Past puzzles / #12
Bonsaily #12
Thursday, 12 November 2026 · the day’s tree: Trident maple (Tōkaede, 唐楓)
1. Name an actress who won the Oscar for Best Actress
Target: a winning film year closest to 2014. For scale: Halle Berry, 2001.
Bullseye answers
- Julianne Moore · 2014 — Best Actress for Still Alice (2014).
- Brie Larson · 2015 — Best Actress for Room (2015).
- Cate Blanchett · 2013 — Best Actress for Blue Jasmine (2013).
14 more answers scored Close (70–94). 81 answers were valid in all. Source: DLu/oscar_data (Academy Awards database) (2025).
2. Name a US state
Target: became a state in a year closest to 1844. For scale: Illinois, 1818.
Bullseye answers
- Florida · 1845 — Admitted to the Union in 1845.
- Texas · 1845 — Admitted to the Union in 1845.
- Iowa · 1846 — Admitted to the Union in 1846.
4 more answers scored Close (70–94). 50 answers were valid in all. Source: Wikipedia, List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union (1959).
3. Name a country
Target: the 5th largest by area. For scale: Mongolia is 18th.
Bullseye answers
- Brazil · 5th — 5th largest country: 8.52 million km² (3.29 million sq mi).
- Australia · 6th — 6th largest country: 7.69 million km² (2.97 million sq mi).
- United States · 4th — 4th largest country: 9.37 million km² (3.62 million sq mi).
8 more answers scored Close (70–94). 195 answers were valid in all. Source: mledoze/countries (2025).
4. Name a driver who has won a Formula One Grand Prix
Target: the 8th most Grand Prix wins (to the end of 2025). For scale: Emerson Fittipaldi is 20th.
Bullseye answers
- Nigel Mansell · 8th — 8th most wins: 31 to the end of 2025.
- Fernando Alonso · 7th — 7th most wins: 32 to the end of 2025.
- Jackie Stewart · 9th — 9th most wins: 27 to the end of 2025.
10 more answers scored Close (70–94). 115 answers were valid in all. Source: F1DB (Formula 1 database) (2025).
5. Name a chemical element
The higher its melting point, the better. For scale: Nickel is 29th.
Bullseye answers
- Tungsten · 1st — W melts at 3,422 °C (6,192 °F).
- Rhenium · 2nd — Re melts at 3,186 °C (5,767 °F).
- Osmium · 3rd — Os melts at 3,033 °C (5,491 °F).
10 more answers scored Close (70–94). 92 answers were valid in all. Source: Periodic-Table-JSON (Bowserinator) (2024).
6. Name one of the 88 constellations
Target: the 3rd smallest by area. For scale: Corona Borealis is 16th.
Bullseye answers
- Sagitta · 3rd — 80 square degrees, the 3rd smallest of the 88.
- Circinus · 4th — 93 square degrees, the 4th smallest of the 88.
- Equuleus · 2nd — 72 square degrees, the 2nd smallest of the 88.
6 more answers scored Close (70–94). 88 answers were valid in all. Source: IAU constellation boundaries (Delporte 1930) via Skyfield / Roman 1987 (VizieR VI/42) (1930).