Past puzzles / #5
Bonsaily #5
Thursday, 5 November 2026 · the day’s tree: Japanese maple (Momiji, 紅葉)
1. Name a film that won the Oscar for Best Picture
Target: film year closest to 2005. For scale: The Shape of Water, 2017.
Bullseye answers
- Crash · 2005 — Best Picture for 2005 films, at the 78th Academy Awards.
- Million Dollar Baby · 2004 — Best Picture for 2004 films, at the 77th Academy Awards.
- The Departed · 2006 — Best Picture for 2006 films, at the 79th Academy Awards.
16 more answers scored Close (70–94). 98 answers were valid in all. Source: DLu/oscar_data (Academy Awards database) (2025).
2. Name a US state
Target: population closest to 12 million. For scale: Louisiana is about 4.62 million.
Bullseye answers
- Ohio · 11.9 million — Population 11.9 million (2025 estimate).
- Georgia · 11.3 million — Population 11.3 million (2025 estimate).
- Illinois · 12.7 million — Population 12.7 million (2025 estimate).
- North Carolina · 11.2 million — Population 11.2 million (2025 estimate).
5 more answers scored Close (70–94). 50 answers were valid in all. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, annual state population estimates (via FRED) (2025).
3. Name a chemical element that is solid or liquid at room temperature
Target: density closest to 20 g/cm³. For scale: Mercury is about 13.5 g/cm³.
Bullseye answers
- Plutonium · 19.8 g/cm³ — Pu: density 19.8 g/cm³.
- Neptunium · 20.5 g/cm³ — Np: density 20.5 g/cm³.
- Gold · 19.3 g/cm³ — Au: density 19.3 g/cm³.
- Tungsten · 19.3 g/cm³ — W: density 19.3 g/cm³.
- Rhenium · 21 g/cm³ — Re: density 21 g/cm³.
- Uranium · 19.1 g/cm³ — U: density 19.1 g/cm³.
7 more answers scored Close (70–94). 81 answers were valid in all. Source: Periodic-Table-JSON (Bowserinator) (2024).
4. Name a country
Target: population in 1960 (within today's borders) closest to 50 million. For scale: Iran is about 21.5 million.
Bullseye answers
- Italy · 50.2 million — 50.2 million people in 1960 (today's borders); 58.9 million in 2025.
- Bangladesh · 51.8 million — 51.8 million people in 1960 (today's borders); 176 million in 2025.
- France · 47.4 million — 47.4 million people in 1960 (today's borders); 68.7 million in 2025.
- United Kingdom · 52.4 million — 52.4 million people in 1960 (today's borders); 69.5 million in 2025.
7 more answers scored Close (70–94). 193 answers were valid in all. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL) (2025).
5. Name a driver who has won a Formula One Grand Prix
Target: Grand Prix wins (to the end of 2025) closest to 12. For scale: George Russell is about 5.
Bullseye answers
- Alan Jones · 12 — 12 wins to the end of 2025; first at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix.
- Carlos Reutemann · 12 — 12 wins to the end of 2025; first at the 1974 South African Grand Prix.
- Mario Andretti · 12 — 12 wins to the end of 2025; first at the 1971 South African Grand Prix.
22 more answers scored Close (70–94). 115 answers were valid in all. Source: F1DB (Formula 1 database) (2025).
6. Name one of the 88 constellations
The smaller its area of sky, the better. For scale: Canis Minor is 18th.
Bullseye answers
- Crux · 1st — 68 square degrees, the smallest of the 88.
- Equuleus · 2nd — 72 square degrees, the 2nd smallest of the 88.
- Sagitta · 3rd — 80 square degrees, the 3rd smallest of the 88.
10 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).