Word of the Week - 9-29-2008

Word of the Week
SCABROUS
Pronunciation: \ˈskah-bruhs also ˈskay-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin scabr-, scaber rough, scurfy; akin to Latin scabere to scratch
Date: 1646
1: difficult , knotty
2: rough to the touch: as a: having small raised dots, scales, or points b: covered with raised, roughened, or unwholesome patches
3: dealing with suggestive, indecent, or scandalous themes : salacious ; also : squalid


Interesting Fact

Lightning may be Mother Nature’s greatest show on Earth, but scientists now know it can produce significant amounts of ozone and other gases that affect air chemistry. Researcher Renyi Zhang of Texas A&M University helped lead a study on the impact of lightning, and the results are surprising: Lightning can be responsible for as much as 90 percent of the nitrogen oxides in the summer and at the same time increase ozone levels as much as 30 percent in the free troposphere, the area that extends 3-8 miles above the Earth’s surface. The amount of ozone and nitrogen oxides that lightning creates is greater than those created by human activities in that level of the atmosphere, the study shows. "The largest source of nitrogen oxides over the U.S. is the burning of fossil fuels, but such a small emission by lightning plays a huge role in influencing regional air chemistry. The reason is that nitrogen oxides from fossil fuels burning is released close to the Earth’s surface and is consumed rapidly by chemical reactions before being transported upward. But lightning directly releases nitrogen oxides throughout the entire troposphere, or as high as eight miles," Zhang adds. In addition, Zhang says there is strong evidence that urban air pollution may contribute to more lightning, creating more ozone over the United States. Zhang says nitrogen oxides can lead to the formation of ozone and smog, and these can greatly increase chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Ozone can also affect chemical activities in the atmosphere and even affect climate changes around the world by acting as a greenhouse gas.

Trivial Pursuit
Here are this week’s questions:
Global View (Geography):
What morning malady do Outer Mongolians cure by chugging a pickled sheep’s eye in tomato juice?

Entertainment:
Who did Holly Hunter portray in the TV movie When Billy Beat Bobby?

News:
What vice-presidential candidate noted in a 1985 book: “Even after three years in Congress, I could not get a VISA card”?

Written Word:
What beachside balladeer penned the 1998 number-one memoir A Pirate Looks at Fifty?

Life and Science:
What European city got to play an eight-story-tall game of Pong, thanks to the Chaos Computer Club’s Blinkenlights display, in 2001?

Games and Sports:
What did Steve Williams lug for seven miles most days in 2000, to earn a reported $880,000?


Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What animal is central to diet and culture for the Gwich’in, the northernmost Native Americans in the U.S.? caribou

Entertainment:
What Rick Moranis movie came within a hair of being titled Teeny Weenies? Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

News:
What religious group spent five million hours digitizing data on immigrants who passed through New York City from 1892 to 1924? Mormons

Written Word:
What Mad magazine cartoonist “vroomed” around with a license plate reading, “Shtoink”? Don Martin

Life and Science:
Where did a Swedish study indicate one should insert acupuncture needles to prevent morning sickness – the earlobe, forearm or lower back? forearm

Games and Sports:
What NBA team stumbled to a 15-67 record in 1999 – 2000, the same season the Lakers went 67-15? Los Angeles Clippers