A Cute Scientific Office Decor Quiz

Answer: Ankh

The ankh is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph and physical artifact that is symbolic of of eternal life. It looks like the modern Christian crucifix except that the top arm is a loop. It is found on the walls of the Egyptian pyramids, and underground crypts.

Answer: Wood cores

You could expect to see wood cores or a variety of wood samples. Dendrochronology is the study of tree rings. It is often used to study past ecology and weather patterns. It is often used in archeology to provide dating for wooden artifacts.

Answer: Fish

Ichthyology is the study of fish. It encompasses all bony fish and is often associated with oceanography and marine biology. It is an ever growing field as each year over 200 new fish species are discovered.

Answer: Snail shells

Malacology is a branch of zoology that studies snails and other aquatic mollusks and invertebrates. Malacologists may study squid and octopus or may specialize in the field of conchology which studies the shells of other aquatic invertebrates.

Answer: Fungi

Mycology is the study of fungi and is closely associated with phytopathology from which it arose. It studies the biochemical and genetic properties of fungi and their uses in the field of pharmacology and food. It would be completely normal to see a display case full of a variety of dried mushrooms.

Answer: Meteorites

Aerolithology is the branch of astronomy that studies areolites, also known as meteors. This field of study focuses on the orbits and the composition of meteors and their impact of the world around us. It is usually considered a subspecialty of astronomy.

Answer: Map of China

Sinology is the study of the country of China. Chinese artifacts and maps could be expected decorations in the office of someone involved in this science. Sinologists study the history, language, art, literature and philosophical belief systems.

Answer: False

This is false. Many people mix up astrology (a belief system) with astronomy (a science). Galileo is often called the father of astronomy, not astrology. Astrology is a belief system that holds that the position and movements of celestial objects influences human personality and affairs. Astronomy is the science of all celestial objects.

It studies the movement, evolution, composition, energy, and distribution of all celestial objects, not just those in our own galaxy.

Answer: True

I should be sceptical right away. Rumpology is a pseudo-science that purports to be able to diagnose problems by examining the dimples and folds of a person's buttocks. It is akin to chirology, which is the study of palm reading and phrenology, which is the study of the bumps on a person's head. Oxford University does not offer a degree in any of these fields.

Answer: True

The fields of mastology, masology, and mammalogy, all specialize in the study of mammals. They include to evolution and history of this branch of life forms. These all fall under the general field of Zoology and most people in this field study a particular species.