30 science quiz questions that don't require a PhD

Science rounds have a reputation for being either too easy (everyone knows what H2O is) or impossibly hard (nobody remembers the Krebs cycle). The sweet spot is questions that make people think about stuff they vaguely remember learning, without needing specialist knowledge.

Here are 25 science questions that work at quiz nights. They cover biology, chemistry, physics, and space, all at a level where anyone with decent general knowledge can contribute.

Space and Astronomy

Space questions are reliably popular. People watch documentaries, read headlines about Mars rovers, and generally find the universe fascinating.

1What is the largest planet in our solar system?Use in quizUse

Answer:Jupiter(click to reveal)

2How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?Use in quizUse

Answer:About 8 minutes(click to reveal)

3What planet is famous for its rings?Use in quizUse

Answer:Saturn (though several planets have rings)(click to reveal)

4What is the name of the first human to travel into space?Use in quizUse

Answer:Yuri Gagarin(click to reveal)

5How many planets are in our solar system?Use in quizUse

Answer:Eight (since Pluto was reclassified in 2006)(click to reveal)

6What is a light-year a measurement of?Use in quizUse

Answer:Distance (not time)(click to reveal)

7What galaxy contains our solar system?Use in quizUse

Answer:The Milky Way(click to reveal)

8What phenomenon causes the Northern Lights?Use in quizUse

Answer:Solar particles interacting with Earth's atmosphere(click to reveal)

Biology and the Human Body

Questions about how living things work. Bodies are fascinating and slightly gross, which makes them good quiz material.

9What is the largest organ in the human body?Use in quizUse

Answer:The skin(click to reveal)

10How many bones does an adult human have?Use in quizUse

Answer:206(click to reveal)

11What is the fastest land animal?Use in quizUse

Answer:Cheetah(click to reveal)

12What do red blood cells carry around the body?Use in quizUse

Answer:Oxygen(click to reveal)

13How many chambers does the human heart have?Use in quizUse

Answer:Four(click to reveal)

14What is the powerhouse of the cell?Use in quizUse

Answer:Mitochondria (the meme answer that everyone somehow remembers)(click to reveal)

15What is the largest animal ever to have lived?Use in quizUse

Answer:Blue whale(click to reveal)

Chemistry and Physics

Focus on elements, simple compounds, and real-world applications.

16What is the chemical symbol for gold?Use in quizUse

Answer:Au (from the Latin "aurum")(click to reveal)

17What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?Use in quizUse

Answer:Nitrogen (about 78%)(click to reveal)

18What does pH measure?Use in quizUse

Answer:How acidic or alkaline something is(click to reveal)

19What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?Use in quizUse

Answer:Mercury(click to reveal)

20What does the Richter scale measure?Use in quizUse

Answer:Earthquake magnitude(click to reveal)

21At what temperature does water freeze in Celsius?Use in quizUse

Answer:0 degrees(click to reveal)

22What force keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?Use in quizUse

Answer:Gravity(click to reveal)

23What is measured in hertz?Use in quizUse

Answer:Frequency(click to reveal)

24What scientist developed the theory of general relativity?Use in quizUse

Answer:Albert Einstein(click to reveal)

25At what temperature are Celsius and Fahrenheit equal?Use in quizUse

Answer:-40 degrees(click to reveal)

Using Science Questions Well

A few tips from running science rounds:

Don't cluster them together. Mixing science questions throughout a general knowledge round works better than a dedicated science round. It stops teams from mentally checking out if they think they're "not science people."

Accept reasonable variations. If someone writes "carbon monoxide" instead of "CO," give them the point. You're testing knowledge, not chemical notation.

Add context when revealing answers. "The answer is mitochondria, which you might remember from school biology" makes teams feel better about not knowing than just "mitochondria, next question."

Avoid calculation questions. "What is the square root of 144?" isn't really a science question, and it slows things down while people do maths.