by Ken Greatorex & Roy Arnott
Theme: Famous Skeptics
(Click on the grid to enlarge and download)
STANDARD CLUES: (Scroll Down for Cryptic clues)
ACROSS:
1. A meeting of delegates representing like-minded organizations [10]
6. & 8 across: Australian writer, researcher and science educator whose academic work focuses on primary orality and mnemonic devices used by ancient and modern oral cultures [5, 5]
8. See 6 across
10. Wonderment [3]
11. & 12 across: Australian responsible for The Skeptic Zone and Mystery Investigators [7, 8]
12. See 11 across
16. Australia’s national gemstone [4]
19. & 20 across: American popular mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, philosophy, skepticism, and religion. author of more than 100 books, including Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science [6, 7]
20. See 19 across
21. Vulgar, coarse, rude [10]
23. Chemical symbol for the second densest element (after osmium) [2]
24. The act of amending in order to improve [8]
26. & 28 across: Musician, composer and Geologic podcaster who explores atheist, skeptic and science themes in his work [6, 4]
28. See 26 across
30. Meat dried and cut into strips [5]
31. One who is killed because of their beliefs [6]
32. (Psych) That part of a person’s subconscious which relates to basic needs and desires [2]
35. Wildebeest [3]
36. Any of nine daughters of Zeus who preside over the arts and sciences [4]
37. & 38 across: American science writer, founder of The Skeptics Society, Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic [7, 7]
38. See 37 across
40. Seaweed extract used in food and microbiological research [4]
42. Element #3’s symbol [2]
43. “_ _ _ _ the evidence” – Skeptical mantra [4]
46. Season [6]
48. Object or outcome which is eagerly sought after [5]
49. Lactic secretion [4]
51. Machine for shaping material by rotating it while cutting it [5]
52. Ceremony following a prescribed order [6]
54. Strip of rigid material used to draw straight lines and measure distances [5]
55. Skeptics Guide to the Universe’s Steven, Jay and Robert _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [7]
56. Whichever of a specified class might be chosen [3]
57. Ninth letter of the Greek alphabet [5]
59. Litigates [4]
61. Search determinedly [4]
62. Ore of lead [6]
63. Founder of Cynic philosophy; described by Plato as “a Socrates gone mad” [8]
68. Tavern or hostel [3]
69. Fibrous plant used for rope [5]
70. & 71 across: American astrophysicist, cosmologist and science popularizer; publications include Cosmos, Contact and The Demon Haunted World. [4, 5]
71. See 70 across
73. Notion [4]
75. Chemical symbol for element 56 [2]
76. Took an oath [5]
81. Greek Philosopher whose approach to a problem was to ask questions to establish a basis of existing relevant knowledge and beliefs [8]
82. & 84 across & 85 across: Ancient Greek philosopher, usually credited as the founder of Skepticism [6, 2, 4]
84. See 82 across
85. See 82 across
86. Cybernetic, as applied to machines that perform mechanical, routine tasks on command [7]
87. Body of protestant Christian doctrines based on the teachings of John Wesley [9]
88. Greek female mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, killed by a Christian mob [7]
89. Numerous [4]
90. & 91. Across: The Lollipop Lady, Health activist, CEO Friends of Science in Medicine and three-time Australian Skeptic of the Year [7, 6]
91. See 90 across
DOWN:
2. & 22 down & 53 down: American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator; host of TV’s 2014 series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey [4, 8, 5]
3. Cultural anthropology [9]
4. Material for surfacing roads [6]
5. Lie comfortably within shelter [6]
6. Continuous, sequential [6]
7. Alleviating, facilitating [6]
8. & 14 down: Consumer advocate, particularly re advertising and sale of therapeutic goods. Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University; Winner of Australian Skeptics’ Thornett Award, Life Member of Australian Skeptics [3, 6]
9. Arab country [5]
13. Bury, especially within a vault or crypt [6]
14. See 8 down
15. Giordano _ _ _ _ _, whose cosmological theories got him burnt at the stake. A skeptical 31 across? [5]
17. Irrational mathematical ratio [2]
18. & 50 down: Foundation Professor of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and director of its Origins Project; advocate for the public understanding of science, public policy based on sound empirical data, scientific skepticism and reduction of the impact of superstition and religious dogma in pop culture. Author of The Physics of Star Trek and A Universe from Nothing. [8, 6]
19. & 47 down: British skeptical activist, journalist, public speaker, podcaster, author and blogger; co-founder of the Merseyside Skeptics; director of the Good Thinking Society [7, 8]
22. See 2 down
25. Decorative cake layer [5]
27. Expresses the main idea of (something) in a concise way [12]
29. & 60 down: A retired family physician, former flight surgeon and skeptic, she writes about alternative medicine and quackery for Skeptic and Skeptical Inquirer. [7, 4]
30. & 52 down: The Amazing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , magician and debunker extraordinaire [5, 5]
33. Consisting of two parts [4]
34. & 66 down: Author of On the Origin of Species [7, 6]
35. Italian physicist, mathematician, engineer, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the scientific revolution [7]
39. & 71 down: Physical anthropologist, former university professor and opponent of the teaching of young earth creationism and intelligent design in schools, formerly Director of America’s National Center for Science Education [7, 5]
41. & 72 down: British psychologist, author and magician; producer of the Quirkology videos [7, 7]
44. Romantic name for Ireland [4]
45. Grain storage tower [4]
47. See 19 down
49. Corn [5]
50. See 18 down
52. See 30 down
53. See 2 down
58. Definite article [3]
60. See 29 down
64. Dominant member of a pre-Columbian Empire centred on modern Peru [4]
65. Bill _ _ _ , “the Science Guy” [3]
66. See 34 down
67. Raider [8]
71. See 39 down
72. See 41 down
73. Gelid [3]
74. Place of religious retreat [6]
75. Recess in a coastline; Australia has a great one! [5]
77. Unsubstantiated ideas that attract uncritical believers [3]
78. Capacious [5]
79. The juvenile stage of a newt [3]
80. Nocturnal lizard with adhesive pads on its feet [5]
82. Bishop of Rome [4]
83. Repetition of something to be learned [4]
87. Encountered [3]
CRYPTIC CLUES:
ACROSS:
1. Gathering at nunnery with protons not equal to electrons [10]
6. & 8 across: Sir Gareth’s companion accompanies this gang to find Australian writer [5, 5]
8. See 6 across
10. Wages index sounds mineral based [3]
11. & 12 across: Noted Skeptic incurred sad rash [7, 8]
12. See 11 across
16. Look in shop alcove for gem [4]
19. & 20 across: Shop in grander style for mathematician [6, 7]
20. See 19 across
21. Need italic changed. It is coarse [10]
23. Element found outside visible spectrum [2]
24. Vie? No Sir! It will be a change [8]
26. & 28 across: Bare hogger reforms to become skeptic [6, 4]
28. See 26 across
30. Spasmodic meat [5]
31. “One who moves along the line of least reluctance to a desired death” – Ambrose Bierce [6]
32. (Psych) Remove current from low pH matter to find personality component [2]
35. Sign up to find animal [3]
36. Ancient Greek lady sounds like she could be a patron saint of converted stables [4]
37. & 38 across: He said: “In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.” [7, 7]
38. See 37 across
40. Jell formed from metal and noble gas [4]
42. Are you out of your mind? Take this. [2]
43. Search to observe potassium [4]
46. Seasonal adder [6]
48. Object sought for old King to be not well [5]
49. A thousand of that kind for babies [4]
51. Non terminating face soap takes a turn with a cutter [5]
52. “A religious or semi-religious ceremony fixed by law, precept or custom, with the essential oil of sincerity carefully squeezed out of it” – Bierce [6]
54. ER, GR or VR [5]
55. Literary form of Noel and Val [7]
56. Whatever without even Aunty [3]
57. Not a lot [5]
59. Takes legal action after changed uses [4]
61. Pursue Greg, James or Rex [4]
62. After the storm, sodium forms lead sulphide [6]
63. Snide ego perhaps for ancient cynic [8]
68. Blameless loses no money and finds accommodation [3]
69. Fibrous content of thrombosis allergen [5]
70. & 71 across: Algar scan for astronomer [4, 5]
71. See 70 across
73. Notion of Mid Earth [4]
75. Sailor goes back a degree [2]
76. Used offensive language after all the worse for change [5]
81. Coasters move to find ancient Greek [8]
82. & 84 across & 85 across: Greek sceptic of horsy profile [6, 2, 4]
84. See 82 across
85. See 82 across
86. Crib too can be cybernetic [7]
87. Reformed dim methos find religion [9]
88. Greek female mathematician killed! I am taken by disruptive apathy [7]
89. Lots of academics at US State [4]
90. & 91. Across: Not all lollipop ladies are at school crossings
91. See 90 across
DOWN
2. & 22 down & 53 down: He said: More evidence my 14yr old daughter is a Geek: after prompting me to ask if she knew any jokes about sodium, she replied, “Na” [4, 8, 5]
3. “The science that treats of the various tribes of Man, as robbers, thieves, swindlers, dunces, lunatics, idiots and ethnologists” – Bierce [9]
4. Sailor and Scot hit the road [6]
5. Take a modified British sub-machine gun to the French food company [6]
6. Ungeometric progression [6]
7. Modified silver trig function brings helm amidships [6]
8. & 14 down: The former All-Pro linebacker retired from the NFL in 1999 and was selected in 2002 as one of the 70 all-time greatest Washington Redskins. – No, not that one [8, 14]
9. Arab country has printer measure in currency unit [5]
13. Organise mob ten to bury [6]
14. See 8 down
15. Denying the virgin birth put the heat on this astronomer [5]
17. Ratio from expectoration without ends [2]
18. & 50 down: He said: “So forget Jesus. The stars died so that you could be here today.” [8, 6]
19. & 47 down: Archangel to bring together and organise people for UK skeptical activist [7, 8]
22. See 2 down
25. Goes on cake after the start of cutting into cubes [5]
27. Use Alp ascent – it wraps [12]
29. & 60 down: US Skeptic flying doctor [7, 4]
30. & 52 down: Dear Jasmin, Change for debunker [5, 5]
33. Double up of French metal [4]
34. & 66 down: Evolutionist to burn the French port [7, 6]
35. The Church told him that the Earth was at the centre of the universe. In a sense they were right [7]
39. & 71 down: Anti-Creationist nominally is to use genetic [7, 5]
41. & 72 down: Clever Dick? [7, 7]
44. Place in jade rinsed land [4]
45. Disturb earth to make storage facility [4]
47. See 19 down
49. Sounds like one could get lost in this grain [5]
50. See 18 down
52. See 30 down
53. See 2 down
58. Brew French article [3]
60. See 29 down
64. Pre-Columbian found in Arvin California [4]
65. The science chap sounds near [3]
66. See 34 down
67. Rue drama of plunderer [8]
71. See 39 down
72. See 41 down
73. Integrated circuit on graphical axis produces frozen result [3]
74. A marsh setting for Indian retreat [6]
75. Coastal feature sounds like 8 bits [5]
77. Warrant Officer takes duck to go courting [3]
78. Spacious location sounds like a sight for watery eyes [5]
79. Stage of semi-aquatic amphibian life cycle moves money [3]
80. Reptilian result of industrial conglomerate knock out [5]
82. Popeye the sailor man starts off as a churchman [4]
83. Not one or twice like anyone nice, but again and again and again [4]
87. Weather Bureau converged [3]