How the numbers are found and checked

A game of surprising numbers only works if the numbers are true. Here is how we find them and how we check them.

Where the numbers come from

Most cards come from a short list of places we trust.

• Wikipedia, for counts, sizes and records, and the primary sources it cites.
• NASA, for space, planets and missions.
• NOAA, for weather, oceans and climate.
• The National Park Service, for parks, monuments and visitor numbers.
• Makers' own pages, for what a company says about its own product, such as a burger or a bottle.

What makes a good card

We look for a number that is real, easy to picture, and hard to guess. A clever player should be able to reason their way to the right hill. We want the reveal to make you say wow, not argue.

How each number is checked

1. We find the number in its source and read the page ourselves.
2. We check the number by hand against the source. We do not copy it from another list.
3. We save the source with the card, so it can be shown when the values are revealed.

Multipliers

Some numbers are not found in one place. A source may give a count for one item, like a single bun. A card may then ask about 100 of them. That is a stated multiplier. The card shows what it is multiplied by, and the reveal shows both the base fact and the final number, so you can check the math yourself.

Mole Intel reads out that base fact. That is why it helps most on cards you cannot picture at the full size.

What you see after a round

When a round ends, the true values appear with a cited source. If you think a number is wrong, tell us.

When we get it wrong

Sources change and mistakes happen. If you find a problem, email hello@molionaire.com with the date, the card and the source you found. We check it right away, and fix the card if you are right. Results for a corrected card may change.

Learn how the game works on the how to play page.