| JAZZCELLIST | The 2022 MacArthur "genius grant" winners were announced on Oct. 12; Tomeka Reid, who is this type of musician, "draws from a range of musical traditions," per the award announcement |
| THEREDSEA | On Oct. 12, Dr. Mariam Saleh bin Laden became the first woman to swim from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, crossing part of this body of water |
| KIESELAYMON | 2022 MacArthur Fellow with the memoir "Heavy" |
| AWARDEE | Grant winner |
| WATLINGISLAND | Historic landfall: Oct. 12, 1492 |
| IBRAMXKENDI | "Stamped from the Beginning" author who was awarded a 2021 MacArthur "genius grant" on Sept. 28 |
| CAGEFIGHTER | Yana Santos, who is this type of athlete, returned to competition in 2017 after the birth of her daughter |
| SPRINTER | Botswana won its first ever Olympic gold medal in Paris this summer; it was won by Letsile Tebogo, who is this type of athlete |
| OCTAVIABUTLER | First science-fiction author to receive a MacArthur "genius" grant |
| LIN | MacArthur "genius" grant recipient ___-Manuel Miranda |
| MARATHONER | Parvaneh Moayedi, who is this type of athlete, had her Guinness record revoked in 2019 after doubts surfaced that she'd run 168 races in one year |
| ABBA | Grammy nominations were announced on Nov. 23; this iconic quartet (average age: 74) received their first-ever nom |
| TORTILLERIA | The 2023 James Beard Awards were announced on June 5; Outstanding Bakery went to Kansas City's Yoli ___; Que rico! |
| PRITZKERPRIZE | On March 3, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Ireland were announced as the 2020 winners of this award, considered architecture's highest honor |
| NOWANDTHEN | Nominations for the 67th Grammy Awards were announced Nov. 8; this AI-aided 2023 Beatles song is nominated for Record of the Year |
| SANDRACISNEROS | "The House on Mango Street" author who won a "genius grant" in 1995: 2 wds. |
| JUNOTDIAZ | The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao author who was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship genius grant in 2012: 2 wds. |
| KILL | "The Things You ___" (film nominated in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will be held Jan. 23-Feb. 2; entrants were announced yesterday) |
| MOONS | Scientists announced the discovery of 20 of these orbiting Saturn on Oct. 8 and asked the public to suggest names; four of the already-known 82 begin this puzzle's theme entries |
| TANEHISICOATES | "Between the World and Me" author who won a "genius grant" in 2015: 2 wds. |
