‘What half-life measures in nuclear physics’ NYT Mini Crossword

As a gamer, reading “What half-life measures in nuclear physics” and not thinking about Valve’s industry-changing shooter feels like sacrilege. That being said, knowing about Half-Life is a great help if you’re trying to solve this clue.

‘What half-life measures, in nuclear physics’ Aug. 9 NYT Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint one: Old teeth do this.
• Hint two: Decomposing.
• Hint three: The answer was an expansion pack for Half-Life.
• Hint four: Ends in “Y.”

I’ve had fun with this clue already, and we’re only just getting started—here’s the answer and why this is.

Eight across is “DECAY” because outside of the video game, in nuclear physics, a half-life is the time it takes for a radioactive isotope to lose half of its radioactivity—in other words, for its radioactivity to decay.

NYT Mini Crossword answers Aug. 9

Across

• 1A Move like a kangaroo — HOP
• 4A Purple soda flavor — GRAPE
• 6A Bird used for sending messages on “House of the Dragon” — RAVEN
• 7A Oak tree-to-be — ACORN
• 8A What half-life measures, in nuclear physics— DECAY

Down

• 5D A dash is a short one — RACE
• 1D Pandemonium — HAVOC
• 2D Performance for a prima donna — OPERA
• 3D Take a ___, leave a ____ — PENNY
• 4D Mortarboard wearer — GRAD

‘What half-life measures in nuclear physics’ clue difficulty rating, explained

Without Valve’s Half-Life or its fabulous universe, this is the easiest five out of five for difficulty I’ve ever given—and I’m going to stick with a five out of five anyway. Unless science was a strong suit of yours growing up (it was my worst subject) and you have an excellent memory, this is a testing clue. Additionally, playing Half-Life doesn’t guarantee you’ll get this right—it’s an absolute brute of a clue, and going toe-to-toe with a real-life Vortigaunt would be easier.

Where to find more daily word games like the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle

It may be Friday, and we’ve been instructed to “get down on Friday” in the past, this is no time to rest yet—there’s more puzzling afoot. You need to tackle the LA Times, Washington Post, Strands, and Spelling Bee daily word games for more critical thinking.