April 28, 2026

Title: IT'S A SMALL WORLD

Constructors: Will Eisenberg & Kim Alswager

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• DWARF PLANET (20A: Pluto, Orcus or Haumea)
• GUT MICROBIOME (36A: Bacterial ecosystem that plays a role in affecting mood)
• POCKET UNIVERSE (54A: Self-contained realm like Superman's Phantom Zone)

IT'S A SMALL WORLD: Each of the theme answers is a thing that could be described by the phrase "IT'S A SMALL WORLD."

And now a word from our constructors:

Will: Kim and I had talked a little bit on the crossword Discord server, but I knew very little about her. Unbeknownst to me, one of the schools where I teach weekly happens to be where Kim teaches as well. Not only that, but our teaching spaces are literally right across the hall from each other. When Kim introduced herself in person, it took me a minute to even realize what she meant! I was shocked—and I knew we couldn’t let this moment of puzzle serendipity go to waste. The result is this puzzle, which was a joy to work on. In the meantime, Kim sent a fantastic application to Lil AVCX and it’s a pleasure having her on our roster of mentees this year!

Kim: One day after having a full-out pity party for myself on the crossword Discord server (gotta love those rejections), I received a very kind and encouraging response from Will. I had seen his comments on the server plenty of times and recognized his handle. However, this time, the name rang a bell. “I think this guy teaches music where I teach music…he has a horn in his profile pic…wait, is he across the hall from me right now??” He was in fact, across the hall. It was such a fun discovery, and I’m glad we seized the opportunity to collaborate. Will has been so helpful in my crossword journey, and I am excited to now be a Lil AVCX roster member. Also, please check out the amazing Midis for Minnesota project that Will is heading up!

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• POCKET UNIVERSE (54A: Self-contained realm like Superman's Phantom Zone) A POCKET UNIVERSE is a theoretical concept of distinct regions or multiverses existing simultaneously. In Superman comics, the Phantom Zone is a POCKET UNIVERSE existing outside of the space-time continuum. On the planet Krypton, the Phantom Zone was used as a humane method of imprisoning criminals.
• ALAKAZAM (10D: Pokemon that's the final form of Abra and Kadabra) The generation I Pokémon Abra evolves into Kadabra, which then evolves into ALAKAZAM, its final form. ALAKAZAM is a psychic Pokémon, and is highly intelligent. Although I know very little about Pokémon, I like this progression of names and once I had the answer from crossing answers, I felt like it made sense.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• PEACE (8A: ___ sign (gesture often used by the Spice Girls) The Spice Girls were a British band formed in 1994. The band – Scary Spice (Mel B), Sporty Spice (Melanie C), Baby Spice (Emma Bunton), Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell), and Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) – embraced "girl power," often accompanying the phrase with a PEACE sign.
• RUN (13A: English word with the most potential meanings) This is a fascinating fun fact. According to Merriam-Webster, the word RUN can be used as a verb, a noun, and an adjective, with multiple definitions for each part of speech.
• ATLAS (16A: Book that covers a lot of ground?) This clue has me visualizing a book sprouting little legs and running around... But no, this is a reference to all the maps (covering a lot of ground) found in an ATLAS.
• DWARF PLANET (20A: Pluto, Orcus or Haumea) A DWARF PLANET is a planetary object that orbits around the Sun, but is not big enough to meet the criteria of being a PLANET. Pluto, of course, was previously classified as a PLANET, but was downgraded in 2006 when new criteria were established. Pluto was first discovered in 1930. The DWARF PLANETs Orcus and Haumea were discovered in 2004.
• KIA (23A: Forte, for one) This is an instance where familiarity with today's constructors sent me down the wrong path. Knowing that both Will and Kim are musicians, when I read "forte" I immediately thought of musical notation. But instead, this clue is talking about the KIA Forte, a compact car model manufactured from 2008 to 2024.
• SILO (24A: Place to store corn) A SILO is a great place to store corn. Grain bins and corn cribs are also used to store corn. These storage buildings all have slightly different purposes. A corn crib is used to store corn that's still on the cob. The kernels are later removed from the ears of corn and used for livestock feed. A grain bin is used to store corn that has been combined, a process that removes the kernels from the ears of corn when it is picked. A SILO is used to store silage – corn that is harvested partially green and allowed to go through a fermentation process. The silage is then used for livestock feed. This clue reminded me of my recent "Corn Crib" puzzle. A friend told me they didn't understand the theme because they'd never heard of a corn crib. Consider this discussion as a belated explanation for the city folks!
• SITAR (25A: "Norwegian Wood" instrument) "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is a 1965 song by the Beatles. The song features a SITAR, which is played by George Harrison.
• ZOE (31A: "Avatar" star Saldana) In the Avatar movies (2009-present), ZOE Saldaña plays the role of Neytiri, one of the Na'vi, the indigenous people of the fictional moon Pandora.
• GUT MICROBIOME (36A: Bacterial ecosystem that plays a role in affecting mood) GUT MICROBIOME are the microorganisms living in an animal's digestive tract. Recent scientific studies have shown that the GUT MICROBIOME can influence the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin (the "feel-good" neurotransmitter), thus having an effect on one's mood.
• SEA (66A: Sargasso ___) The Sargasso SEA is a region of the Atlantic Ocean characterized by the growth of Sargassum seaweed and blue water that is often calm. The Sargasso SEA is the only named SEA without land boundaries.
• OUTWIT (2D: Defeat with brains alone) Did this remind anyone else of the Battle of Wits from The Princess Bride? 
• SINAI (7D: Peninsula linking Africa and Asia) The SINAI Peninsula is the only part of the country of Egypt that is located in Asia rather than Africa. The peninsula is a land bridge between Asia and Africa, with the Mediterranean Sea to its north, and the Red Sea to its south. 
• ESTATES (12D: Hearst Castle and Graceland, for two) Hearst Castle is a historic ESTATE in central California. It was built by publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) and is now a museum open to the public. Graceland is an ESTATE in Memphis, Tennessee that was once owned by Elvis Presley. 
• EAT (22D: Take down a hero?) The hero here is a sandwich.
• MCCARTHY (33D: "Spy" star Melissa) Spy is a 2015 movie in which Melissa MCCARTHY plays Susan Cooper, a CIA employee. Susan Cooper normally works behind a desk, but is sent into the field when a mission goes wrong.
• UNICORN (37D: Mythical animals sought in a Peter S. Beagle novel) The Peter S. Beagle novel referenced here is The Last UNICORN, published in 1968. The novel has been adapted into a 1982 animated movie of the same name. Mia Farrow voices the UNICORN in the movie.
• SESAME (47D: Type of seeds in tahini) Tahini is essentially ground toasted SESAME seed. You might think of it as SESAME seed butter. Tahini is a main ingredient in hummus and baba ghanouj. It's also an ingredient in a granola recipe my daughter shared with me (that is so good I only make it for road trips, or I would eat nothing else).
• SNAKE (51D: Game popularized by Nokia) SNAKE is one of the three mobile video games included on the Nokia 6110 cell phone in 1998. The player of the game controls a SNAKE that grows longer as orbs are collected. The snake is controlled via the number pad on the phone.
• IVES (56D: "Central Park in the Dark" composer) Charles IVES (1874-1954) composed Central Park in the Dark in 1906 for chamber orchestra. According to notes IVES wrote about the piece, it is "a picture-in-sounds of nature and of happenings that men would hear some thirty or so years ago (before the combustion engine and radio monopolized the earth and air), when sitting on a bench in Central Park on a hot summer night."
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• GRIDS (1D: What crossword solvers complete)
• CAKE (55D: Common birthday dessert)
• THE (58D: Word often ignored when alphabetizing)

This is a fun and interesting category theme. Learning the tie-in with the "SMALL WORLD" moment of Will and Kim's meeting adds to my enjoyment of the this puzzle. Congratulations to Kim Alswager on making a USA Today crossword debut! Thank you, Will and Kim, for this delightful puzzle!

I want to highlight a couple of things Will and Kim mentioned in their notes:

1. I second the recommendation to check out the Midis for Minnesota project. Thirteen crossword constructors with Minnesota ties (including Kim and Will!) have constructed a pack of midi puzzles to raise funds for mutual aid organizations in Minnesota. Make a donation to one of the organizations on the website, submit proof of donation, and they'll send you the puzzles. It's as easy as that!
2. I've written about the indie crossword publication, AVCX, and its midi branch, Lil AVCX before, but I always like to promote it when the opportunity arises. If you don't yet have a subscription to AVCX, I encourage you to get one. As Kim and Will mentioned, Kim is on this year's Lil AVCX roster of newer constructors (she happens to be my mentee this year, as a matter of fact!), so subscribing comes with the perk of getting to solve more puzzles by her.

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