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What's This Stuff?

Posted 01.26.11
NOVA

Here's your challenge: Using our clues, discover the identities of 10 "mystery materials." Some of these substances may be familiar, others not, but all are examples of amazing materials science at work. Get ready to test your mettle.

Launch Game

Think you know your stuff? Identify 10 mystery materials from a set of clues.

Please Note: This ran as a contest from January 12 to January 26, 2011. The contest has closed, but you can still play the game. Winners will be contacted directly in the coming month. For more details see Complete Contest Rules.

Tech & Engineering Resources

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Three artificial-intelligence experts, including the leader of the Watson team, discuss the supercomputer’s prospects.
Toward a Smart Electric Grid
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Smart Grid
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Inside a Nuclear Control Room
Explore a panoramic image of the control room at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station's training simulator.
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Explore what holds atoms together to form the myriad chemical substances found in our world.
What's This Stuff?
Think you know your stuff? Identify 10 mystery materials from a set of clues.
The Stuff of Smartphones
See the materials and technologies that go into a smartphone as well as their environmental impact.
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Bacteria help us in all kinds of ways, from fermenting foods to aiding medicine, cleaning oil spills to mining minerals.

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A Clean Energy Future?
Developing clean energy technologies makes sense not only environmentally but economically, Nobelist Steven Chu argues.
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Are workers at U.S. nuclear power plants prepared to deal with earthquakes, tsunamis, and other disasters?
The Dangers of Nanotech
Nanomaterials are used in consumer goods from cell phones to sunscreen. But how safe are they?
Rescuing the Miners
Hear from Greg Hall, the drilling expert whose team reached 33 Chilean miners trapped more than 2,000 feet underground.
Digital Diamonds?
Hear how synthetic diamonds might pave the way for the electronics of the future.