Can We Guess What You'd Put in a Time Capsule?

Mark Lichtenstein

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Now's your chance to build your very own time capsule. Long after you've departed the earth, the things you leave behind will not only tell the world about the times you lived, but they will also let the person discovering them know that you were a unique soul. Wouldn't it be thrilling to know that you've helped educate decades to come through the things you've chosen to seal up in a time capsule?

Whether you would leave behind the most recent scientific journal or your grandma's recipe for apple crisp, you will be making a huge impact on the future. By sending a part of today into tomorrow, you will be ensuring that your way of life is remembered. In the same way you look back at your grandparent's mementos with fondness and curiosity, others will look at your time capsule as being part of the history of humanity.

Unless you really want the future to examine your old gym socks, be sure to choose your time capsule items carefully. You only have one shot at filling up your personal time capsule, and you wouldn't want to waste it! Let us guess what kind of things you would include!

If you could pass a new law, what would it be?

Everyone must listen to the entire Led Zep catalog at some point in their lives.

Everyone has to learn the sciences and be told that religion isn't the same as science.
Everyone needs to see the original Star Wars movies.

Everyone should be taught how to fix thing themselves, and how to cook.

Where would you bury your time capsule?

In a major sports stadium

In a university campus
In the theater district

On the moon

What would you save from your house in a fire?

My record collection

My reference books!
My DVD folders

My cook books

What is the subject of the last book you read?

The Beatles

Physics
Directing films

DIY

What was the subject of the last movie you saw?

Pink Floyd

A scientific breakthrough
The Force

A chef traveling the world

How would you leave word of the location of your time capsule?

I'd lave clues in a song lyric.

I'd send puzzles to colleges all over the world.
I'd tell the appropriate artistic groups.

I'd put it online.

How much stuff would you pack into a time capsule?

Enough to fill a foot locker

A few hard drives, and some cabling
A duffel bag

A few binders

If you were to put one personal item into a time capsule, what would it be?

My old iPod

A college textbook
My favorite DVD, worn from use, and signed by the cast

My toolkit

If you were to put a time capsule into space, would you put anything special in it?

Sheet music and recordings

Nothing I wouldn't normally put in.
I'd put in "2001: A Space Odyssey."

I'd put in a book of vegan recipes.

What do you usually settle into when you get home?

I sit in my plush chair and listen to music.

I kick back on the couch and read some non-fiction.
I turn on my favorite streaming service and have a drink.

I break out some food and get cooking.

What is the most important contribution of this age?

Social change

Scientific advancements
Perfection of art

Every day life is always humanity's greatest achievement.

What do you watch for entertainment?

Musicals

Documentaries
Fictional movies

Cooking and DIY shows

What do you listen to for entertainment?

Rock and Roll!

Podcasts
Classical music

FM Radio

Do your friends turn to you for advice?

Only when it comes to tunes.

Not unless they have a question about how to wire a plug.
Not unless it's trivia night a the pub.

Frequently

Do you have a scrapbook of your own written notes?

No, I just write in the margins of liner notes.

I keep a few notebooks.
I have a journal I put notes in.

I have overflowing binders of written notes.

What is the most important contribution of American culture thus far?

Rock 'n' Roll

NASA
Indiana Jones

Pecan pie

Does Metallica deserve remembering?

Yeah, they were culturally significant.

Who? Is that a mineral?
They're pretty inescapable, especially since they had an association with Mariano Rivera.

Not by me.

How much more science stuff should the public be aware of?

Probably as much as it can handle.

People would be able to understand it all, if they tried.
Probably a lot more.

A bit more. Remember, science is useful and practical.

If the whole world could have one shared experience, what should it be?

Listening to the Beatles.

Everyone going to bed at the same time for one night.
Seeing a great movie we can all point to.

Sharing each others' food.

How would your best friends describe your interests?

Cool

Nerdy
Fascinating

Practical

What's an advancement of the last few years that got you really excited?

Dubstep

Cryptocurrency
RealD 3D video

Anova Sous Vide

What's an unusual bit of knowledge you have that most people wouldn't know?

I know the backstory to some of the world's number one hit songs.

I know a lot about metal fatigue.
I know a great story about the making of Star Wars.

I know how to fix a scratched CD with my nose.

Do you have any advice for someone having a bit of downer day?

Put on some George Harrison. You'll feel better in minutes.

Have some valerian root tea.
Watch and Indiana Jones movie. You'll brighten up immediately.

Regrout your bathroom. You'll feel like you accomplished something.

Do you know how to cook?

A little

Not well
I can cook a little.

I'm a great cook.

Can you play an instrument?

Yeah, I can pluck out some notes on the guitar.

I can play the piano a little.
I can play the drums a bit.

No, but I can fix a broken instrument.

Can you paint or draw?

Not well

I can draw a little.
I can paint a little.

I can do both of those and more.

Can you fix a workstation?

Not with a gun to my head.

I certainly could.
I'd have to ask for a friend.

I could do most of it.

Have you ever been asked to videotape someone's wedding?

No, just stills.

Once, when I got my new 360 camera.
I have on a few occasions.

I've offered but no one takes me up on it.

What's a vacation destination you have on your bucket list?

Abbey Road Studios

CERN
Hollywood

Paris

What famous person would you invite to help you bury your time capsule?

Roger Waters

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Ivan Reitman

Anthony Bourdain

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