which involves a country in the east whose princes by accidents and sagacity discern the nature of a lost camel.

An English word Z also originates from X and X's connotations in the Persian work above. A certain amount of Z would seem to have stood medieval Arab dhows and Chinese junks docking on the shores of Y in good stead until they learned to count on the regular reversals of monsoon winds to propel their sails beyond that way-stop. There are many celebrated examples of Z in science (unconnected to X and Y) including that of Alexander Fleming and Penicillin.

Identify X, Y and Z.

Question for June 9, 2011

This is an attempt to revive the blog. Questions will be posted spradically. Hopefully we will not see more than a week go by without a new question.

A is a film company founded in 1961 by X and Y. While X produced most of the films, Y directed them and Z wrote the script. The stories were based on novels or short stories, such as those written by Henry James and E. M. Forster. While the initial aim of the company was to make English language movies set in India, it ended up making films set in England and America as well. X once remarked on this collaboration, "It is a strange marriage we have at A... I am an Indian Muslim, Z is a German Jew, and Y is a Protestant American. Someone once described us as a three-headed god. Maybe they should have called us a three-headed monster!"

Identify A, X and Y. Bonus points if you can identify Z as well.

Highlight the text in quotes for a hint.

"Some of the movies made by A include Shakespeare Wallah and Bombay Talkie. A recent movie from 2008 named Before the Rains was directed by Santosh Sivan"