Keep Your Brain Engaged With the National Museum of Mathematics’s Weekly “Mind-Benders for the Quarantined” Puzzles

From a creepy object contest to virtual tours, museums are coming up with creative ways to stay engaged with the public during the COVID-19 crisis. A new initiative from the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in New York City may be a first—every week, the museum will send subscribers a new "mind-bender" to keep their brains busy in quarantine.

The activities included in MoMath's “Mind-Benders for the Quarantined" come from the museum's puzzle master, Dr. Peter Winkler. After signing up for the challenge on MoMath's website, you'll receive your first puzzle on Sunday. You're then given a week to complete it, with a "subtle hint" hitting your inbox on Tuesday, followed by a serious push on Thursday and the solution on Saturday. When the next Sunday rolls around, the fun starts again with a fresh brainteaser.

MoMath states its mind-benders are for people of all ages, but even adults may have trouble solving some of the puzzles. Participants are free to send their answers (or vent their frustrations) to Dr. Winkler at mindbenders@momath.org, but the puzzle master won't be able to respond.

You can sign up for Mind-Benders for the Quarantined by entering your information into this form. For more ways to stay busy at home, check out these boredom-busting activities.