Past puzzles / #10

Bonsaily #10

Tuesday, 10 November 2026 · the day’s tree: Japanese maple (Momiji, 紅葉)

1. Name a US president

Target: age on first taking office closest to 62 years. For scale: Franklin D. Roosevelt is 51 years.

Bullseye answers

  • Dwight D. Eisenhower · 62 years — Took office in January 1953, aged 62.
  • Andrew Jackson · 61 years — Took office in March 1829, aged 61.
  • Gerald Ford · 61 years — Succeeded to the presidency in August 1974, aged 61.
  • John Adams · 61 years — Took office in March 1797, aged 61.

13 more answers scored Close (70–94). 45 answers were valid in all. Source: unitedstates/congress-legislators (executive.yaml) (2025).

2. Name a chemical element

Target: atomic number closest to 25. For scale: Sodium is 11.

Bullseye answers

  • Manganese · 25 — Mn, atomic number 25; standard atomic weight 54.94.
  • Chromium · 24 — Cr, atomic number 24; standard atomic weight 52.
  • Iron · 26 — Fe, atomic number 26; standard atomic weight 55.85.

10 more answers scored Close (70–94). 118 answers were valid in all. Source: Periodic-Table-JSON (Bowserinator) (2024).

3. Name a moon in our Solar System

Target: the 3rd largest by diameter. For scale: Dione is 15th.

Bullseye answers

  • Callisto · 3rd — 3rd largest moon: 4,821 km (2,996 mi) across, orbiting Jupiter.
  • Io · 4th — 4th largest moon: 3,643 km (2,264 mi) across, orbiting Jupiter.
  • Titan · 2nd — 2nd largest moon: 5,149 km (3,199 mi) across, orbiting Saturn.

6 more answers scored Close (70–94). 151 answers were valid in all. Source: NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics, Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters (via devstronomy/nasa-data-scraper) (2019).

4. Name a US state

Target: population closest to 1.5 million. For scale: Alaska is about 737,270.

Bullseye answers

  • Hawaii · 1.43 million — Population 1.43 million (2025 estimate).
  • Maine · 1.41 million — Population 1.41 million (2025 estimate).
  • New Hampshire · 1.42 million — Population 1.42 million (2025 estimate).

7 more answers scored Close (70–94). 50 answers were valid in all. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, annual state population estimates (via FRED) (2025).

5. Name a Formula One Grand Prix

Target: World Championship races held (to the end of 2025) closest to 40. For scale: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is about 17.

Bullseye answers

  • Hungarian Grand Prix · 40 — First a World Championship race in 1986; held 40 times to the end of 2025.
  • Australian Grand Prix · 39 — First a World Championship race in 1985; held 39 times to the end of 2025.
  • Japanese Grand Prix · 39 — First a World Championship race in 1976; held 39 times to the end of 2025.
  • Austrian Grand Prix · 38 — First a World Championship race in 1964; held 38 times to the end of 2025.

5 more answers scored Close (70–94). 53 answers were valid in all. Source: F1DB (Formula 1 database) (2025).

6. Name an actor who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor

Target: a winning film year closest to 1956. For scale: Michael Caine, 1986.

Bullseye answers

  • Anthony Quinn · 1956 — Best Supporting Actor twice: 1952 and 1956; most recently for Lust for Life.
  • Jack Lemmon · 1955 — Best Supporting Actor for Mister Roberts (1955).
  • Red Buttons · 1957 — Best Supporting Actor for Sayonara (1957).

11 more answers scored Close (70–94). 81 answers were valid in all. Source: DLu/oscar_data (Academy Awards database) (2025).