2025 CSE spring crossword puzzle answers
Thanks for gopher-ing it! Even if you didn’t get every answer right, we hope you had fun along the way.
Answers + Stories Behind the Clues
Below are the answers to the CSE crossword, along with brief stories and facts behind each University of Minnesota or College of Science and Engineering clue. From notable alumni to surprising campus trivia, we hope you enjoy learning more as you check your work.
ACROSS
1 Across
Clue: Field for our College (abbr.)
Answer: STEM
5 Across
Clue: Make music orally
Answer: SING
9 Across
Clue: Prefix with circle or conductor
Answer: SEMI
13 Across
Clue: Reason for blushing
Answer: SHAME
14 Across
Clue: On a single occasion
Answer: ONCE
15 Across
Clue: Family-based group
Answer: CLAN
16 Across
Clue: First polymer physicist hired by Medtronic
Answer: KIMCHAFFIN
Did you know?
Kimberly A Chaffin, Ph.D. ChE ‘99 was the first polymer physicist hired at Medtronic. She holds nine patents, including one for a contoured battery that improved comfort and longevity in implantable devices. Her work has influenced dozens of innovations, with 52 citations and counting. Read more about her career and passion for polymers.
18 Across
Clue: Invoice logged abbreviation
Answer: RECD
19 Across
Clue: Curved building feature
Answer: APSE
20 Across
Clue: Execs focused on science and engineering issues
Answer: CTOS
Did you know?
Bill Krenik, EE ‘84, is Chief Technical Officer at Texas Instruments. Read more about Bill—and a few other CSE alumni—who are helping power companies that shape lives, industries, and global economies.
21 Across
Clue: Mascot rival of Goldy
Answer: BUCKY
Did you know?
Goldy Gopher’s longtime mascot rival is Bucky Badger from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The two schools share the longest-running Division I football rivalry in the country. On November 29, 2024, the Gophers reclaimed Paul Bunyan’s Axe with a 24–7 win in Madison—bringing some extra school spirit back to Minnesota. Read more about the game.
22 Across
Clue: ___ Bakken, inventor of the pacemaker
Answer: Earl
Did you know?
Earl E. Bakken, EE ‘48, invented the first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker and co-founded Medtronic, now one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, where more than 1,000 CSE alumni currently work. He was also a passionate advocate for engineering with purpose. Read more about Earl Bakken’s legacy. The University of Minnesota, CSE, and Medtronic continue to partner on research that addresses some of the most difficult challenges in healthcare. Learn about the latest chapter in that collaboration.
24 Across
Clue: Lacks the capacity to
Answer: CANT
25 Across
Clue: Reptile in "Antony and Cleopatra"
Answer: ASP
28 Across
Clue: Inventor praised as "the Thomas Edison of the supercomputing industry"
Answer: SEYMOURCRAY
Did you know?
Seymour Cray, EE’ 49, M.S. Math ‘51, is widely recognized as the father of supercomputing. Known for designing some of the fastest computers of his time, he was praised as “the Thomas Edison of the supercomputing industry.” His groundbreaking work helped shape everything from scientific research to national defense. Read about Cray’s contributions to supercomputing.
33 Across
Clue: Online commentaries
Answer: BLOGS
Did you know?
CSE faculty, students, and alumni constantly share discoveries, ideas, and insights—just not always in blog form. From research breakthroughs to behind-the-scenes stories, our news and feature stories offer a window into the CSE community.
35 Across
Clue: Celestial sphere
Answer: ORB
Did you know?
CSE researchers are helping unlock the secrets of the universe—including a discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope. Their work led to the observation of a compact, powerful galaxy—one more luminous orb mapped on the celestial sphere. Read about the galaxy discovery. Explore the night sky for yourself.
36 Across
Clue: Bring on staff
Answer: HIRE
Did you know?
More than 95% of CSE undergraduate students have a job in their field or are pursuing a graduate degree within six months of graduation. Employers know that CSE grads are ready to lead, solve problems, and make an immediate impact. Explore CSE career outcomes.
37 Across
Clue: Fail to keep possession of
Answer: LOSE
38 Across
Clue: Lee ___, microbiomerevolutionizing 2020 University of Minnesota Entrepreneur of the year
Answer: JONES
Did you know?
Lee Jones, ChE ‘79, Minnesota Executive Program ‘95, founder of Rebiotix and a pioneer in microbiome-based therapies, was named the University of Minnesota’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020. Now retired, her work transformed how we treat chronic diseases by restoring balance to the human microbiome. Watch her words of wisdom from the Founders Day Celebration in 2021 (30:05 to 36:01).
40 Across
Clue: Commits a certain hockey penalty
Answer: ICES
Did you know?
“Icing” is a hockey infraction—but the Gophers men’s hockey team were anything but cold in the NCAA Fargo Regional. The team pushed UMass to overtime in a March 2025 heartbreaker that capped off another standout season. Read the full game recap.
41 Across
Clue: What the colon means in an analogy
Answer: ISTO
42 Across
Clue: Purchase at Urban Growler (co-founded by CSE alumna Deb Loch)
Answer: ALE
Did you know?
Deb Loch, BME, Ph.D. ‘91, combined engineering and entrepreneurship to co-found Urban Growler—the first women-owned microbrewery in Minnesota. She brings an engineer’s mindset to brewing—balancing precision, creativity, and community. Read more about her journey from CSE to brewing.
43 Across
Clue: Revolutionary War diplomat Silas (HINT: Hidden in "made an entrance")
Answer: DEANE
44 Across
Clue: Co-inventor of gluten-free Cheerios
Answer: PHILZIETLOW
Did you know?
Phil Zietlow, ChE ‘64, worked at General Mills for over 50 years, where he helped invent Honey Nut Cheerios and led the development of gluten-free Cheerios. The gluten-free version was inspired by a family member with celiac disease. Watch this General Mills video about his role in creating gluten-free Cheerios.
48 Across
Clue: ___ Cruces (home of New Mexico State)
Answer: LAS
49 Across
Clue: Machine shop item
Answer: TOOL
50 Across
Clue: Give off
Answer: EMIT
52 Across
Clue: Vowel sound in the Minnesota accent
Answer: LONGO
54 Across
Clue: "Spider-Verse" heroine Stacy
Answer: GWEN
56 Across
Clue: Dangerous way to run
Answer: AMOK
60 Across
Clue: French phrase meaning "mine"
Answer: AMOI
61 Across
Clue: Co-founder of the world's first materials science department
Answer: MORRISFINE
Did you know?
Morris E. Fine (Metallurgical Engineering ‘40, M.S. ’42, Ph.D ’43) co-founded the world’s first materials science department and became a leader in metallurgy and engineering education. His groundbreaking work and lifelong impact earned him the University of Minnesota's Outstanding Achievement Award. Read more about his legacy.
63 Across
Clue: Information theorist's count
Answer: BITS
64 Across
Clue: Graph theory structure
Answer: TREE
65 Across
Clue: Quite a few times
Answer: OFTEN
66 Across
Clue: Editor's note to unmake a change
Answer: STET
67 Across
Clue: Sell
Answer: VEND
68 Across
Clue: Colored chemicals
Answer: DYES
Did you know?
CSE researchers are using light-sensitive dyes to track molecules inside living cells—one at a time. A collaboration between the Puchner and Noireaux labs led to a new photochemistry technique that could advance everything from cell biology to medical diagnostics. Read about the discovery.
DOWN
1 Down
Clue: Summer home for some NROTC cadets
Answer: SHIP
2 Down
Clue: Some Scottish hats
Answer: TAMS
3 Down
Clue: Event host
Answer: EMCEE
4 Down
Clue: Lukewarm expression
Answer: MEH
5 Down
Clue: How Teddy Roosevelt recommended one speak
Answer: SOFTLY
6 Down
Clue: The 411
Answer: INFO
7 Down
Clue: Long-running procedural series
Answer: NCIS
8 Down
Clue: Next-___ technology
Answer: GEN
9 Down
Clue: Ponytail holder
Answer: SCRUNCHIE
10 Down
Clue: Type of engineering in which Rebekah Feist specializes
Answer: ELECTRICAL
Did you know?
Rebecca Feist, ChE ‘02, M.S EE ‘04, Ph.D. ‘07, bridges chemical and electrical engineering in her work at Dow Chemical Company, where she leads research in advanced materials and sustainable technologies. She was honored with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s Under 40 Alumni Leader Award in 2016. Read about her path and recognition.
11 Down
Clue: Truck brand
Answer: MACK
12 Down
Clue: Midwestern state capital, familiarly
Answer: INDY
13 Down
Clue: Reggae relative
Answer: SKA
17 Down
Clue: Unit equal to about 0.4 hectares
Answer: ACRE
21 Down
Clue: Pressure unit slightly less than an atmosphere
Answer: BAR
23 Down
Clue: Burro, by another name
Answer: ASS
24 Down
Clue: Chicago baseballers
Answer: CUBS
25 Down
Clue: "It's just ___ on the radar"
Answer: ABLIP
26 Down
Clue: Flow back and forth
Answer: SLOSH
27 Down
Clue: Sticky reminder invented by Art Fry
Answer: POSTITNOTE
Did you know?
Art Fry, ‘ChE, ‘55 was the inventor of 3M Post-It Notes, turning a low-tack adhesive into one of the world’s most popular office products. His idea started as a way to keep bookmarks from falling out of his books—and stuck around ever since.
29 Down
Clue: Founder of Impressionism
Answer: MONET
30 Down
Clue: A miner victory?
Answer: ORE
31 Down
Clue: Williams ___, a.k.a. The Barn
Answer: ARENA
Did you know?
Williams Arena—better known as “The Barn”—has been home to Gopher basketball since 1928. Next season marks a new chapter as the University of Minnesota welcomes Niko Medved as the new head coach of the men’s team. Read the story.
32. Down
Clue: Affirmative responses
Answer: YESES
34 Down
Clue: Donna Whitney of Earth and Environmental Sciences, for one
Answer: GEOLOGIST
Did you know?
Professor Donna Whitney is a metamorphic geologist who studies mountain-building processes and the deep history of Earth’s crust. She’s a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and a leader in Earth and Environmental Sciences at CSE. Learn more about her research and impact.
38 Down
Clue: Monopoly corner space
Answer: JAIL
39 Down
Clue: Cheer for a bullfighter
Answer: OLE
43 Down
Clue: Ticket for failing a breathalyzer test (abbr.)
Answer: DWI
45 Down
Clue: Place to see wolves and lynx
Answer: ZOO
46 Down
Clue: Looked like a creep?
Answer: LEERED
47 Down
Clue: Prefix with potent or present
Answer: OMIT
51 Down
Clue: Viscoelastic candy type
Answer: TAFFY
52 Down
Clue: Important part of chemistry education
Answer: LABS
53 Down
Clue: Leave out
Answer: OMIT
54 Down
Clue: Eponym for a waterproof fabric
Answer: GORE
Did you know?
Robert W. Gore, ChE ‘63, invented GORE-TEX, the windproof, waterproof, and breathable fabric used in outdoor gear around the world. His discovery was a breakthrough in polymer science—and started with a bold experiment. Read more about his story.
55 Down
Clue: Small bird
Answer: WREN
57 Down
Clue: Pest for beekeepers
Answer: MITE
58 Down
Clue: Non-zero binary digits
Answer: ONES
59 Down
Clue: Prof. Heller or Leopold
Answer: KEN
Did you know?
CSE has two professors named Ken who’ve made lasting marks in their fields. Physicist Kenneth Heller is known for transforming physics education, while chemist Kenneth Leopold is recognized for his work in molecular spectroscopy.
Meet Kenneth Heller (Physics) | Meet Kenneth Leopold (Chemistry)
61 Down
Clue: Early video channel
Answer: MTV
62 Down
Clue: Ground covering
Answer: SOD