Pinpoint 593 Answer & Full Analysis
Today's Pinpoint started with a classic red herring. The first word was Lise Meitner. My brain immediately went to the most obvious category: Scientists. It made perfect sense. She's a famous physicist. I figured the game might be going for "Nobel Laureates" or "Physicists," but "Scientists" felt like a safe, broad guess to test the waters. So, I submitted Scientists as my first attempt.
Wrong.
The second word was Neils Bohr. Okay, so it's definitely about scientists. But why was "Scientists" incorrect? The game was clearly rejecting the broad, surface-level connection. I had to dig deeper. What unique link did Meitner and Bohr share, beyond just being scientists? Then it clicked: they both have chemical elements named after them – Meitnerium (Mt) and Bohrium (Bh).
This was the "aha!" moment. The category wasn't just "Scientists"; it was the specific result of their legacy on the periodic table. I needed to phrase it precisely. "Elements named after people" seemed perfect. To avoid being too vague (just "Elements" could mean anything), I went with the slightly more descriptive Elements for my second guess.
Correct!
The full category was revealed: Periodic table elements named for scientists. The remaining words—Alfred Nobel (Nobelium), Albert Einstein (Einsteinium), and Marie and Pierre Curie (Curium)—confirmed it beautifully. The clue for the Curies was particularly clever, noting they discovered other elements (Polonium and Radium) but this one (Curium) is named for them. It reinforced the "named for" theme and ruled out "element discoverers" as a potential trap.
Category: Pinpoint 593
Periodic table elements named for scientists
🔬 Words & How They Fit
| Word | Phrase / Example | Meaning & Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Lise Meitner | Meitnerium (Mt) | Austrian-Swedish physicist, namesake of the element Meitnerium. |
| Neils Bohr | Bohrium (Bh) | Danish physicist, namesake of the element Bohrium. |
| Alfred Nobel | Nobelium (No) | Swedish inventor, namesake of the element Nobelium. |
| Albert Einstein | Einsteinium (Es) | Theoretical physicist, namesake of the element Einsteinium. |
| Marie and Pierre Curie | Curium (Cm) | Scientist couple, namesake of the element Curium (not the elements they discovered). |
💡 Lessons Learned From Pinpoint 593
- Beware the Immediate, Obvious Link. The first word often sets a tempting but incorrect trap. If the connection seems too easy (like "famous people"), the real category is almost always more specific.
- Use Wrong Answers to Refine Your Theory. My incorrect "Scientists" guess was valuable. It told me the game wanted a niche subset of scientists, not the entire group. Let wrong answers guide you toward precision.
- Think About "Legacy" or "Result." Instead of just what the words are, consider what they created or what was named for them. Shifting from the person to their impact (like an element) is a common Pinpoint twist.
- Pay Attention to Clue Nuances. The hint for "Marie and Pierre Curie" specifically mentioned they discovered other elements. This wasn't just trivia; it was actively steering us away from a wrong path ("discoverers") and toward the right one ("namesakes").
❓ FAQ
Q: Are all elements named for scientists also discovered by them?
A: Not at all! That's what made the Curie clue so smart. Curium is named for Marie and Pierre Curie, but it was actually discovered by Glenn Seaborg's team years later. The category is strictly about the honor of the name, not the act of discovery.
Q: Is "Elements" always too vague an answer for a science-themed Pinpoint?
A: Usually, yes. "Elements" alone could refer to the classical elements (earth, air, fire, water), design elements, or story elements. The context of the words (famous scientists) demanded a more descriptive answer, like today's full category. When in doubt, add the defining modifier.