Obsolete Science Terms Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pneuma

Anaximenes' 'pneuma' was very much similar to the later idea of 'ether' (see below), in that it was a substance which was essentially everywhere around us. The idea of 'pneuma' could have been the first attempt to grasp the concept of oxygen.

Answer: Oxygen

Before the discovery of oxygen by Joseph Priestley and Karl Scheele in the late 18th century, a number of scientists adhered to the idea that a mysterious substance called 'phlogiston' (from the Greek for 'set on fire') was responsible for combustion. The discovery of oxygen, and subsequent proof that it, and not phlogiston, was required for combustion (care of French chemist Antoine Lavoisier), allowed the idea of the latter 'element' to dissipate. Interestingly, Priestley continued to believe in the existence of phlogiston until his death in 1804.

Answer: Choleric (yellow bile)

The word 'choler' originally derives from the Greek 'kholera', which means 'diarrhea' (which is a symptom of said disease). Also called 'yellow bile', it was believed to be the source of anger in human beings, and in fact the word 'choler' took on that meaning in poetic language. As might be suspected, the disease called 'cholera' shares its root with this mythical substance.

Answer: Elixir

The word 'elixir' comes from the Arabic 'al iksr', which in turn was derived from the Greek 'xerion', a powder used for drying wounds. This powder became known in Europe as the 'philosopher's stone'. Over the medieval period, as alchemy grew in importance, ideas about the philosopher's stone became more fanciful.

It was believed that this substance was a magical elixir that could bestow upon its user eternal life. Alchemists also believed that this substance could be employed to change regular metals such as tin and lead into gold. Alas, no elixir was ever found with these properties, and the phrase philosopher's stone gradually became a quaint memory of primitive science.

Answer: Animalcules

Usually not used in the current day, the term 'animalcule' seems to have been quite popular in the 19th century with scientists such as Darwin and Pasteur. The term is no longer used to describe small insects, but some still seem to fancy using it to describe amoebas and parameciums...diehards.

Answer: Black

The word 'melancholy' actually comes from the Greek words for 'black' and 'bile'. While choler was associated with anger, melancholy was believed to cause depression and sadness. The word melancholy still has currency in the English language, a synonym for depression. Of the four humours, only blood and phlegm retain the honor of continuing as actual substances produced by the human body.

Answer: Ether

The term 'ether' is now applied to a sweet-smelling organic compound often used as a solvent, and formerly used as an anesthetic (careful about breathing too much ether!).

Until it was proven that outer space was a vacuum, it was believed by many scientists that the heavens were filled with ether (also spelled 'aether'). Ether was also believed to be the key component in the transmission of light.

Answer: Quintessence

The term 'quintessence' simply translates from the Latin as the 'fifth element'. It was believed that all things were at least partially composed of this perfect substance, along with the other four elements: earth, air, water and fire. The idea probably arose in ancient Greece.

The ancient greek philosopher Empedocles is credited as the developer of the idea that all matter as we know it is comprised of the four elements.

Answer: Corpuscles

The term 'corpuscle' comes from the Latin 'corpusculum', the diminutive of 'body'. Before the development of more sophisticated theories about the nature of light that have culminated in the modern wave-particle theory, many scientists believed that the nature of light must be in the form of matter.

Hence, the idea of 'corpuscles'. Interesting debates took place on this topic, for example Isaac Newton aggressively insisted on the idea that corpuscles existed, while his rival Robert Hooke doggedly adhered to the idea that light travels in waves.

Answer: Homunculus

The term 'homunculus' is simply the diminutive form of the Latin word for mankind (homo). Early microscopists such as Malphighi and Leeuwenhoek, working with extremely low-quality equipment by today's standards, included in their sketches of spermatozoa tiny human shapes.

Their microscopes were not of the quality that would allow them to see the sperm cells with much detail, so they improvised. Hence much of the idea behind the homunculus was fanciful, and influenced by religious beliefs. Thank you for attempting this quiz, I hope you found it both challenging and entertaining. If you enjoyed it, I invite you to try some of my other stuff.