PUZZLE #37FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

The answers

01SPACE
How many light-years away is the nearest star after the Sun?
4.2 light-years
About 4.2 light-years — Proxima Centauri, which is too faint to see without a telescope.
33% of players got it inside their bracket
02TECHNOLOGY
How many emails are sent worldwide each day?
350 billion emails
Around 350 billion. More than half are spam, which has been true for every year anyone has measured.
33% of players got it inside their bracket
03MONEY
How long does a US $1 bill last in circulation?
6.6 years
About 6.6 years, by the Federal Reserve’s estimate. A $100 bill, handled far less, lasts over 20.
100% of players got it inside their bracket
04MATH
If 100 people all shake hands with each other once, how many handshakes is that?
4,950 handshakes
4,950 — each of 100 people shakes 99 hands, and every handshake gets counted twice, so divide by two.
0% of players got it inside their bracket · 2 went for a Bullseye, none dead on
05GEOGRAPHY
How many islands does Sweden have?
267,570 islands
About 267,570, by official count — more than any other country. Fewer than a thousand are inhabited.
33% of players got it inside their bracket