Video Game History
Originally a carpenter named "Jumpman," this red-capped plumber became the face of Nintendo.
Mario
This material, originally used for car tires, is what makes the bottom of a sneaker "grippy" on a basketball court.
Rubber
This legendary creature is said to inhabit a deep lake in Scotland and is often nicknamed "Nessie."
The Loch Ness Monster
A scientist’s messy desk and a moldy petri dish accidentally led to the discovery of this life-saving medicine.
Penicillin
This 9-letter term refers to taking old, discarded clothes and turning them into something new and better.
Upcycling
This yellow, circular character was the first true "mascot" of gaming and was inspired by a pizza with a slice missing.
Pac-Man
This famous brand changed the game in 1979 by putting pressurized gas inside a flexible pouch for "cushioning."
Nike (Air technology)
In Greek mythology, this half-man, half-bull creature was trapped inside a giant maze called the Labyrinth.
The Minotaur
A failed, "weak" glue that wouldn't stay stuck led to the invention of these colorful, square office supplies.
Post-it Notes
This 2-word term describes the inexpensive, mass-produced clothing industry that is often criticized for its environmental impact.
Fast Fashion
Released in the late 1970s, this console brought the "Wood Grain" look and games like Combat into living rooms.
Atari 2600
Most sneaker midsoles are made of "EVA," which is actually a type of this material filled with thousands of tiny air bubbles.
Foam
Originating in Puerto Rico and Mexico, this "Goat Sucker" is said to be a lizard-like creature that attacks livestock.
The Chupacabra
While trying to invent a stable spring for a ship's engine, a naval engineer dropped one and watched it "walk," leading to this toy.
The Slinky
Modern designers are now using "Bio-fabrication" to grow "leather" from the roots of this type of fungus.
Mushrooms (or Mycelium)
In 1983, the video game industry almost died because there were too many bad games, most notably an adaptation of this hit movie.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
This process of heating rubber with sulfur to make it durable was discovered by Charles Goodyear and is vital for sneaker soles.
Vulcanization
In Scandinavian folklore, this giant sea monster—often depicted as a massive squid—was blamed for sinking ships.
The Kraken
This famous Italian landmark began to tilt during construction in 1173 because it was built on soft, unstable soil.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
These "high-tech" fabrics are woven with sensors to track a person's heart rate, body temperature, or movement.
Smart Fabrics
He is the legendary Nintendo designer who created The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, and Pikmin.
Shigeru Miyamoto
High-end running shoes now use "plates" made of this lightweight, stiff material to act like a springboard for the foot.
Carbon Fiber
In Algonquin folklore, this terrifying, icy spirit is said to possess humans who become too greedy or selfish.
The Wendigo
Despite being called "unsinkable," this ship failed because it lacked enough lifeboats and hit an iceberg on its first trip.
The Titanic
This 13-letter word describes a business model where a company "rents" clothes to customers instead of selling them.
Circularity (or Subscription)