From Penguinone to triazole: knowledge that has been scoring points on the Science Quiz for 20 years

Twenty years of quizzing makes itself felt: the organisation has grown into a well-oiled collaboration between various scientific associations, and the participants form a colourful gathering of students, researchers, industry professionals and other curious minds from all corners of science.

Nostalgia

Out of nostalgia, let us dust off a chemistry question from the very first quiz in 2005:

Which of the following molecule names does NOT exist?

A. Alonium

B. Alarmophobe

C. Homo‑erotic acid

D. Penguinone

The correct answer is B — feel free to go and Google the others.

Recent Science

This year’s quiz naturally also brought recent science within reach. One question that had the chemists in the room sitting up straight:

‘Sharpless won the Nobel Prize in 2022 for his work on click chemistry. What is the name of the functional group containing three nitrogen atoms that lies at the heart of the well-known reaction?’

For those in the know: the triazole.

Eureka Moments

After ten rounds of intense thinking, eureka moments and the occasional sigh of relief, the winning team emerged: No Style, No Glory! — no strangers to the quiz circuit, and once again impressively consistent.

The anniversary edition made clear why the Science Quiz has endured for two decades: it connects people, disciplines and generations. It demonstrates that science does not live solely in laboratories and lecture theatres, but also in play, curiosity and collaboration. And all of that is even more enjoyable with a drink and a bite to eat!

The next edition will take place in autumn 2026. More information will appear at wetenschapsquiz.be.

We hope to see you then. Here’s to the next twenty years.

The organising team of the Science Quiz