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Layer of the upper atmosphere - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The answer is PONY because "Pink Pony Club" is a popular hit song by Chappell Roan. The clue directly refers to the title of this song, making PONY the word that completes the phrase accurately. No tricks or wordplay are involved here; the solution is straightforward.
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The answer is KAZOO because a homemade kazoo can be crafted by stretching wax paper over the teeth of a comb. This creates a vibration when you hum into it, producing the buzzing sound characteristic of a kazoo. The clue cleverly refers to this simple DIY method for making the instrument.
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The clue "How bedtime stories are often read" suggests the common manner in which they are shared—verbally, so the answer "ALOUD" fits. Bedtime stories are typically read out loud so children can hear and enjoy them, making "ALOUD" the perfect solution.
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The phrase "On edge" describes a state of being anxious, nervous, or tightly wound up — all emotions associated with being TENSE. Therefore, "TENSE" perfectly aligns with the clue as a succinct synonym for this mental or emotional state.
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The answer is REEL because Instagram Reels are short videos users create and share on the platform. "Reel" directly refers to this specific Instagram feature, making it the correct solution for "Short Instagram video."
Down
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The clue "Less colorful" implies a comparison, indicating something with reduced color intensity. "Paler" fits this as it describes a lighter or less vivid color, often resulting from fading or less pigmentation. It directly aligns with the meaning of being less colorful.
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The answer is OZONE because the ozone layer is a specific part of Earth's upper atmosphere (in the stratosphere) that contains a high concentration of ozone (O₃) molecules. It plays a crucial role in shielding the planet from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
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The clue "Totally pointless" is a play on words. "NOUSE" means "no use," which aligns with "pointless" in a figurative sense, as something with no use or purpose is effectively pointless. The punning nature of the clue matches the indirect phrasing of the answer.
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The clue involves wordplay: yodeling is a singing technique that often alternates between high and low notes. It's famously associated with mountainous regions (a "high place"). The phrasing "Hit a high note" connects to the vocal technique, making YODEL the fitting answer.
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The answer is KAT because it refers to the Kit Kat bar, a popular chocolate-covered wafer candy. The clue uses "Kit ___ bar" to prompt you to complete the well-known brand name with its second part, "KAT." This is a straightforward brand reference.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Layer of the upper atmosphere clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Layer of the upper atmosphere Answer Explained
The answer is OZONE.
“Layer of the upper atmosphere” immediately makes me think of science class. The Ozone Layer is a well-known part of Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. I briefly wonder if “stratosphere” or “ionosphere” might fit, but those are broader layers, and the clue wants a specific layer. OZONE is just five letters, which helps confirm it. If you’ve ever heard about the “hole in the ozone layer,” that’s what this clue is referencing. It’s scientific but widely known enough to be accessible, even for non-experts.
Now that you've cracked the 2D Layer of the upper atmosphere clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
Today’s Tuesday Mini by Christina Iverson steps up the difficulty a bit compared to the past few days. It still keeps things fair and fun, but you’ll notice trickier phrasing, a punny clue or two, and a touch more wordplay. Look out for some musical hints, internet lingo, and a clever twist in the downs.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- "Pink ___ Club" (Chappell Roan hit)
- Instrument that might be made with a comb and wax paper
- On edge
- Less colorful
- Totally pointless
- Hit a high note in a high place, perhaps
- Kit ___ bar
About NYT The Mini
NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
How to Play - Features and Tips
Fill white squares with letters to form intersecting words or phrases by solving clues in Across and Down columns. Read our guide to NYT Mini Mastery to learn how to read the different types of clues. Successfully completed puzzle triggers music and a congratulatory message.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Arrow keys: Change direction within the same square, move in the direction of the arrow, jump back to the first blank in the word, or jump to the next clue.
- Spacebar: Clear the current square, advance, or toggle between Across and Down.
- Backspace (Delete on Macs): Remove words or a letter from a word.
- Tab key: Jump to the next clue.
- Shift + Tab keys: Jump to the previous clue.
- Escape: Enter Rebus mode.
- Pen and Pencil Modes. Switch between pen and pencil modes by selecting the respective icon. Letters in pen mode are black; in pencil mode, gray.
Letter Colors
Black: Default pen mode entries.
Gray: Pencil mode entries.
Blue: Confirmed letters with Check.
Mini Timer
Time your solving with the timer displayed above the puzzle. Pause/resume using the respective buttons. The timer restarts if the entire puzzle is cleared. Option to hide the timer in Puzzle settings.
In-game Help
- Reveal: Unveil correct letters for a square, answer, or the entire puzzle.
- Check: Verify correctness.
The answers you get using help are marked with a red triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the box while those confirmed with check become blue.
Leaderboards
It’s an additional social resource provided by NYT. You can add friends (up to 100 invitees) to track daily completion and compete.