Atmospheric layer that absorbs UV rays

Latest answer — August 08, 2026

12 Across

Think of the protective layer high above Earth that helps shield us from the Sun’s ultraviolet rays. 🛡️

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 08, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Fuss
  2. 4Parts of a LinkedIn feed
  3. 9___ Angeles
  4. 10Less common belly button type
  5. 11Path of a three-point shot
  6. 12Atmospheric layer that absorbs UV rays
  7. 13:collision:
  8. 15Chinese zodiac animal for 2020
  9. 16Informative TV spot, for short
  10. 17:collision:
  11. 20Piece of history
  12. 21People who might bend over backwards?
  13. 25Waikiki welcome ring
  14. 26Nothing, in Spanish
  15. 27Shortened name that includes "rick" in a more formal spelling
  16. 28Blackpink genre ... or an alternate clue for 13- and 17-Across?

Down

  1. 1___ carte menu
  2. 2Dweeb
  3. 3Film that angles for Academy Award nominations
  4. 4Foam noodle or beach ball
  5. 5Greek liqueur
  6. 6Site of a brownstone tag sale
  7. 7Points of a pitchfork, as seen in Grant Wood's "American Gothic" painting
  8. 8"Hasta la vista, baby!"
  9. 14Dim sum steamed bun
  10. 17Seaweed type
  11. 18Field of expertise
  12. 19Brother at a monastery
  13. 22Space between the platform and a subway train
  14. 23"To love and to cherish? Sounds good to me!"
  15. 24Sticky tree gunk

The answer to “Atmospheric 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 August 8, 2026 at 12-Across. 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.

“Atmospheric 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

Think of the protective layer high above Earth that helps shield us from the Sun’s ultraviolet 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 “Atmospheric 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.

August 8, 2026 (most recent) → OZONE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Atmospheric 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 August 8, 2026.

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

5 letters: OZONE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 8, 2026, at 12-Across.

Can “Atmospheric 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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