Can You Solve The Alien Pyramid Riddle
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Unraveling the Mysteries of a Martian City: A Year-Long Journey
Today marks the one-year anniversary of a day that can be best described as a paradox – the best and worst day of our lives. On this day, we stumbled upon an underground city on Mars, a discovery that served as the first-ever evidence of intelligent alien life. However, the excitement was short-lived as we lost contact with Earth, leaving us stranded on the Red Planet.
Surviving on Mars: A Test of Ingenuity
Over the past year, our team of 100 scientists has been working tirelessly to engineer our survival on this alien planet. However, we are now facing a dire water shortage and are running out of solutions. While the majority of the team is at the ice cap, I have taken it upon myself to investigate the buried city, hoping to find clues about how this ancient civilization survived in such a harsh environment.
The Martian Pyramids: A Beacon of Hope
The city is largely in ruins, save for three intact pyramids – two are open, and one is sealed. The first pyramid houses a series of symbols and pictograms, revealing a base 10 numbering system. The second pyramid’s facade is adorned with these symbols, and inside, we discover a device and mosaic representations of its usage. The device appears to be the key to opening the sealed pyramid, but it requires the correct number input. A wrong input could trigger a catastrophic event.
Cracking the Code: The Power of Numbers
After careful analysis, we deduce that every number on the second pyramid is the sum of the two numbers directly beneath it. Applying this pattern to the sealed pyramid, we determine that the center number is the sum of 7 and an unknown variable, which we solve to be 14. Thus, the central block number is 21. Upon entering this number, the door to the sealed pyramid opens, revealing another riddle.
Unearthing the Martian History: A Tale of Ingenuity
The walls inside the pyramid tell the story of the Martian civilization. It appears that Mars was once covered with oceans, but the inhabitants moved all the water underground using a massive engineering marvel controlled by a single lever. This lever, hidden in the Great Pyramid, could reverse the process and bring the water back to the surface. However, the location of this Great Pyramid remains a mystery.
The Great Pyramid: A Hidden Marvel
Upon exiting the city, we realize that the city itself is the final pyramid. The city’s architects designed each district to display a number when viewed from above. The key to unlocking the Great Pyramid lies in the number at the center plaza. Using a visual approach, we deduce that the center number is 27. Upon entering this number, a hidden staircase is revealed, leading us to a room with a giant lever.
The Final Decision: To Pull or Not to Pull
Now, we stand before the lever that holds the key to our survival on Mars. The question that remains is – do we pull it?
Discussion Questions
- What emotions do you think the scientists experienced when they first discovered the underground city on Mars?
- How do you think the team of scientists felt when they lost contact with Earth and realized they were stranded on Mars?
- What challenges do you think the team faced in engineering their survival on Mars over the past year?
- In what ways do you think the investigation of the buried city could provide clues to the team’s survival on Mars?
- What do you think the symbols and pictograms found in the first pyramid might represent?
- Why do you think the device found in the second pyramid requires the correct number input to open the sealed pyramid?
- What do you think the story depicted on the walls inside the pyramid reveals about the Martian civilization?
- If you were in the scientists’ position, would you pull the lever in the final room? Why or why not?
Lesson Vocabulary
Martian city – A settlement or urban area located on the planet Mars. – The scientists are planning to build a Martian city to study the feasibility of human colonization on Mars.
Intelligent alien life – Extraterrestrial beings possessing advanced cognitive abilities and intellectual capacity. – The search for intelligent alien life in the universe continues, with scientists using various methods to detect potential signs of advanced civilizations.
Survival – The act or process of staying alive or continuing to exist, especially in adverse or challenging conditions. – The astronauts’ training focused on developing the necessary skills for survival in hostile environments like Mars.
Water shortage – A situation characterized by a lack or scarcity of water. – Due to the prolonged drought, the region is currently facing a severe water shortage, leading to strict water rationing measures.
Buried city – An ancient urban settlement that has been covered or concealed by geological processes or human activities over time. – Archaeologists discovered a remarkably preserved buried city beneath layers of volcanic ash.
Ancient civilization – A society or culture that existed in the distant past, typically considered to have reached a high level of social, cultural, and technological development. – The Mayans were an ancient civilization known for their advanced knowledge of astronomy and impressive architectural achievements.
Pyramids – Monumental structures with a geometric shape, typically having a square or triangular base and four triangular faces, built as tombs or religious structures in various ancient civilizations. – The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most iconic pyramids in Egypt and a testament to the ancient Egyptians’ architectural prowess.
Numbering system – A system or method of representing numbers, typically based on a set of symbols or digits. – The decimal system, with its base of ten, is the most commonly used numbering system worldwide.
Code – A system of rules or symbols used to represent information or communicate instructions, often in the form of a programming language. – The software developers wrote the code for the new application, ensuring its functionality and user-friendliness.
Martian history – The recorded or hypothesized events, developments, and achievements that have occurred on Mars throughout its existence. – Scientists study the geological formations and analyze data from rovers to unravel the mysteries of Martian history and better understand the planet’s past.
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- Categories: Engineering, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Mathematics, Science, TED Ed, Video Lessons
- Keywords: ancient civilization, buried city, code, intelligent alien life, Martian city, Martian history, numbering system, pyramids, survival, water shortage
