December 30, 2025

Title: OUTFOX

Constructor: Matthew Stock

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• FALL EQUINOX (17A: Autumn's official first day)
• FERMI PARADOX (36A: Contradictory statement regarding the likelihood of alien life existing)
• FLIP TOP BOX (65A: Container with a hinged lid)

OUTFOX: The word FOX is found at the OUTside of each theme answer: FALL EQUINOX, FERMI PARADOX, and FLIP TOP BOX.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• MUM (31A: Popular homecoming flower in Texas, for short) Not having grown up in Texas, I didn't realize that homecoming MUMs (short for chrysanthemums) are a tradition in the state. The origin of this tradition isn't clear, but it likely began in the 1950s because MUMs are in season during October and November when many homecomings are held. By the 1980s and 1990s, the homecoming MUMs had become quite elaborate, with artificial flowers replacing real flowers and the arrangements were embellished with ribbons, stuffed animals and battery operated lights. 
• FERMI PARADOX (36A: Contradictory statement regarding the likelihood of alien life existing) The FERMI PARADOX refers to the discrepancy between the high likelihood of alien life existing and the lack of evidence of its existence. The FERMI PARADOX is named for physicist Enrico FERMI (1901-1954), who apparently posed the question "But where is everybody?" during a conversation at Los Alamos (a government research lab in New Mexico) in 1950. (Whether he actually asked this question is up for debate, and Enrico FERMI never wrote anything on the subject.) I've probably heard of the FERMI PARADOX before, but I didn't remember it when reading this clue. I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the PARADOX between the idea that there are many potentially habitable planets and the fact that humans have not (yet!) discovered evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• AESOP (1A: Famous fable writer) and TORTOISE (40D: Animal that races a hare in a 1-Across fable) This is a fun pair of clues. I enjoyed filling in AESOP and then later on in the solve encountering TORTOISE and thinking, "Oh, nice!"
• FALL EQUINOX (17A: Autumn's official first day) The FALL EQUINOX or the September EQUINOX is the date when the Sun appears to cross the equator, heading southward. The FALL EQUINOX occurs between September 21 to 24, and marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
• FEMA (33A: Disaster relief org.) FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its primary purpose is to coordinate the response to disasters that occur in the U.S.
• FETA (50A: Spanakopita cheese) Spanakopita is a spinach pie of Greek origin. A filling – traditionally spinach, eggs, FETA cheese, and onions, is layered between phyllo pastry.
• RENT (57A: What pets don't pay to live in their owners' apartments) This clue made me laugh! Sadly, my cat, Willow, doesn't pay RENT to live in my husband and my house. However, she does help around the house by offering assistance with crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, board games, sewing projects, etc.

• TOXIC (10D: 2004 Britney Spears hit) The Britney Spears song "TOXIC" is from her fourth studio album, In the Zone. The song compares a lover to an addictive drug. "TOXIC" has become one of Britney Spears' signature songs.
• NET (30D: Piece of fishing gear) and RODS (62D: Pieces of fishing gear) I'm a fan of clue echoes. I like that moment of "Wait, haven't I seen this clue already...?"
• TEA BAG (51D: Steeped sachet) It made me smile to think of a TEA BAG as a "steeped sachet" – so fancy!
• ANGOLA (52D: African country whose national bird is the red-crested turaco) ANGOLA is a country on the western coast of Southern Africa. Luanda is ANGOLA's capital and largest city. As the clue informs us, ANGOLA's national bird is the red-crested turaco. This bird is endemic to western ANGOLA. It has a notable call that sounds somewhat like a jungle monkey. 
• IGA (66D: 2025 Wimbledon champion Swiatek) IGA Świątek is a professional tennis player from Poland. She won the French Open in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, the U.S. Open in 2022, and Wimbledon in 2025. Crossword constructors everywhere are grateful for IGA Świątek's continued success on the tennis court.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• DRUM SET (44A: Equipment that often has a band's name on it)
• EAR (61A: In one ___ and out the other)
• TOGA (69A: Garment that can be made from a sheet)

The title of today's puzzle allowed me to make a pretty good guess about the theme. That guess was confirmed when I filled in FALL EQUINOX. Thank you, Matthew, for this enjoyable puzzle.