12 September 2020 | New Scientist | 53The back pages Puzzles
Cryptic
Crossword #39
AnswersQuick crossword #66 Set by Richard Smyth Quick quiz #68
ACROSS 7 Solace, 8 Dollar, 9 Stem,
10 Angstrom, 11 Scarlet, 13 Adore,
15 Baron, 17 Despots, 20 Atom bomb,
21 Type, 23 Paella, 24 Ice AgeDOWN 1 Moat, 2 Yammer, 3 Legatee,
4 Adage, 5 Slated, 6 Tabouret,
12 Claptrap, 14 Leibniz, 16 Ormolu ,
18 Petrel, 19 Topaz, 22 Page1 Diversity in what feature of
Galapagos island finches was
considered by Charles Darwin to
be prime evidence for his theory
of evolution by natural selection?2 Psilocybin is a mind-altering drug
most notoriously found where?3 What is the signature feature of
an ekpyrotic universe?4 Weak electrical forces between
atoms and molecules that aren’t
considered to be chemical bonds
are often named after which Dutch
theoretical physicist?5 What is the difference
between autosomal-dominant
and autosomal-recessive
genetic diseases?Answers on page 54The last word
Is there a way to set a
real benchmark for
sea level? p56Feedback
Grunts of discontent
for Elon’s cyber-pig:
the week in weird p55Cartoons
Life through the lens
of Tom Gauld and
Twisteddoodles p54Puzzle
Can you weigh four
hippos using some
dodgy scales? p54Scribble
zoneAnswers and
the next cryptic
crossword next weekOur crosswords are
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newscientist.com/crosswords ACROSS
8 Unpaired; unattached (4)
9 The use of mechanical labour (10)
10 Mucus-producing (6)
11 CH₃OH (8)
12 Line joining two vertices (4)
13 CH₃CH (OH) COOH (6,4)
17 Fronded plant that reproduces via spores (4)
18 Robert ___ , botanist who observed random
motion of particles suspended in water (5)
19 Niels Bohr or Tycho Brahe, perhaps (4)
20 Strong-billed bird that might be green
or great spotted (10)
22 Sac within bodily tissue (4)
23 LAN networking technology (8)
27 The human mind (6)
28 Faster than Mach 1 (10)
29 Geek; enthusiast (4)DOWN
1 Location closest to a large detonation (6,4)
2 Gull-winged automobile that was
manufactured in the early 1980s (8)
3 Lipophilic (3-7)
4 Science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (4)
5 Secrete; send out (4)
6 Layers (6)
7 Primate genus (4)
14 Chronometer (5)
15 1987 science-fiction adventure film (10)
16 Part of Earth’s upper atmosphere (10)
19 Decomposing (8)
21 Rudolf ___ , inventor of a
compression-ignition engine (6)
24 Veracious; accurate (4)
25 US space-exploration agency (4)
26 Precisely adjust a machine or
musical instrument (4)