| (Reshma Saujani presents the clue.) Computer scientist Annie Easley wrote code that helped in the development of the first batteries used in this class of car that employs dual power systems |
hybrids |
200 |
February 8, 2021 |
| (Reshma Saujani presents the clue.) Coders fluent in SQL or Structured Query Language can work with information storehouses known as relational these; Oracle is famous for software that creates them |
databases |
400 |
February 8, 2021 |
| (Reshma Saujani presents the clue.) In the 1970s, Moore's Law surmised that the number of these central components on microchips would double every two years, but Moore later admitted, it probably won't last |
transistors |
600 |
February 8, 2021 |
| (Reshma Saujani presents the clue.) Tech pioneer Adele Goldberg helped develop a programming language used to create the first GUI, short for this, featuring icons & menus |
a graphical user interface |
800 |
February 8, 2021 |
| (Reshma Saujani presents the clue.) Analyzing facial & speech patterns, soft biometrics signatures help combat these videos that can make someone appear to say things they've never spoken |
deepfakes |
1000 |
February 8, 2021 |
| This process used in energy production is short for hydraulic fracturing |
fracking |
200 |
January 10, 2019 |
| Stephen Fry tweeted, "Books are no more threatened by " this Amazon device "than stairs by elevators" |
Kindle |
400 |
January 10, 2019 |
| In 1959 the USPS tried sending mail via a cruise type of this--it never took off as a delivery method |
a missile |
600 |
January 10, 2019 |
| The Argand burner, which ran on oil, revolutionized the lighting of these, like the one at Cape Hatteras |
a lighthouse |
800 |
January 10, 2019 |
| Berlin's Magnetbahn used this technology to move its trains |
maglev |
1000 |
January 10, 2019 |
| In weaving it's the machine used for interlacing the horizontal & vertical elements |
a loom |
200 |
January 27, 2016 |
| A stopcock is an external this 5-letter item used to control a liquid flow through a pipe |
a valve |
400 |
January 27, 2016 |
| The first atom bomb using this transuranium element was detonated on July 16, 1945 in New Mexico |
plutonium |
600 |
January 27, 2016 |
| To shape molten metal, or the furnace used to melt metal |
forge |
800 |
January 27, 2016 |
| Most welding torches use this colorless gas, C2H2, burned with oxygen to produce a heat high enough to cut metal |
acetylene |
1000 |
January 27, 2016 |
| Gooo--wait, is it? Yes! Gooooooal! In 2012 this sport's FIFA approved the use of goal-line technology |
soccer |
200 |
June 5, 2013 |
| This chipmaker, the world's largest, has announced "systems on a chip" measuring 22 nanometers |
Intel |
600 |
June 5, 2013 |
| The name of this colorful wireless headset technology refers to a tech trade association founded in 1998 |
Bluetooth |
800 |
June 5, 2013 |
| CSIRO has developed technology that helps drain this gas, CH4, released by the mining of coal |
methane |
1000 |
June 5, 2013 |
| (Kelly of the Clue Crew shows a diagram of a ship & a submarine on the monitor.) To hide a warship's engine noises, Prairie/Masker technology on the ship creates waves of bubbles, an effective tactic for outwitting the passive type of this detection device |
sonar |
|
June 5, 2013 |
| Exhaust gas recirculation is one way to clean the emissions of these engines used in trucks & Jettas |
Diesel engines |
200 |
February 19, 2010 |
| Erase a hard disk before disposing of a computer: putting personal data out there risks this 2-word crime |
identity theft |
400 |
February 19, 2010 |
| Using 8 industrial fans, University of Florida engineers have built a simulator of these with 125-mph winds |
a hurricane |
600 |
February 19, 2010 |
| More cardiac arrest patients survive thanks to purposely induced this condition, which cools the blood 5-8 degrees |
hypothermia |
800 |
February 19, 2010 |
| These drone aircraft controlled from Nevada have been attacking targets in Pakistan |
Predator drones |
1000 |
February 19, 2010 |
| As part of its salute to this decade, the Post Office created a stamp with a MixMaster on it |
the 1930s |
200 |
May 19, 2008 |
| This engine innovation was introduced in 1940 by GM with the slogan "No gears to shift! No clutch to press!" |
automatic transmission |
400 |
May 19, 2008 |
| On Feb. 29, 2008 Blu-Ray emerged as the new video disc choice as this Japanese co. abandoned its HD-DVD format |
Toshiba |
600 |
May 19, 2008 |
| Fingerprint ID devices are part of this security technology, from the Greek for "life" & "measure" |
biometric |
800 |
May 19, 2008 |
| The engine control unit, a car's smartest computer, monitors systems like injection of this |
fuel |
1000 |
May 19, 2008 |
| Suggestions on what to call this device ranged from farscope to telebaird |
television |
100 |
April 20, 1999 |
| Hubert Booth, not Herbert Hoover, developed the first practical electric one of these in 1901 |
Vacuum cleaner |
200 |
April 20, 1999 |
| In 1982 one of these vehicles deployed a satellite for the first time |
Space shuttle |
300 |
April 20, 1999 |
| On August 12, 1981 the world saw the first IBM personal computer using this Microsoft operating system |
MS-DOS |
500 |
April 20, 1999 |
| Until a 1967 table top model with a smaller electron tube was introduced, this kitchen device was big & pricey |
Microwave oven |
|
April 20, 1999 |
| Number of bulbs in the Magicube that replaced a battery-powered flash on cameras |
4 |
100 |
December 5, 1997 |
| The IBM "computer" of 1928 stored its data on these |
Punch cards |
200 |
December 5, 1997 |
| Laser beams are "directed" by these optical devices |
Mirrors |
300 |
December 5, 1997 |
| This brand of garbage disposer invented by John Hammes is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 1998 |
InSinkErator |
400 |
December 5, 1997 |
| In 1908 a carbon tetrachloride gas type of this was invented; in 1917 a foam type |
Fire extinguishers |
500 |
December 5, 1997 |
| Your AC, air conditioning, probably runs on AC, this |
alternating current |
100 |
September 23, 1996 |
| Device that stealth aircraft technology is designed to trick |
radar |
200 |
September 23, 1996 |
| At the 1939 New York World's Fair, the robot Elektro was accompanied by Sparko, a robot one of these |
a dog |
300 |
September 23, 1996 |
| The smallest units of information stored in a computer, they form bytes |
bits |
400 |
September 23, 1996 |
| In 1981 the Solar Challenger was a solar-powered plane & in 1977 the Gossamer Condor was powered by this |
human power (pedaling) |
500 |
September 23, 1996 |
| A box of 64 Crayola crayons has one of these devices "built-in" |
a sharpener |
100 |
June 29, 1993 |
| In 1835 C.S.A. Thilorier froze this gas to create the first "dry ice" |
carbon dioxide |
200 |
June 29, 1993 |
| After hearing this invention of his work, Edison said, "I was never so taken aback in my life" |
the phonograph |
300 |
June 29, 1993 |
| C. Vanderbilt thought George Westinghouse's idea of stopping a train by this means a fool notion |
the air brake |
400 |
June 29, 1993 |
| First built in 1960, it's also been called an optical maser |
laser |
500 |
June 29, 1993 |
| In July 1991 IBM & this rival announced a technology alliance |
Apple |
100 |
November 6, 1991 |
| Drawings discovered in 1967 showed this artist invented the chain drive around 1492 |
Leonardo da Vinci |
200 |
November 6, 1991 |
| In 1960 Theodore Maiman used this gem in his laser |
Ruby |
300 |
November 6, 1991 |
| Bell invented it in 1876; David Hughes gave it this name in 1878, & don't lean into it when you reply |
Microphone |
400 |
November 6, 1991 |
| Christiaan Huygens got into the swing of things in 1656 by adding this to the clock |
Pendulum |
500 |
November 6, 1991 |
| Its 3 blimps that still fly are the only survivors among the 300 airships built by the co. since 1911 |
Goodyear |
100 |
September 23, 1991 |
| Invented by Ben Franklin, this protective device is attached to the highest point of a structure |
lightning rod |
200 |
September 23, 1991 |
| In April 1989 this country became the first to begin experimental broadcasts in high definition TV |
Japan |
300 |
September 23, 1991 |
| In 1958 it became the first American jet aircraft put into commercial service |
the Boeing 707 |
400 |
September 23, 1991 |
| Now mostly obsolete, these machines record data on cards to be read by computers |
a keypunch machine |
500 |
September 23, 1991 |
| By the end of the 17th century the English upper crust were using the 3-prong type of these |
forks |
100 |
May 22, 1991 |
| Antron & Cordura are 2 types of this synthetic fiber made by Du Pont |
nylon |
200 |
May 22, 1991 |
| General Electric introduced this form of office illumination in the 1930s |
fluorescent lighting |
300 |
May 22, 1991 |
| Still used after 2,000 years, a quern is a set of 2 stones, one on the other, used to do this |
milling |
400 |
May 22, 1991 |
| The vitascope patented by Thomas Armat in 1895 was an early one of these |
motion picture projector |
500 |
May 22, 1991 |
| In 1981 this company introduced the PC, its first home computer |
IBM |
100 |
April 18, 1990 |
| This Italian city, known for its flooding, plans to build sea gates to control flow from the Adriatic |
Venice |
200 |
April 18, 1990 |
| The Museum of Broadcasting is transferring masters of all its shows from analog videotape to this type |
digital tape |
300 |
April 18, 1990 |
| The USSR lost contact with its Phobos 2 craft before it landed on Phobos, a moon of this planet |
Mars |
400 |
April 18, 1990 |
| A semiconductor diode is the most common of these devices that convert A.C. to D.C. |
rectifiers |
500 |
April 18, 1990 |
| During the 15th-17th centuries these developed from the matchlock to the wheellock to the flintlock |
guns |
100 |
November 20, 1989 |
| In 1861, Elisha Otis patented an elevator driven by this, not electricity |
steam |
200 |
November 20, 1989 |
| Thomas Edison's cylindrical ones were superceded by Emile Berliner's flat variety |
phonograph records |
300 |
November 20, 1989 |
| The two most common types of mechanical clocks are driven by weights or these |
springs |
400 |
November 20, 1989 |
| In 1983 Apple's Lisa computer gave PCs this device that moves the cursor around the screen |
mouse |
500 |
November 20, 1989 |
| QTest, Fact & ept are home test kits to test for this condition |
pregnancy |
100 |
June 23, 1989 |
| Egyptians used sodium carbonate, called natron, to do this to their dead |
embalm (mummify) |
200 |
June 23, 1989 |
| Rags, preferably linen, were once commonly used to make this, now wood pulp is mostly used |
paper |
300 |
June 23, 1989 |
| A push-button distress signal onboard ships will soon eliminate the need for this type of code |
SOS (Morse) |
400 |
June 23, 1989 |
| Word coined in the '40s meaning the operation of machines performing tasks that humans once did |
automation |
500 |
June 23, 1989 |
| The Europeans felt nature abhorred one, Otto von Guericke created a pretty good one in 1650 |
vacuum |
100 |
April 3, 1989 |
| Meat packer Gustavus Swift hired an engineer to design this type of railroad car |
refrigerator car |
200 |
April 3, 1989 |
| In September 1988 this Mideast country launched its 1st satellite |
Israel |
300 |
April 3, 1989 |
| There's a $1.3 mil. prize for a computer prog. that can beat a master player of this Oriental board game |
go |
400 |
April 3, 1989 |
| Lead in crystal glass not only makes it sturdier, it causes the glass to do this better |
sparkle (reflect) |
500 |
April 3, 1989 |
| In the '60s most U.S. beverage cans were made of steel; now most are made of this |
aluminum |
100 |
January 17, 1989 |
| Otis built a new 29 story skyscraper without offices to test these 2 types of transportation systems |
elevators & escalators |
200 |
January 17, 1989 |
| Because it was 1st to use steel-wire cables & among 1st to use pneumatic caissons, it was a good buy in 1883 |
Brooklyn Bridge |
300 |
January 17, 1989 |
| Since the ban on smoking, air crews can no longer spot cracks by the telltale buildup of this substance |
nicotine |
400 |
January 17, 1989 |
| This building material consists of sun-dried mud brick reinforced with straw |
adobe |
500 |
January 17, 1989 |
| In 1984, for the 1st time, the Census Bureau began keeping track of these non-human workers |
robots |
100 |
December 15, 1988 |
| In November 1936 a gov't corp. in this country began the world's 1st scheduled TV programming |
England |
200 |
December 15, 1988 |
| Term for a moving stairway, it was originally a trademark of the Otis Elevator Co. |
Escalator |
100 |
November 14, 1988 |
| At the touch of a button on July 1, 1939, this Clay Puett invention made its horse-racing debut |
Electric Starting Gate |
200 |
November 14, 1988 |
| A 1947 book trumpeted the fact that this new invention could be used to locate thunderstorms |
Radar |
300 |
November 14, 1988 |
| Charles Goodyear vulcanized rubber, and this Charles used rubber to waterproof cloth |
Macintosh |
400 |
November 14, 1988 |
| The reason the transistor was invented was to make this piece of equipment work better |
the telephone (switcher) |
500 |
November 14, 1988 |
| This war temporarily interfered with the development of nylon for civilian use |
World War II |
100 |
February 2, 1988 |
| This writing tool was reportedly invented after Lazlo Biro noticed how fast printer's ink dried |
ball point pen |
200 |
February 2, 1988 |
| About 1840, an alphabetic code was created for communication via this new invention |
telegraph |
300 |
February 2, 1988 |
| Early phonographs which featured jeweled styluses used cylinders covered with this |
wax |
400 |
February 2, 1988 |
| In 1910, Georges Claude created a new form of lighting by passing electricity thru this inert gas |
neon |
500 |
February 2, 1988 |
| Machine you might have around the house that has a feed dog, a design cam, & a bobbin winder |
sewing machine |
100 |
October 21, 1987 |
| Of 1943, 1963, or 1983, the last year Maytag made wringer-type washers |
1983 |
200 |
October 21, 1987 |
| Type of engine credited with making the Industrial Revolution possible |
steam engine |
300 |
October 21, 1987 |
| One type of atomic clock is based on the actions of molecules of this Windex ingredient |
ammonia |
400 |
October 21, 1987 |
| A computer, rating this 1863 speech for "strength of delivery", gave it an overall--zero |
The Gettysburg Address |
500 |
October 21, 1987 |
| Le Bureau International de l'Heure in Paris is the keeper of this for the world |
time |
100 |
April 22, 1987 |
| On a single digit LED readout, number shown when all 7 LEDs are lit |
8 |
200 |
April 22, 1987 |
| Replacing germanium with this in transistors got a California "Valley" named after it |
silicon |
300 |
April 22, 1987 |
| In 1904, this ex-shoe salesman & Illinois medical school graduate patented his arch support |
Dr. Scholl |
400 |
April 22, 1987 |
| Term for any gas that pressurizes the liquid in an aerosol can |
propellant |
500 |
April 22, 1987 |
| Cable services are starting to scramble signals to prevent free viewing by 1.5 mil. owners of these |
(satellite) dishes |
100 |
March 27, 1987 |
| Manufactured by Seeburg, the M-100-B of 1950 was the 1st of these to play 45s |
jukebox |
200 |
March 27, 1987 |
| Overcoming 1974 shortage of yams used in making these pills, Japan found way to synthesize the hormones |
contraceptive pills |
300 |
March 27, 1987 |
| Letter name of new Chrysler/Maserati car Iacocca calls "The best looking Italian...since my mother..." |
Q Car |
400 |
March 27, 1987 |
| Pronounced "disaster proof", W. Germany's successfully tested MHTGR is a type of this |
nuclear power plant |
500 |
March 27, 1987 |
| Though not always accurate, a polygraph machine is supposed to show if you are doing this |
lying |
100 |
February 4, 1987 |
| Calculating device developed in ancient times which the Chinese call a "reckoning board" |
abacus |
200 |
February 4, 1987 |
| Type of acid in your car battery |
sulfuric |
300 |
February 4, 1987 |
| Originally intended for lab use, his burner advanced gas lighting technology |
Robert Bunsen |
100 |
January 13, 1987 |
| In 1877, to carry meat to France, the "Frigorifique" became 1st ship equipped with this |
refrigeration |
200 |
January 13, 1987 |
| Gasoline engines commonly use a fuel injector or this to mix fuel & air |
carburetor |
300 |
January 13, 1987 |
| This alloy was cast into tools even before 3000 B.C. |
bronze |
400 |
January 13, 1987 |
| To keep son from falling off his tricycle, veterinarian John Dunlop improved the tires this way |
filling them with air (pneumatic tires) |
|
January 13, 1987 |
| The 1st was exploded on Eniwetok Atoll in 1952 |
the H-bomb |
100 |
March 12, 1986 |
| When first used, people answered them with "Ahoy" |
the telephone |
200 |
March 12, 1986 |
| In Nov. 1984, the FDA approved an electronic device which can replace this sense organ |
the ear |
300 |
March 12, 1986 |
| 1946 invention that provided a way-out experience for endangered jet crews |
an ejector seat |
400 |
March 12, 1986 |
| Edison's earliest known invention, it was patented in 1869, but Congress "elected" not to buy it |
a vote button, a vote selector, so they know how to vote(an electric voting machine) |
500 |
March 12, 1986 |
| Its nicknames include eggbeater, flying windmill, & whirlybird |
a helicopter |
100 |
October 8, 1985 |
| The Civil War's Gatling gun was the 1st practical version of this |
a machine gun |
200 |
October 8, 1985 |
| 1 of 2 metals used for tools in ancient times before iron came into vogue |
(1 of) bronze (or copper) |
300 |
October 8, 1985 |
| From 1801-1885, forerunners of the automobile had this low-pollution engine |
steam |
400 |
October 8, 1985 |
| Tool designed by London blacksmith Charles Moncke |
the monkey wrench |
500 |
October 8, 1985 |