Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays

Latest answer — July 28, 2026

15 Down

A protective sky shield that soaks up the sun’s harsh rays ☀️

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NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, July 28, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Your response (hopefully) to the question "Who knows the answer to 1-Across?"
  2. 4Dalai ___
  3. 8Undeserving object of worship
  4. 11Conchiglie + Pastime = Sleight-of-hand trick
  5. 12Campfire residue
  6. 13Rigatoni + Lid = Stretchy, strapless garment
  7. 17Pet hair
  8. 18Journalist/podcaster Klein
  9. 20Macaroni + Hotel offering = Space to move around
  10. 23Carne ___
  11. 24"Full Metal Jacket" setting, informally
  12. 25___ Jackson, longtime judge on "American Idol"
  13. 26Music genre rooted in hardcore punk

Down

  1. 1Hypotheticals
  2. 2"Well, lah-di-___"
  3. 3Fútbol shout
  4. 4A Bic that may be flicked or clicked
  5. 5Org. on toothpaste tubes
  6. 6Oft-repeated word from a child to a parent
  7. 7Tavern order
  8. 9Thick chunk
  9. 10"You're something ___!"
  10. 13Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River
  11. 14City-related
  12. 15Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays
  13. 16Charity golf event
  14. 17Terror
  15. 19Water balloons, for a water balloon fight
  16. 21Like five of the first six digits of pi
  17. 22Route

The answer to “Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays” in the New York Times Midi crossword is OZONE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 28, 2026 at 15-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays” answer

OZONE (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's OZONE.

Why the answer is OZONE

A protective sky shield that soaks up the sun’s harsh rays ☀️

What does OZONE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of OZONE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a colourless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odour and powerful oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or ultraviolet light. It differs from normal oxygen (O₂) in having three atoms in its molecule (O₃)
  • fresh invigorating air, especially that blowing on to the shore from the sea

When else has “Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

July 28, 2026 (most recent) → OZONE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays”?

The answer is OZONE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 28, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays”?

5 letters: OZONE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 28, 2026, at 15-Down.

Can “Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's NYT Midi answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Midi answers page.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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