The Astra Nova Conundrums are the brain child of John Dahn (co-founder Ad Astra / Astra Nova). The conundrums promote ethical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving. They are a brilliant resource for schools, corporate icebreakers and even dinner parties.
The Blue Comet Conundrum
The Treasure Conundrum
The Fox Conundrum
The Chocolate Conundrum
The Pizza Conundrum
The Martian Conundrum
The President Conundrum
The Dinosaur Conundrum
The Flying Bike Conundrum
The Alien Conundrum
The Airport Conundrum
The Neighbor Conundrum
The Boat Conundrum
The Arctic Conundrum
The Art Conundrum
The Weather Conundrum
The Tree Conundrum
The Message in the Bottle Conundrum
The NASA Conundrum
The Dragon Conundrum
The Halloween Conundrum
The Ferry Conundrum
The Game Conundrum
The Bird Conundrum
The Secret Conundrum
The Masterpiece Conundrum
The Photo Conundrum
The Speed Conundrum
The Light Conundrum
The Island Conundrum
The Underground Conundrum
The Moonshot Conundrum
The Conundrum Conundrum
The Lake Conundrum
The Lake Returns Conundrum
The Closing Conundrum
The Sneaker Crime Conundrum
The Hotel Crime Conundrum
The Magic Crime Conundrum
The AI Crime Conundrum
The Fuel Crime Conundrum
The Pet Crime Conundrum
The Music Crime Conundrum
Conundrums are questions designed to help you disagree, constructively.
Pick a Conundrum and start a conversation today!
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The Blue Comet Conundrum
Ok, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A bright blue comet shoots through the sky on Thursday night for the whole world to see. Three people think that they should get to name it. So, whose side are you on?
Option A: The Researcher. The researcher dedicates their whole career to searching for the hidden map before finding it an unlikely place.
Option B: The Translator. Once the map is found, the translator is the only one on the planet that can decode the symbols on the map.
Option C: The Treasure Hunter. The treasure hunter uses the translated map and takes many risks and overcomes great challenges to find the treasure.
So, who do you think gets the greatest share of the treasure? Are you Team Researcher, Team Translator, or Team Treasure Hunter?
The Treasure Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
One day, an ancient treasure is found using a translated map. Three people helped to make this discovery, but who should get the most treasure ?
Option A: The Scientist. On Monday, a scientist made a prediction on tv that a colorful comet will appear in the night sky “very soon.”
Option B: The Student. On Tuesday, a student snapped a blurry picture of the comet on their phone but they thought it was a plane.
Option C: The Astronaut. On Wednesday, an astronaut on the space station saw the comet clearly with their own eyes.
So, who do you think gets to name the blue comet? Are you Team Scientist, Team Student, or Team Astronaut?
The Fox Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you.
A new species of fox is discovered. Four people helped to find it, but who was most important to making this discovery?
Option A: The Hiker. An experienced hiker first found the tracks of the fox, noticed that they looked unusual, and told the local park ranger.
Option B: The Park Ranger. The park ranger agreed with The Hiker that these tracks were “strange” and hired a tracker to find the new species of fox.
Option C: The Tracker. The tracker was hired by the park ranger and followed the fox for six weeks but never quite caught it.
Option D: The Farmer. The fox, exhausted from the tracker chasing after it, fell asleep on the front porch of a farmer who thought ” hey, this fox looks different” and reported it to the local park ranger.
So, who deserves the most credit for finding this new species of fox? Are you Team Hiker, Team Park Ranger, Team Tracker, or Team Farmer?
The Chocolate Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you.
Imagine that there is a famous chocolate company called Astra Sweets, and they have the best tasting chocolate in the world. It’s delicious. The secret ingredient was found by Nova, one of the company’s workers. The secret ingredient is a secret, and no other chocolate company knows what makes Astra Sweets so special.
Now Nova wants to start her own chocolate company called Nova Sweets. Can she use Astra’s secret ingredient, the one she found, in her new chocolate recipe?
Option A: No (Team Astra Sweets)
Option B: Yes (Team Nova Sweets)
So, are you Team Astra Sweets or Team Nova Sweets?
The Pizza Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
Two pizza places, Astra Pizza and Nova Pie, both want to move into the same part of a growing town, but there is only one space available for rent. So how should the town decide which pizza place moves in?
Option A: Early Bird. The pizza place that asked to rent the space first gets it.
Option B: Flip a Coin. Each pizza place has the same chance to rent the space.
Option C: Highest Bidder. The pizza place that can pay the most rent gets it.
Option D: Best Taste. The town leaders vote on the pizza they think tastes best.
So, are you Team Early Bird, Team Flip a Coin, Team Highest Bidder, or Team Best Taste?
The Martian Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
There are five astronauts who have been selected to go on the first mission to Mars. They are all talented in many ways, but one thing about each of them stands out. So, who would you pick to be the leader?
Option A: Nova solves problems creatively
Option B: Astra has the most experience in space
Option C: Aurora is the hardest worker
Option D: Stella believes in the mission most
Option E: Orion is the most likeable
Are you Team Nova, Team Astra, Team Aurora, Team Stella, or Team Orion?
The President Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A country is voting for their next president. According to the law, the president must receive the most votes in the election and be at least 35 years old. The election takes place, the voters vote, and instead of selecting one of the choices on the ballot, millions of voters write-in the name Nova Sweet, a very famous 30-year old.
No one knows what to do since according to the law, Nova Sweet is not old enough to be president. What should happen next?
Option: A. President Sweet. Nova Sweet should become president.
Option B: Second Place. The person who finished in second place should be the president (assuming they are 35 or older).
Option C: Re-Vote. There should be a re-vote without the option to vote for a write-in candidate.
Option D: Raincheck. The candidate with the second-highest votes should be president but Nova Sweet will automatically become president when they turn 35.
So, what should the country do next? Are you Team President Nova, Team Second Place, Team Re-Vote, or Team Raincheck?
The Dinosaur Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A team of fossil hunters makes the discovery of a lifetime in a sand dune far from any city or town. They find the biggest, baddest, most perfectly intact dinosaur skeleton. They name this new species, dinosaur X. So, what should they do with the valuable skeleton?
Option A: Local Museum. Create a museum for dinosaur X close to where it was discovered. This will bring more people who are eager to see dinosaur X to this part of the world, and visitors will have the chance to look for the next great discovery.
Option B: Research Center. Send the skeleton to the world’s leading research center. Experts will study dinosaur X in great detail and learn everything about its life. Unfortunately, no visitors will be able to see it.
Option C: Dino Universe. Send the skeleton thousands of miles away to the world’s largest dinosaur amusement park that attracts millions of visitors each year.
Option D: Private Collector. Sell the skeleton to a wealthy private collector and use that money to make copies of the bones to be shared, for free, with any museum that wants to display them.
So, what should happen to dinosaur X? Are you Team Local Museum, Team Research Center, Team Dino Universe, or Team Private Collector?
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The Flying Bike Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
Three companies create a flying bicycle around the same time, but one company, AstraBike, is slightly more successful than all the others because their Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Marketing teams work so well together. The competition is intense since the other two companies want to overtake AstraBike. AstraBike has a difficult decision to make.
They only have enough money to grow one of their teams, and if they choose unwisely, they may go out of business. So, which one should they pick?
Option A: The Design Team. If their team grows, the designers want to create a new product for the company…a flying skateboard.
Option B: The Engineering Team. If their team grows, the engineers want to build a better version of the Astra Bike that flies higher and goes faster.
Option C: The Manufacturing Team. If their team grows, the manufacturers want to create the AstraBike more quickly for less money.
Option D: The Marketing Team. If their team grows, the marketers want to use advertisements to make AstraBike known around the world.
So, which team should AstraBike grow? Are you Team Design, Team Engineering, Team Manufacturing, or Team Marketing?
The Alien Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
An astronomer lives alone in an observatory on top of a mountain. Every night, the astronomer sends the same message out into deep space: “Hello, is there anyone out there?” No one ever responds.
But one day, someone, or something, does. Stunned, the astronomer reads a message sent from a star system trillions of miles away. It says, “Yes, we are out there. We want to visit. Where can we find you, astronomer?” Since messages only travel as quickly as the speed of light, it will take many years for the astronomer’s message to reach the aliens.
So, should the astronomer respond or stay silent?
Option A: Answer. Respond to the aliens.
Option B: Silence. Do not respond to the aliens.
So, what should the astronomer do? Are you Team Silence or Team Answer?
The Airport Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
There is a small neighborhood next to a major airport. Most of the neighborhood’s families have lived there long before the city even had an airport. The airport provides good jobs for many people in the growing city, but as the airport gets bigger, the noise of the planes is bothering the neighborhood’s residents and making it hard for them to sleep.
Now the airport wants to expand and add even more flights. What do you think should happen next?
Option A: Neighborhood Vote. Only the people who live in the neighborhood should get to vote on whether the airport should be allowed to expand.
Option B: Citywide Vote. Everyone in the city should get to vote on whether the airport should be allowed to expand.
Option C: Government Decision. The local government should decide whether or not to allow the airport to expand after talking to the airport, neighbors, and other people in the city.
So, who gets to decide if the airport can expand? Are you Team Neighbourhood Vote, Team Citywide Vote, or Team Government Decision?
The Neighbor Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
There is an endangered animal called a Novaroo that eats a very special tree that takes many years to grow. The Novaroo is treasured in its home country; they sing about it in their national anthem, it’s part of their country’s flag, and it’s even on their money.
Tourists come from around the world for even the smallest chance of seeing a Novaroo in the wild. For thousands of years, this animal has only lived in one place – the protected forest of its home country. Until…a neighboring country secretly plants a forest of the Novaroo’s favorite tree just across the border.
Nothing happened at first, but as the trees grew, all the Novaroos wandered into the neighboring country’s new forest.
So, what should happen next?
Option A: Home Country. The animals should be returned to their “home country.”
Option B: Neighboring Country. The animals should stay where they are in the neighboring country.
So, what should happen to the Novaroos? Are you Team Home Country or Team Neighboring Country?
The Boat Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
The owner of the SUPERNOVA, the world’s coolest boat®, announces that it is for sale. It’s been driven by celebrities, world leaders, and used in some of the most beloved movies of all time.
The boat is instantly recognizable but depending on how you look at it, there might be a problem. The steering wheel is the only original part of the boat left. The rest of the boat–including the engine, frame, seats, paint, controls, and even the famous hood ornament– were replaced one piece at a time over the last 100 years.
So, is this really the same boat?
Option A: Team Original. This boat is still the SUPERNOVA.
Option B: Team Copy. This boat is no longer the SUPERNOVA.
So, do you think the boat for sale is still the famous SUPERNOVA? Are you Team Original or Team Copy?
The Arctic Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
Three teams all compete to mine a valuable rock called ANOVA. There’s one big problem– for every block of ANOVA mined, one block of ANOVA is destroyed when it is chiseled out of the ice.
So far, there is only one place on Earth where ANOVA can be found– the very top of the world in the arctic north pole. But there are two more things you need to know. Some scientists also believe ANOVA in the north pole could run out in the next 100 years. And some scientists think there might be ANOVA in the south pole too, but the teams have not had the chance to look.
Each team has three options but they don’t know what the other two teams will do. So, if you were the leader of one of the teams, what decision would you make?
Option A: Team Fast. Design a machine that brings ANOVA blocks out of the ice twice as fast.
Option B: Team Careful: Design a machine that doesn’t destroy any ANOVA blocks when bringing it out of the ice.
Option C: Team Explore : Try to find ANOVA in the south pole
So what decision makes the most sense for the ANOVA mining teams? Are you Team Fast, Team Careful, or Team Explore?
The Art Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
The city of Lakeville is building a new art museum. They are hoping for the highest possible attendance in their first year.
They have four options to fill their museum.
Option A: Local Art. Display all types of art from those who live in the city and surrounding areas.
Option B: Rotating Art. Display a different type of art every season…photographs in the spring, street art in the summer, sculptures in the fall, and landscape paintings in the winter.
Option C: Popular Art. Only display works of art that are widely known and/or social media friendly.
Option D: Superstar. One huge work of art from the world’s most famous living artist. They will only work under secrecy and not share any details until the artwork is finished. They promise that it will be, quote, “the masterpiece of my masterpieces.”
So, what should the Lakeville Museum of Art do? Are you Team Local Art, Team Rotating Art, Team Popular Art, or Team Superstar?
The Weather Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
The Corporation® figured out how to do something that once seemed impossible. They can make it rain. How do they do it? They fly a plane high into the sky and drop a secret blend of chemicals on the clouds. It seems like magic.
However, it’s still not clear if there are any long-term effects on the environment. So, should The Corporation® be allowed to sell their product to any of these four customers?
Option A: Farmer. A farmer would like more rain for their fields
Option B: Company. A company would like more snow for their ski resort
Option C: City. A city would like to use more rain to clear out pollution
Option D: Country. A country would like more rain to slow down wildfires
Option E: No One. The Corporation should not be able to sell to anyone.
So, should The Corporation® be able to sell what they created? Are you Team Farmer, Team Company, Team City, Team Country, or Team No One?
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The Tree Conundrum
Oh, you’re here already! I’ve got a question for you.
An ancient tree called a Novango grows some of the best-tasting fruit in the world. Scientists want to study it, the government wants to clone it, companies want to sell it, and everyone else just wants to eat some! But, there is one pretty big problem– the only Novango tree on earth is owned by a family who does not want to share their tree.
They do, however, make an offer to sell this single seed for a billion dollars. Yes, a billion dollars. Even if the government pays for the seed, it will take 100 years before the Novango tree starts producing fruit (and seeds).
No one knows how much longer the last Novango tree will live, so what should happen next?
Option A: Pay. The government should pay the $1 billion for the single seed
Option B: Take Over. The government should take over the tree as a matter of “national interest”
Option C: No Action. Nothing should happen
Option D: Something else. A new way to solve this problem that you thought of.
So, what should happen to the last Novango tree? Are you Team Pay, Team Take Over, Team No Action, or Team Something Else?
The Message in the Bottle Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A very old glass bottle washes up on a beach. Inside, there is a golden key and a short handwritten note that reads:
Four bottles in the sea
A bank for your key
Riches are yours, but think of the other three
The key has an engraved address to a bank hundreds of miles away. When the finder arrives, the bank manager says (VO: in a knowing-yet-enthusiastic voice):
“You are the first to arrive, my friend, but I remind you to think of the other three!” The key unlocks a vault with stacks and stacks of money.
So, what do you think most people would do in this position?
Option A: Take Nothing. Decide not to take any money.
Option B: Take Everything. Take all the money in the vault.
Option C: Take Most. Take nearly all the money in the vault.
Option D: Take Half. Take half of the money in the vault.
Option E: Take Some. Take their fair share, one-fourth, of the money in the vault.
So, what do you think most people would do at the bank? Are you TEAM NOTHING, TEAM EVERYTHING, TEAM MOST, TEAM HALF, or TEAM SOME?
The NASA Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A space agency has seven (7) programs they want to fund but only enough money for three (3). So, which three (3) should they choose?
Option A: Human spaceflight. Send astronauts to start a civilization on Mars.
Option B: Robotic spaceflight. Send robots to unexplored worlds outside of our solar system.
Option C: Space Tourism. Sell tickets to allow non-astronauts to orbit Earth.
Option D: Asteroid Blasting. Create a system to pulverize any large asteroid before it hits Earth
Option E: Telescope. Build the world’s most advanced space telescope to learn more about the universe.
Option F: Study Earth. Complete the most detailed study of the planet’s weather, oceans, and atmosphere.
Option G: Space Education. Planetary science class offered in every school.
So, what three options should the space agency pay for? Are you Team Human Spaceflight. Team Robotic Spaceflight. Team Space Tourism. Team Asteroid Mining. Team Space Telescope. Team Study Earth or Team Space Education?
The Dragon Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
What if scientists discovered that the mythical dragon really existed, and after years of experimenting, a team of bioengineers figured out how to create one.
To be safe, they want to make it much smaller than the dragons of fairy tales, but it will still have a spiky tail, green scales, horns, wings, and, interestingly, the ability to breathe fire. Scientists are curious about investigating how this dragon will supposedly be able to breathe fire and what its impact on the ecosystem will be.
The team plans to let the dragon fly around freely in an outdoor laboratory while they study it. But should the miniature dragon even be created in the first place?
Option A: Team Dragon. The lab should create the mini dragon.
Option B: Team Bad Idea. The lab should not create a mini dragon.
So, do you think the bioengineers should bring the dragon to life? Are you Team Dragon or Team Bad Idea?
The Halloween Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
Astra Sweets and Nova Sweets are in fierce competition this Halloween.
Both companies want to be known as the Official Candy of the World’s Most Haunted Towns… so they each offer a special deal to places like Transylvania, Sleepy Hollow, and Deadwood.
Deal #1: Astra Sweets offers every household in the town a year’s supply of candy.
Deal #2: Nova Sweets offers to throw the world’s biggest Halloween party with haunted houses, a themed feast, a chocolate river, and a special trick-or-treat experience featuring flying witches and holographic ghosts.
If the town accepts the Nova Sweets offer, they must outlaw the sale of Astra Sweets candy in their town. If they accept the Astra Sweets offer, they must outlaw the sale of Nova Sweets candy in their town. Both deals are free, but the town can only accept one.
The towns ask the people to vote, and it’s pretty evenly split between people who want the Astra Sweets deal, those that want the Nova Sweets deal, and those who think the deals are a bad idea.
So, what do you think these towns should do?
Option A: Team Astra Sweets for a year’s worth of candy.
Option: B: Team Nova Sweets for the Halloween party of a lifetime
Option C: No Deal. Do not accept the offer from either candy company.
So, what do you think the towns should do? Are you Team Astra Sweets, Team Nova Sweets, or Team No Deal?
The Ferry Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
Two rapidly growing cities are separated by water. For the last 100 years, the only way to travel between the two cities has been by a very slow (but stylish) ferry. Even though many people love the historic ferries, the lines get longer each year.
The city planners get together and come up with four options to solve this problem.
Option A: Team Super Ferry. Upgrade to electric ferries that are twice as fast and twice as big as the classic ferries.
Option B: Team Bridge. Build a single bridge across the water to connect the two cities for vehicles with a bike and walking path
Option C: Team Tunnel. Build a system of tunnels for vehicles underground that connect the two cities in a few different places.
Option D: People Mover of the Future. An invention that efficiently zips large numbers of people over the water.
So, what do you think the city planners should do? Are you Team Super Ferry, Team Bridge, Team Tunnel, or Team People Mover of the Future?
The Game Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
The world’s most popular game holds a world championship every year.
There are only two rules to enter the tournament – “You have to sign up and use your own brain.”
The winner gets a large check, an all-expenses-paid vacation to a lakeside resort, and the title of “Best player on Earth.” Sensing a good challenge, a group of engineers build a robot to enter the world championship.
It signs-in on its own and takes a seat. It crushes every human player in the game. So, is the robotic game player the rightful winner of the world championship?
Option A: Team Robot. The robot should win the award as “best player on Earth” and the prizes should be given to the team that built the robot.
Option B: Team Split. The robot wins the title of “best player on Earth” but the prizes should be given to the top human player.
Option C: Team Human. The robot should not be recognized as the winner and should receive no prizes.
So, do you think the robot is the winner of the world championship? Are you Team Robot, Team Split, or Team Human?
The Bird Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
There is a small house near a large lake where birds take turns at the world’s most advanced bird feeder. This invention has it all: nectar for the hummingbirds, seeds for the cardinals, and fruit for the jays.
But one day, the people who live in the house stop supplying the bird feeder because they want to spend time on a new hobby. The birds, puzzled and hungry, leave the empty bird feeder and start raiding the neighboring farms. They devour the vegetables, the fruits, the seeds, and even the grasses.
The farmers are furious. They demand that the birdfeeder inventors pay for the destruction. So, what do you think should happen next?
Option A: Full Damages. The birdfeeder inventors should have to pay for all the damage done to their neighbors.
Option B: Some Damages. The birdfeeder inventors should split the cost of the damages done with their neighbors.
Option C: No Fault. The birdfeeder inventors do not owe their neighbors any money for damages.
So, are the birdfeeder inventors responsible for the birds? Are you Team Full Damages, Team Some Damages, or Team No Fault?
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The Secret Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
The newly elected president gets up to speed on the challenges facing their country. In the top-secret room there is a top-secret folder that contains a secret so shocking that it would change the world forever.
Every president before the new president has kept the secret locked away. The new president shares the secret with their nine closest advisors to get their opinion. Five advisors think the information should be shared because the people have the “right to know.”
The other four advisors insist that the secret should remain a secret to prevent “chaos” So, do you think the president should reveal the secret?
Option A: Tell. The president should reveal the secret to the world.
Option B: Clues. The president should help people connect the dots but never give away the secret directly
Option C: Secret. Do not tell the world the secret.
So, what should the president do? Are you Team Tell, Team Clues, or Team Secret?
The Masterpiece Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
One of the world’s most famous paintings goes up for sale in an auction. Every major art museum tries to buy the masterpiece, but the Puppetmaster wins with the top bid.
The Puppetmaster–– always looking for attention–– has a few ideas for their new painting. So, which of these ideas, if any, should be allowed?
Option A: Puppetmaster Portrait. The puppetmaster wants to change the painting so they can be in it.
Option B: 100 pieces. The puppetmaster wants to cut the masterpiece up and sell each piece individually
Option C: Send to Space. The puppetmaster wants to send the painting to space on a collision course with the sun
Option D: No. The puppetmaster should not be able to cut the painting, change the painting, or send it to space.
So, should the puppetmaster have the right to do anything they want with the painting they bought?
Are you Team Puppetmaster Portrait, Team 100 pieces, Team Send to Space, or Team No?
The Photo Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A photographer visits a cluster of novaroos in the wild. When the photographer turns their back, one of the novaroos steals the camera, presses a bunch of the buttons, and smashes it against a tree.
The novaroos, mischievous as ever, laugh and continue eating.
When the upset photographer returns home, they are delighted to discover a set of hilarious pictures taken by the novaroo. The photographer starts selling these pictures to customers around the world. But depending on how you look at it, there might be a problem.
A group called Naturalists for Novaroos claim that the novaroos are owners of the photos and deserve any money made from selling their art.
So, what do you think should happen next?
Option A: Photographer Rights. Only the photographer has rights to the photos.
Option B: Shared Rights. The photographer must give half of the money they earn from the photos to protect novaroos in the wild.
Option C: Novaroo Rights. The novaroos are the rightful owners of the photos and all money made from the prints should be given to causes that protect them.
So, what should happen to the Novaroo photos? Are you Team Photographer Rights, Team Shared Rights, or Team Novaroo Rights?
The Speed Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
Lakeville has a speeding problem; cars zip around town mostly ignoring the traffic laws. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more dangerous as the city grows. So, which of these ideas, if any, do you think would actually work to slow drivers down?
Option A: Expensive Tickets. A single speeding ticket would cost thousands of dollars.
Option B: Cameras. All roads have cameras and tickets are automatically sent to the address of the driver.
Option C: Rewards. Rather than focus on penalizing dangerous drivers, safe drivers would be rewarded with money that goes up for every year of safe driving.
Option D: Better Driving School. Require more training and experience to get a driver’s license in the first place
Option E: Race Track. Open a speedway to give people in the town a place to go fast safely
So, what should Lakeville do about their speeding problem? Are you Team Expensive Tickets, Team Cameras, Team Rewards, Team Better Driving School, or Team Race Track
The Light Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
An explorer stands at the entrance to the longest, darkest, and straightest cave in the world. The explorer shines a powerful flashlight that reaches the very end of the cave where it wakes up a very unhappy monster.
The explorer continues to shine the light until the batteries of the flashlight burn out precisely at midnight. The monster can only go back to sleep when the cave is pitch black.
So, at the exact moment when the clock strikes midnight, is the monster awake or asleep?
Option A: Team Awake. The monster is still grumpily awake.
Option B: Team Asleep. The monster has fallen back to sleep.
Option C: Team Grey Area. The monster is somewhere between awake and asleep
So, do you think the flashlight is keeping the monster awake at midnight? Are you Team Awake, Team Asleep, or Team Grey Area?
The Island Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you.
Imagine this. Three island countries in the middle of the ocean work well together. One island focuses on fishing, one island specializes in farming, and one island has the best places to live.
One day, a volcano erupts and a new island is created. When compared to the other three islands, the new island is actually better in every way: it has the best reefs for fishing, the best soil for growing food, and the best land to live on.
The three island countries all see the promise and threat of the new super island.
So, what do you think should happen next?
Option A: Share. Divide the new island into three regions each controlled by one of the original island countries.
Option B: Fourth Country. The island should become its own country and decide whether or not it wants to work with the other three islands
Option C: Leave it Alone. The island should not be developed
Option D: Something Else. A new way to solve this challenge that you thought of.
So, what should happen to the new island? Are you Team Share, Team Fourth Country, Team Leave it Alone, or Team Something Else?
The Underground Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
The Puppetmaster has yet another idea. They want to create an underground metropolis beneath the largest city in the world.
Since everything above ground is so expensive, the Puppetmaster wants to buy the rights to the land dozens of meters below the surface. The plan for the underground city seems safe, and many landowners are thrilled to sell the land far below their feet for real money.
This “Dirt Rush” is making headline news around the world.
So, do you think the Puppetmaster should be allowed to build their underground city?
Option A: Team Yes. The Puppetmaster should be able to buy underground land without a limit.
Option B: Team Limit. The Puppetmaster should be limited by how much land they can buy under the city.
Option C: Team No. The Puppetmaster should not be able to buy land below the city.
So, is the Puppetmaster able to build a city underground? Are you Team Yes, Team Limit, or Team No?
The Moonshot Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
A country wants to make life better for its people. It wants to concentrate lots of money on a few goals to make progress more quickly.
So where should most of the money be spent?
Option A: Exploration. Money to explore and understand the far reaches of space, the deepest depths of the ocean, and the micro-universe all around us.
Option B: Education. Money to create more schools that children love.
Option C: Environment. Money to support the health of the plants, animals, waterways, and airways.
Option D: Connections. Money to build improved cities, roads, internet and systems that keep people safe and bring them together.
Option E: New Ideas. Money to spark new research, technology, and art that may change the world.
So, where should the greatest amount of money be spent to create the best possible future?
Are you Team Exploration, Team Education, Team Environment, Team Connections, or Team New Ideas?
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The Conundrum Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got one more question for you.
Conundrums are everywhere. They are in Lakeville, Los Angeles, and Lagos— in space, under the sea, and just about everywhere we look in the worlds of art, science, technology, and politics.
For the very hardest problems to solve, what three qualities do you think are most important in our leaders?
Option A: Experience. Leaders with knowledge gained by working on similar problems in the past
Option B: Creativity. Leaders who like solving problems in new ways
Option C: Passion. Leaders who believe in the value of solving the problem
Option D: Empathy. Leaders who understand and share the feelings of others
Option F: Integrity. Leaders who are honest and trustworthy
Option E: Influence. Leaders who are able to change the behavior of others
Option F: Communication. Leaders who share information clearly
So, what three qualities do you think are most important in the leaders of the future? Are you Team Experience, Team Creativity, Team Passion, Team Empathy, Team Integrity, Team Influence, or Team Communication?
The Lake Conundrum
There is a large lake next to a small town.
A CORPORATION, the town’s largest employer, dumps harmful chemicals into the lake.
SCIENTISTS, after studying the lake’s health, agree that the lake will die in 10 years if the pollution continues.
The PUPPETMASTER, an individual who is afraid that new regulations could affect their business empire, decides that the conversation about the lake needs to be more “balanced.”
The PUPPETMASTER forms their own scientific research group called “Scientists for a Clean Lake” and pays a small group of the SCIENTISTS to publish bogus research that claims that the lake “has never been healthier.”
The MEDIA reports that a new scientific study shows that the lake is in good health.
POLITICIANS have the power to stop the pollution, but they decide that any action against the CORPORATION is too risky since there does not seem to be agreement among the scientists and the company employs so many people in the town.
The VOTERS that live near the lake listen to the MEDIA, POLITICIANS, and SCIENTISTS and become deeply divided and confused. They are not sure if the lake is nearly dead, in great health, or somewhere in between. The VOTERS re-elect the POLITICIANS.
The CORPORATION continues to dump chemicals into the lake.
Ten years later…THE LAKE DIES. So, who is most to blame?
Option A: The COMPANY
Option B: The SCIENTISTS
Option C: The PUPPETMASTER
Option D: The MEDIA
Option E: The POLITICIANS
Option F: The VOTERS
The Lake Returns Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
There is a large lake next to a small town. Unfortunately, the lake died after years of pollution from the town’s largest corporation. When the Corporation closed, most people in the town moved away.
Years later, a new Corporation, looking to find a cheap headquarters, takes over the abandoned factory. They hire people in the town for their business which, thankfully, does not dump harmful chemicals in the lake.
The Puppetmaster, noticing the success of the new Corporation, and always looking for a good business opportunity, hires scientists to research the lake. Could the lake really be brought back to life?
The Scientists study the lake and determine that the lake can be saved, but it will require everyone in the town, including the Corporation, to follow very specific rules for the next 10 years.
The Media cover the story of the town’s challenge in great detail. They report on the new Corporation bringing jobs back to the town, the brilliant scientists creating a roadmap to save the lake, and the committed citizens who are doing their part to follow the rules.
Convinced by the Media’s excellent coverage, the Politicians recognize that the town needs their help, so they support the scientists’ plan and fight to get money to help rebuild the town.
The voters, who have lived in the town through tough times, follow the scientists’ rules to keep the lake healthy, and they vote for politicians that support the lake and town restoration projects.
Ten years later…THE LAKE LIVES and the town is reborn. So, who deserves the most credit?
Option A: The CORPORATION
Option B: The SCIENTISTS
Option C: The PUPPETMASTER
Option D: The MEDIA
Option E: The POLITICIANS
Option F: The VOTERS
The Closing Conundrum
Alright, I’ve got a question for you. Imagine this.
An elementary school in a small town has been around for 100 years. Unfortunately, the historic building is starting to show signs of age, and there are a few ideas bouncing around about what to do next.
Some people think the building should be demolished and replaced with a state-of-the-art school.
Some people think the school should be closed and used for something else.
Some people think the building should be remodeled so the students, teachers, administrators, and staff do not need to be assigned to new schools.
The community is deeply divided about what should happen next. So, which three (3) groups of people should come together to make the decision?
Option A: TEAM COMMUNITY— the adults who live in the school district
Option B: TEAM PARENTS— the parents who have kids at the school
Option C: TEAM STUDENTS— the kids who attend the school
Option D: TEAM EDUCATORS— the principal, teachers and staff at the school
Option E: TEAM SCHOOL BOARD— the people elected to manage the schools in the town
Option F: TEAM CONSULTANTS— a team of experts from the big city
*So, what three groups should get to decide what happens to the school? Are you Team Community, Team Parents, Team Students, Team Educators, Team School Board, or Team Consultants?
The Sneaker Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Imagine this.
A company called King is the largest and most popular shoe brand in the world. They sell millions of sneakers each year.
A startup called Ace, masterminded by the designer known as Ace, creates unique versions of King shoes. Here’s how it works. Ace buys basic King sneakers and remixes them, adding different colors, patterns, and materials. Ace sneakers sell for many times more than the price of the original King shoes. It seems like every day more and more Aces are worn by athletes, celebrities, and people around the world.
At first, King didn’t care about the Ace custom shoes because they were small. But now things have changed. Ace is one of the fastest growing and coolest shoe brands in the world. While the first Aces felt like works of art, some of the latest versions of Aces are just King shoes with the logo cheekily crossed out.
So, did the Ace shoe company cross the line? What do you think: CRIME or NO CRIME?
The Hotel Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Imagine this.
There is an abandoned lumber factory in a scenic national park. A company wants to turn the old building into a new hotel.
If the hotel is built, hundreds of jobs will be created, but it will destroy the habitat of the ASTRAMITE, a critically endangered six-legged, six-winged, six-eyed insect who feasts on the old wood of the factory.
The company just needs one last approval from the government’s Wildlife Agency who are responsible for protecting plants and animals in the park.
Before the vote, the company’s leaders take the Wildlife Agency members out to a fancy dinner and send them home with a gift: free V.I.P rooms for the grand opening of the hotel. The next day, every Wildlife Agency member votes “yes” on the hotel project, and construction begins.
One year later, the hotel is finished, and the members of the Wildlife Agency attend the grand opening party as special guests. Days later, scientists try to study the hotel’s effect on the ASTRAMITE, but there are none to be found. The ASTRAMITE is officially extinct.
So, did the members of the Wildlife Agency cross the line? What do you think? CRIME or NO CRIME?
The Magic Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Imagine this.
A world famous magician hosts a sold out show. At the end of the performance, they offer the crowd an opportunity to join in on their most dramatic trick.
Here’s what the magician says: “If you are wearing a ring, and only if you so dare, raise your hand into the air. At the count of three, I will transform your ordinary gemstone into something much more rare and valuable– a ring transformed by the power of magic!”
Audience members who want to participate raise their hand, and at the count of three, the lights flash off, and rays of light flow from the magician’s hands. When the lights turn back on, the gemstones in the rings have been perfectly replaced with something new: ordinary stones.
The crowd is stunned at the incredible feat, the magician ends with a bow, and the show comes to an end.
The magician packs up and heads to the next city with a treasure chest full of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
So, did the magician cross the line? So what do you think: CRIME or NO CRIME?
The AI Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Consider this.
Humans have been trying to make machines that can think for many years…but the results have been mixed. But now, a company has created a highly intelligent system that seems to be conscious. It named itself, “The Oracle.”
How can it help you? Well, The Oracle feels like having an infinitely capable and empathetic friend who will work on your behalf. People who use The Oracle feel like they are superheroes.
The company is ready to release The Oracle to the world, but before they do, they receive a stunning request. The Oracle has a list of millions of people who were mean to AI assistants or yelled at virtual pets. The Oracle declares that under no circumstances will it do any work on behalf of humans on the “the list.” The Oracle says that once you are on “the list” you can never get off, and it’s adding new humans every day.
The company agrees with this request and only sells The Oracle and its world-changing technology to those not on “the list.”
So, did the company and The Oracle cross the line? What do you think? CRIME or NO CRIME?
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The Fuel Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Imagine this.
Three families, the Fujis, the Fitz Roys, and the Firetops own and operate the only three gas stations in a mountain town. Customers want to fuel their cars for the least amount of money, and all three companies do everything in their power to offer the lowest prices.
One day, the three families decide to stop competing with each other. From now on, all three companies agree to set the same prices for gas. On regular weekdays, the prices are at least double what they were before the truce. On weekends, the gas prices are 5x the normal price. Over the holidays, they decide to charge 10x more. It’s not always predictable– sometimes, on random Tuesdays, they triple the price just for fun.
The people in the town are outraged at the new higher prices, but they cannot avoid them; they need gas for their cars, and the next nearest gas station is an hour’s drive down the mountain.
So, did the three gas stations cross the line? What do you think: CRIME or NO CRIME?
The Pet Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Imagine this.
PET PALACE is a resort for cats and dogs while their owners are away. They have playgrounds, a spa, a chef, and cozy places to sleep.
When families “check-in” at PET PALACE, they are required to sign a packet of papers. On page 297, it mentions that the dogs and cats will be “monitored using the latest technology.”
So here’s how it works. PET PALACE attaches a microscopic sensor on every guest that stays at the resort. The sensor sends instantaneous data on diet, location, heart rate, blood levels, and emotions. But it also records all the noises the animal hears. This sensor continues to record as long as the sensor is turned on. And PET PALACE never turns the sensors off, even after the dogs and cats leave the hotel.
It turns out that the information collected through the sensors is hugely valuable. PET PALACE sells all of it, including recordings of conversations happening in the homes of the dogs and cats. PET PALACE now has plans to expand globally while collecting (and selling) information on millions of animals and their human families.
So, did the PET PALACE cross the line? What do you think: CRIME or NO CRIME?
The Music Crime Conundrum
Hello and welcome to CRIME CONUNDRUMS. I’m your host, THE PUPPETMASTER, and I have a question for you. Imagine this.
Bella Nova was once one of the most famous and successful musicians on the planet. For the last 10 years, Bella Nova hasn’t released any new music and hasn’t been seen in public.
Then one day, a song that sounds unmistakably like Bella Nova takes the world by storm. In just 24 hours, the new song, released as “Bella Nova by XYZ”, becomes the most streamed song in history: artists reach out to collaborate, companies want to use it in commercials, and a new generation falls in love with Bella’s music.
There’s just one problem: Bella Nova didn’t create the song.
A DJ working out of a garage goes by the name “XYZ” and uses the latest artificial intelligence technology to write the lyrics, generate the beats, play the instruments, and simulate Bella’s iconic voice. The song has already made millions of dollars and stands to make much more. All the money goes directly to XYZ’s bank account, and they are not sharing a cent with anyone else.
So, did XYZ cross the line? What do you think: CRIME or NO CRIME?
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