List of STEM puzzle topics

This is a list of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) topics that have been used in puzzles in puzzle hunts.

Science-related topics include anything relating to the topics of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and astronomy, as well as things commonly with these topics, such as particular databases, awards, and public exhibitions.

Technology-related topics include both hardware and software of all kinds, particularly programming and programming languages. It does not include websites and other web content, as those will be found under Arts and Media topics.

Engineering-related topics include the more scientific aspects of architecture and construction, and as a result more often end up being applied to events or tasks than individual puzzles.

Mathematics-related topics include those related to geometry, algebra, as well as various numeral systems. Other topics vary, but as long as something appears mathematical and doesn't dip into technology or physics, it's likely going to be considered a math topic.

Astronomy

 * Planets
 * Stars
 * Planets
 * Stars
 * Stars
 * Stars
 * Stars
 * Stars

Biology

 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments
 * Physical ailments

Chemistry

 * {{Template:Topic links|Molecules
 * {{Template:Topic links|Molecular models|Molecular model}}
 * {{Template:Topic links|Organic chemistry}}
 * {{Template:Topic links|The Periodic Table of Elements|Periodic table}}
 * {{Template:Topic links|Organic chemistry}}
 * {{Template:Topic links|The Periodic Table of Elements|Periodic table}}

Physics

 * Electricity

Hardware

 * - Every radio and TV station has its own four-letter code. In the United States, station codes start with K or W (K roughly allocated to stations to the west of the Mississippi river, and W for stations east)
 * - KB_United_States_Dvorak.svg There are several different keyboard layouts, with QWERTY being the most common, but several layouts designed to be more ergonomic, such as Dvorak, Colemak, and Workman. Therefore, one possible puzzle mechanic involves mapping between different keyboard layouts, which also acts like a substitution cipher (though sometimes with letters substituting for punctuation and vice versa). The keyboard is laid out in a roughly hexagonal grid, which can also be used in various ways - for instance, you can physically shift over letters, draw letters and shapes on the keyboard, or intersect lines to meet up at a letter on the keyboard.
 * - Since the technology is obsolete, reading the file or other data medium is no longer a straightforward task, and may require some improvisation or ingenuity to read.
 * 7_Segment_Display_with_Labeled_Segments.svg

Software

 * - The everpresent widget found on the web asking users to complete a task to prove that they are a human. Due to the relative difficulty for computers, this is usually a computer vision task like classifying all images with street signs, or reading some garbled text, and so on. In puzzles this usually appears in a thematic element, spoofing the CAPTCHA presentation.
 * - Hidden metadata found in image files, which can contain things like thumbnails, geolocation data, and other comments.
 * - Hidden metadata found in image files, which can contain things like thumbnails, geolocation data, and other comments.