Technologies

How COVID accelerated a shift that could put new cities at the forefront of American life

Our work and our lives may never return to a pre-pandemic normal, and that’s caused for some major shifts in where people are choosing to live in the US.

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, urban areas across the US have seen changes both big and small — one of the most notable being a population migration out of larger cities like New York and Los Angeles, to smaller cities like Denver and Miami. In fact, according to analytics firm CoreLogic, New York, LA and San Francisco had the most people leave their respective metropolises compared with anywhere else in the country during 2020.

This migration was in motion before COVID-19, but it accelerated as remote work became an option for millions of people, many of whom sought out more space and a lower cost of living.

«We’ve always been a very mobile country. I think if you looked around the world and picked any other country … you wouldn’t find the kind of North-South-East-West trajectories that seem to be very easily taken by Americans and are in fact part of our history,» said Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, a professor of architecture and the director of the master of urban design program at the University of Miami. «So this is just another episode in that story.»

Across the US, the number of people who made permanent moves was up 3% from March 2020 to February 2021, according to an analysis by Bloomberg. But when you take a closer look at a few of America’s densest and most expensive metro regions, the data paints a different picture, with a larger percentage of the population moving out of those areas. It’s a shift that has had far-reaching impacts on cities both big and small when it comes to urban development, housing prices and traffic flow.

Shift to remote work

As remote work policies spurred many people to change their location during the pandemic, some companies are still trying to figure out how to adapt to this new type of workforce.

At Google, for example, the company announced in June that it had developed a tool for employees to see how their salary might change based on their region. The tool allows employees to request office changes or apply to become fully remote workers, and CEO Sundar Pichai announced plans for 20% of the company to permanently work remotely. Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alex Coffman lived and worked in San Francisco for two years before the shift to remote work allowed him to leave the city for the sunnier skies of Miami. While he says the move wasn’t spurred specifically by the pandemic, he also notes that without the option to work remotely, he may not have been able to relocate.

«A lot of technology companies and sort of high-end financial companies focus on New York and San Francisco labor markets, and that is changing quite quickly … but at the same time, I still believe it would be significantly more complicated for me to find an equivalent job in the Miami labor market,» Coffman said. «A lot of peers of mine sought out roles in New York or San Francisco, and then as soon as they had the capacity to leave [they did] — some of them are in Oklahoma, some live in Washington, some live in Texas. And they’ve essentially kept the jobs that they had as former San Francisco and New York employees.»

Migration from America’s largest cities

Most people who moved during the pandemic stayed within the same state. Despite talks of mass moves to Florida and Texas, most people who moved didn’t go very far. Data shows that the pandemic accelerated an existing trend of more people moving outward to suburbs and surrounding areas of their former cities like San Francisco and New York.

One factor that did affect major cities, especially ones in California, was a decrease in people migrating into the state. California’s population and job growth have both slowed, with many citing concerns about high taxes, the cost of living and heavy regulations. In 2020, over 135,000 more people left California than moved in, the third largest net migration loss ever recorded for the state, according to CNBC.

«Once you were deprived of the opportunities that a fully open Los Angeles, or for that matter, a fully open San Francisco offered you, it was very hard to justify the cost of housing here,» said Michael Manville, an associate professor of urban planning at UCLA and the research program lead of traffic at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies.

Migration to smaller cities

People who left California largely moved throughout the Western coastal states. However, people leaving Los Angeles specifically tended to make their way eastward, to places like Las Vegas, Phoenix and even Miami.

«Many cities that might tell you they’ve been languishing economically are experiencing new interests, new residents and businesses,» Plater-Zyberk said.

Florida is one of nine states with no state income tax, a big attraction for those moving out of certain states that have high income tax rates. Almost 330,000 people moved to the state of Florida between April 2020 and April 2021, and experts expect that kind of population growth to continue through 2025. Data from Move.org shows that Florida was the top destination for relocating Americans in 2020.

Like Miami, Denver saw an increase in people moving to the city during the pandemic. But what sets Denver apart as a new destination is its relatively high cost of living.

«Our population numbers have just been growing pretty steadily, and everything that is part of normal everyday life is just a little bit more complicated, a little bit more crowded,» said Andy Goetz, a professor in the department of geography and the environment at the University of Denver.

And it wasn’t just individuals who moved during the pandemic. Several major tech industry leaders pulled out of Silicon Valley altogether. Oracle and DropBox both moved to Austin, Texas; Hewlett-Packard Enterprisemoved to Houston; and Palantir went to Denver.

Elon Musk also left Silicon Valley for Texas last year to focus on two big priorities for his companies: SpaceX’s new Starship vehicle launch site in Brownsville, and moving Tesla’s headquarters to Austin. But Musk did say that in addition to the Texas operations, Tesla «will be continuing to expand» its activities in California as well.

Some cities are even offering tax incentives for companies to move their businesses. Miami-Dade County, for example, offers a myriad of business incentives such as state and local tax breaks for companies relocating to areas that have been designated as having economic development priority.

«There is an influx of tech industry, and there’s also a great attention to incubating businesses. All of a sudden, it’s evident that this is happening in a big way,» Plater-Zyberk said.

Traffic changes

This urban shuffle across the US is also having an effect on traffic patterns.

Brian Taylor, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UCLA, told the LA Times that there are two variables when it comes to traffic. The first is vehicle traffic, which is how much people drive. The second is traffic congestion, which is what causes delays.

Congestion occurs when many people are going to the same destination at the same time, and this very thing is seeing a shift.

«We’ve definitely noticed that there has been an increase in the volume of traffic in Denver,» Goetz said. «Vehicle miles traveled have increased significantly. And then with the pandemic, public transit has really dropped off.»

Goetz said that skyrocketing housing prices in Denver are also contributing to increased traffic, as more people are having to find places to live further away from the city center. In contrast, Plater-Zyberk says the influx of new residents to Miami has created greater demand for a more walkable city.

«You know, if you were to drive west to the western reaches of South Florida, you would see pockets of walkable and less auto-dependent urbanism,» Plater-Zyberk said. «It’s definitely changed, I think, largely by remote work.»

In bigger cities like Los Angeles, the once jaw-dropping empty freeways during COVID’s early days have filled right back up with cars again.

«Right when the pandemic began, and California first entered a lockdown, traffic just plummeted to levels we have probably not seen in 100 years,» Manville said. «And right now, with something close to, but of course not quite full reopening, we see congestion levels and traffic levels that rival pre-pandemic levels. So things have come back pretty fast.»

Although the infamous Los Angeles traffic is pretty much back to a pre-pandemic norm, Manville says emptier city streets during the coronavirus brought into sharp focus just how unsafe the city’s street networks are.

«It was very telling that early in the pandemic in California, you saw traffic crashes go down, right, because the typical crashes are just caused by vehicles being in close proximity to each other, but fatal crashes go up, because fatal crashes are caused by speed,» Manville said.

Public transit changes

A shift in the use of public transit has also played a role in changing traffic patterns in big cities. In New York City, the pandemic profoundly disrupted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, throwing the largest public transit system in the US into a desperate financial situation.

In Los Angeles, Manville said public health agencies advised people not to take public transportation during the early months of COVID. «I think there’s a hangover from that, where people still really worry, perhaps rightly, perhaps wrongly, that their riding public transportation might put them at risk of COVID,» Manville said.

For many remote workers, especially those like Coffman who’ve moved during the pandemic, a return to the old ways of Monday through Friday office life isn’t very appealing.

«I will remain a remote worker, I believe, for the indefinite future. And I think that there is a really good reason to be in the office, which is that it’s of course lovely to see people. And I could return to the office, but I don’t have to. And I really don’t want to, to be honest,» Coffman said.

He also said that he has no regrets about leaving San Francisco for Miami but aknowledges he knows people who stayed where they were during the pandemic and love their city.

«I’ve had family members who reside in the city of New York, didn’t leave, stayed in New York, and then went right back to the office when it opened. And ultimately, they love the city of New York, and it’s why they remained,» he said.

In the end, the pandemic may have accelerated the timeline of this urban shuffle across the US, but it’s also a complicated issue that can’t be easily pinpointed or defined. What is clear is that a good amount of people are on the move — whether it’s to live in a more affordable city, be closer to the outdoors or just for a change of scenery. And it’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Technologies

Pixel Watch 4 Features vs. Apple Watch Series 10: Google Came to Play!

Google’s latest watch takes a direct hit at Apple with a new AI health coach and advanced emergency connectivity. Find out how they stack up.

Google’s Pixel Watch 4 is the newest player on the smartwatch field and it’s not holding back. With a sleek design, AI-powered health coach, first-of-its-kind emergency satellite connectivity and improved battery life, it’s a major leap forward for a relative newcomer that’s been edging its way up the ranks to compete with the heavy hitters of the wearable world.

The Apple Watch Series 10, meanwhile, remains a benchmark in the category. While technically at a disadvantage being last year’s model, it holds its own with more than a decade of refinements and deep integration with the iPhone and Apple’s extensive health and fitness ecosystem.

As smartwatches make the leap from wearable phone extensions to essential health and safety tools, these two flagships are redefining the category — especially with both companies controlling the full hardware and software experience on their respective platforms. And with Apple expected to debut its Series 11 in September, this face-off feels like just the opening move in what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes game of chess between two of the biggest names in tech. Here’s how the specs stack up on paper; we’ll conduct our full suite of tests for the full Pixel Watch 4 review.

Pricing and availability

Being an older model, the Apple Watch Series 10 can be found for a discounted rate through third party sellers like Best Buy and Walmart, but the original price of $399 is technically higher than the base price of the $350 Pixel Watch 4. However, the larger-size versions have less of a price gap with the 45mm Wi-Fi version of the Series 10 costing $429 and the Pixel Watch 4 equivalent costing $400. And the Apple Watch is the only one that offers a higher-end titanium model that costs about $200 more than the base aluminum. Both watches are rated for 5ATM water resistance and have IP6X dust protection.

Design and display

Both watches remain true to their original form factor and this category is more a matter of preference. The Pixel Watch 4 sticks with its signature circular design that looks closer to a traditional analog watch than the Apple Watch, with a bubble-like screen that curves outward for a sleek, all-display look. It comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes with silver, dark gray and gold aluminum finishes, plus interchangeable bands.

Apple, by contrast, hasn’t strayed from its signature rectangular shape since its launch. It’s more «tech» looking than the Pixel Watch, but it’s also slightly more practical for navigating apps and notifications. The Series 10 also has minimal bezels with a screen that expands into the thin frame and comes in a 42mm and 46mm version. The Apple Watch has a slightly higher pixel density for better image quality but the Pixel 4 is brighter with up to 3,000 nits peak brightness compared to the Apple Watch’s 2,000 nits.

Performance, software and AI

Under the hood, both watches run the latest versions of their respective software: WatchOS 10 for Apple and Wear OS 6 for the Pixel. Apple offers the usual tight integration with the iPhone, while Google leans on its Fitbit acquisition for health tracking and now its AI expertise with the built-in Gemini assistant.

And this is where the Apple Watch starts to lose its footing. Google’s Gemini voice assistant handles back-to-back commands, summarizes information from your apps and responds conversationally without shuttling you out to a web link — something Siri still struggles to match. Apple’s assistant remains more limited, often requiring repeat commands and leaning on your iPhone for anything beyond the basics. Even a cautious AI user like myself can’t help notice how Gemini’s added capabilities feel genuinely useful on the wrist, cutting down on screen taps and making it easier to get more done on the go.

Health and fitness features

This is another area where Google’s AI could give the Pixel Watch 4 an extra edge. Both watches set the standard in health and fitness features — Apple because of its longstanding commitment to health and fitness, and Pixel through its integration with Fitbit. Their metrics are accurate and easy to make sense of in their respective apps. But the Pixel 4 just stepped it up with a concierge style AI health coach (coming in October) that can help you interpret your health data and give personalized recommendations: everything from whether to rest or exercise on any given day, to how to improve sleep quality. Apple’s Workout Buddy, coming in watchOS 26, offers live feedback on a handful of workouts but isn’t as far along in pulling together a complete picture of your health data (at least not yet). The caveat, however, is that Google’s coach will require a Fitbit Premium subscription ($10/month after a trial), while Apple’s AI fitness tool is free.

Emergency features

Beyond health tracking, both watches add an extra layer of protection with a range of emergency tools, including fall and crash detection, workout check-ins and Emergency SOS. The Apple Watch leans more on proactive health alerts, like warnings for irregular heart rhythm and potential sleep apnea.

But the Pixel Watch 4 just boosted its emergency features by adding satellite connectivity. This means you can send a message for help even without a phone or cell service. The Apple Watch, by comparison, still relies on the iPhone or needs network coverage for models that are cellular-enabled to make an emergency call.

Battery and charging

On paper the Series 10 promises 18 hours of heavy use, though in our testing it’s consistently gotten closer to 26 to 30 hours with the always-on display active. Google claims 30 to 40 hours on the Pixel Watch 4 depending on size, giving it a slight edge, but it’s hard to pass judgment without our real world tests.

Charging speed is another strong point for both watches with quick charge capabilities, although the Pixel Watch 4 is still faster when you need a quick top-up. It reaches 50% in just 15 minutes and a full charge in an hour. The Series 10 also takes an hour to reach a full charge, but hits 80% in 40 minutes.

Google has also made the Pixel Watch 4’s battery and display easier to replace for repairs, a big step forward for long-term usability, while Apple hasn’t emphasized the same level of repairability on the Series 10.

Bottom line

If you’re all-in on Apple, the Series 10 still delivers everything you need in a smartwatch. But for Android users (or anyone curious about AI on the wrist) the Pixel Watch 4 shows Google is serious about challenging Apple’s dominance.

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Apple Watch Series 10: Specs at a glance

	Pixel Watch 4	Apple Watch Series 10
Design & sizes	Round, 41mm & 45mm	Square, 42mm, 46mm
Display	AMOLED LTPO, 320 ppi	LTPO3 OLED, 446 x 374 ppi
Thickness & weight	12.3mm; 31–36.7g	9.7mm; 30-41.7g (46mm titanium model)
Material & finish	Aluminum case: Silver, Champagne gold, Satin Moonstone or Matte black finish	Aluminum: Jet black, Rose gold or Silver finish; Titanium: Slate, Gold or Natural finish
Durability	5ATM water + IP68 (dust)	5ATM Water + IP6X (dust)
Battery life	30–40 hrs (always-on) + quick charge dock: 50% in 15min, 100% in 60 min	24-30 (always-on) + Fast charge: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 min
Sensors	ECG, SpO₂, heart rate, skin temp, loss of pulse detection	ECG, heart rate, skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring
Emergency features	Satellite SOS, Safety Check, Safety Signal, fall & crash detection	Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack
AI & coaching	Gemini voice assistant; Fitbit AI health coach (via Premium)	Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, Cortex-M55 co-processor	S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wireless chip
RAM/Storage	2GB, 32GB (storage)	64GB (storage)
Payments	Google Wallet	Apple Pay
Price (US)	$350–$500	$399-$750 (titanium)

Technologies

Say Goodbye to Awful Cell Signal With These 10 Simple Fixes

These quick tricks can help you get better reception almost instantly.

Summer road trips are all about open roads, good company, and spontaneous detours. That is, until your phone loses service and the whole plan comes to a screeching halt. Whether it’s your GPS freezing mid-route, your music app buffering endlessly, or being unable to call for roadside help, poor cell reception can turn a carefree adventure into a frustrating mess. These dead zones tend to show up in the worst spots: backroads, mountain passes, or just that one stretch of highway where nothing seems to work.

Fortunately, you don’t need a new phone or a major tech upgrade to fix spotty service. There are several simple tricks you can try to get better signal on the go. From changing your network settings to repositioning your phone in the car for better line-of-sight, these small adjustments can make a noticeable difference. Whether you’re driving across state lines or just heading out for the weekend, these tips can help you stay connected and keep your trip running smoothly.

Whether you’re doing some routine phone maintenance or you’re stuck in an emergency, there are multiple ways to improve your reception on an iPhone or Android phone, no matter what type of phone plan you’re on. It might even come down to something as simple as toggling Airplane mode.

To go from dropped calls to full bars, here’s what you need to know. For more on iPhone and iOS, check out everything Apple announced at WWDC 2025.

Note: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones may have different software versions, so certain settings and where they are located might differ depending on device.

For more, check out how you can use Google Maps when you’re offline and how you can maybe fix your internet when it’s down.

To improve your cellphone service, try these steps first

The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone’s software.

Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside. That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible.
Remove your phone case. It doesn’t hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it’s thick, so that the phone’s antenna isn’t blocked by anything and can get a better signal.
Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service.

Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off

Turning your phone’s connection off and then back on is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. If you’re moving around from one location to another, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular network modems, which forces them to find the best signal in the area.

Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen — to access the Quick Settings panel — and then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn’t happen instantly, so give it a good 15 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again.

iPhone: On the iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from the Control Center, but that varies depending on which iPhone model you have. On the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when it’s enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off.

If Airplane mode doesn’t work, restart your phone

Our phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues like network connection by simply restarting them.

Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn’t offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button.

iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.

Alternatively, you can do a force reset on your iPhone: Press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, after your phone’s screen goes black and until you see the Apple logo appear again.

If your iPhone has a home button, hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed and then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo.

Older phone? Take your SIM card out

Another troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, and then place it back in with the phone turned on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has any physical defects, you may need to replace it.

You’ll need a SIM card tool — usually included in your phone’s box — or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle to get the SIM tray out of your phone.

All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it’s damaged and positioned in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone.

eSIM: For phones with an eSIM — that is, an embedded electronic SIM in your phone — there’s nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone.

Check your carrier settings (and update your software)

Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to help improve connectivity for calls, data and messages on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it’s not universal on Android, so you might not find carrier settings if you don’t have a supported phone.

iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.

Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you’ll have to open the Settings app and type in «carrier settings» to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions.

Reset your phone’s network settings

Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone’s network settings is one way to do that. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup.

Android: In the Settings app, search for «reset» or more specifically «reset network settings» and tap on the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.

iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart.

Contact your phone carrier

Sometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower’s fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage.

For consistent problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, it’s possible your carrier’s coverage doesn’t extend well into your neighborhood.

Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that’s gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you’ve tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal.

If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cell reception

If after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options, you’re still struggling to keep a good signal — try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house.

The big downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we haven’t specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any trouble with its products.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 24 #539

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 24, No. 539.

Looking for the most recent Strands answers? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a tough one. Long words, short words, they’re all over the map. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Plug your ears.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Check the decibel level.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

BLAST, LAST, LABS, TING, STING, BOOT, DENT, DENTS, GOON, NITS, SIRE, STIR, RISE, ROSE

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

LOUD, NOISY, BOOMING, BLASTING, STRIDENT, BOISTEROUS

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is HUBBUB. To find it, look for the H that’s five letters down on the far-right row, and wind backwards.

Toughest Strands puzzles

Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.

#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.

#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.

#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK