Past puzzles / #3
Bonsaily #3
Tuesday, 3 November 2026 · the day’s tree: Japanese maple (Momiji, 紅葉)
1. Name a Formula One world drivers’ champion
Target: a title-winning season closest to 1998. For scale: Nico Rosberg, 2016.
Bullseye answers
- Mika Häkkinen · 1998 — 2 titles (1998, 1999); 20 Grand Prix wins to the end of 2025.
- Jacques Villeneuve · 1997 — World champion in 1997; 11 Grand Prix wins to the end of 2025.
- Damon Hill · 1996 — World champion in 1996; 22 Grand Prix wins to the end of 2025.
- Michael Schumacher · 2000 — 7 titles (1994, 1995, 2000–2004); 91 Grand Prix wins to the end of 2025.
9 more answers scored Close (70–94). 35 answers were valid in all. Source: F1DB (Formula 1 database) (2025).
2. Name a moon in our Solar System
Target: diameter closest to 5,000 km. For scale: Triton is about 2,707 km.
Bullseye answers
- Callisto · 4,821 km — Moon of Jupiter, 4,821 km (2,996 mi) across.
- Titan · 5,149 km — Moon of Saturn, 5,149 km (3,199 mi) across.
- Ganymede · 5,262 km — Moon of Jupiter, 5,262 km (3,270 mi) across.
3 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).
3. Name a country
Target: population density closest to 60 per km². For scale: Algeria is about 19.9 per km².
Bullseye answers
- Bosnia and Herzegovina · 61.3 per km² — 61.3 per km²: 3.14 million people on 51,209 km².
- Guinea · 61.4 per km² — 61.4 per km²: 15.1 million people on 245,857 km².
- Panama · 60.6 per km² — 60.6 per km²: 4.57 million people on 75,417 km².
- Bulgaria · 58 per km² — 58 per km²: 6.43 million people on 110,879 km².
- Guinea-Bissau · 62.3 per km² — 62.3 per km²: 2.25 million people on 36,125 km².
- Cameroon · 62.9 per km² — 62.8 per km²: 29.9 million people on 475,442 km².
42 more answers scored Close (70–94). 194 answers were valid in all. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL) (2025).
4. Name a US president
Target: presidency number closest to 40. For scale: Franklin D. Roosevelt is 32.
Bullseye answers
- Ronald Reagan · 40 — The 40th president; took office in January 1981, aged 69.
- George H. W. Bush · 41 — The 41st president; took office in January 1989, aged 64.
- Jimmy Carter · 39 — The 39th president; took office in January 1977, aged 52.
10 more answers scored Close (70–94). 45 answers were valid in all. Source: unitedstates/congress-legislators (executive.yaml) (2025).
5. Name a chemical element
Target: melting point closest to 300 °C. For scale: Bromine is about -7 °C.
Bullseye answers
- Thallium · 304 °C — Tl melts at 304 °C (579 °F).
- Cadmium · 321 °C — Cd melts at 321 °C (610 °F).
- Bismuth · 272 °C — Bi melts at 272 °C (522 °F).
- Lead · 327 °C — Pb melts at 327 °C (621 °F).
- Polonium · 254 °C — Po melts at 254 °C (489 °F).
14 more answers scored Close (70–94). 92 answers were valid in all. Source: Periodic-Table-JSON (Bowserinator) (2024).
6. Name an actress who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress
Target: a winning film year closest to 2002. For scale: Whoopi Goldberg, 1990.
Bullseye answers
- Catherine Zeta-Jones · 2002 — Best Supporting Actress for Chicago (2002).
- Jennifer Connelly · 2001 — Best Supporting Actress for A Beautiful Mind (2001).
- Renée Zellweger · 2003 — Best Supporting Actress for Cold Mountain (2003).
16 more answers scored Close (70–94). 88 answers were valid in all. Source: DLu/oscar_data (Academy Awards database) (2025).