Unlikely Inventions
Foreign Words English Stole
Fictional Geography
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Masterpieces & Mischief
100
This sweet spread was invented when roasted peanuts were ground into a paste for people who couldn’t chew solid food.
Peanut butter
100
This Japanese word meaning “empty orchestra” describes the fun activity of singing your heart out with a microphone.
Karaoke
100
This magical British school trains young witches and wizards in spells, potions, and Quidditch.
Hogwarts (from Harry Potter)
100
This Netflix series about a group of teenagers battling supernatural creatures in Hawkins, Indiana, returned for a highly anticipated fourth season in 2022.
Stranger Things
100
This anonymous British street artist shredded one of his paintings moments after it sold for over $1 million.
Banksy
200
This frozen dessert was born when a boy left his drink outside on a cold night with the stirring stick still inside.
Popsicle
200
DAILY DOUBLE: This French word meaning “already seen” describes the eerie feeling of experiencing something that seems familiar.
déjà vu
200
This underwater city is home to a pineapple-dwelling sponge and his best friend Patrick Star.
Bikini Bottom (from SpongeBob SquarePants)
200
In this Disney+ series, a young variant of a mischievous Norse god explores alternate timelines after Avengers: Endgame.
Loki
200
Name the artist of this self-portrait.
Frida Kahlo
300
DAILY DOUBLE: A chemist researching rubber stumbled upon a material that could stretch and bounce — and kids have been playing with it ever since.
Silly Putty
300
This Spanish word for “small plate” now names a worldwide dining trend of sharing little dishes.
Tapas
300
This fictional African nation is famous for its advanced technology, secretive society, and heart-shaped herb.
Wakanda (from Black Panther)
300
This Disney+ series, starring Pedro Pascal, introduced the fan-favorite character Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda.
The Mandalorian
300
This Spanish surrealist painted this dreamlike desert scene.
Salvador Dalí
400
When a scientist studying malaria noticed mold killing bacteria in a petri dish, he accidentally discovered this groundbreaking medicine.
Penicillin
400
Borrowed from French, this word means “a social blunder” — something you definitely don’t want to commit at a fancy dinner.
Faux pas
400
This desert planet is home to giant sandworms and the valuable spice melange.
Arrakis (from Dune)
400
This Netflix series, based on a video game, follows a team of assassins and mercenaries in a dystopian city.
Arcane
400
Name the artist.
Edvard Munch
500
This invention allowed a user lying flat in bed to read a book via a mirror system set at 45 degrees—so the person didn’t have to sit up.
Bed/lazy glasses
500
We use this Yiddish term to describe nerve, audacity, or bold confidence — sometimes admirable, sometimes not.
Chutzpah
500
This hidden island is the setting of a park filled with genetically engineered dinosaurs.
Isla Nublar (from Jurassic Park)
500
This 2022 HBO Max fantasy series is set in the world of The Lord of the Rings, focusing on the Second Age of Middle-earth.
The Rings of Power
500
Known as the “gentleman thief,” Stéphane Breitwieser stole more than 200 artworks from museums across Europe — using only this simple tool.
Swiss Army knife