Naked in Space

It is time for a new and very challenging puzzler.

Let's get right down to it.

For this week's puzzler, you are out in outer space, and you are buck naked. (And you're somehow not dead... just go with it...)

And yes, it hurts, I'm sure! Similar to jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing. Ha! It's tough being in outer space, without a spacesuit. It's tough. I mean, I personally haven't been there but I can imagine.
Okay, you're in outer space, buck naked.

All you have with you are two pieces of iron bar. Two pieces of iron. They are 6-7 inches long, and an inch wide. Each of them. The iron bars look identical and feel identical. You can't tell them apart. And that is all you have, you are naked, no shoes... nothing!

One of these iron bars is a magnet, and the other one is not a magnet. But they are both irons. They weigh the same, look the same, identical. You can't tell the difference by looking at them.

So the puzzler question is, how do you determine which one is the magnet? That's part A. And then, how do you determine which one is not the magnet, that is part 2.

How would you determine which one of these two iron bars is the magnet and which one is the imposter?

Answer the Puzzler »

Remember last week's puzzler?

Ask No Questions

It is time for a new, interesting puzzler. Here we go.

The biggest problem I had with this puzzler was coming up with the names of the participants. It is a husband and wife, driving along in a car. We will call them Fred and Gertrude. I like those names.

Anyway, Fred always drives too fast. And on this particular day, Fred and Gertie are in the car and he is driving way too fast. He realizes on this particular day that he is about to run out of gas. So, he decides to pull over on the side of the highway. He pulls over into the far right lane, and he realizes that he went past the exit for the gas station about half a mile ago. He decides to run back to the exit to get gas. He tells his wife Gertie, "Hey, lock the doors and don't let anyone in. I'll be back in a flash. Lock the doors and don't let anyone in, no matter what."

Here's this puzzler:

He goes off down the road. Sometime later, he comes back with a few gallons of gasoline. And as he approaches the car, he sees a police car approaching with flashing lights on the other side. He and the police are approaching simultaneously. Both Fred and the police look into the car. It is still locked. Gertie is inside, unconscious. Possibly near death's door. And there is a stranger in the car. The husband opens the door, because he has the key, of course. And the policeman sees Gertie and the stranger.

But he asks no questions as to what has happened to Gertie.

Here are the puzzler questions. How did the stranger get into the car, Gertie did not open the door, and it was locked on all sides, windows were rolled up, vents closed and the sunroof shut tight.

So, what happened to Gertie? Why was she unconscious?

Who was the stranger? How did the stranger get in?

Good luck with this one!