43 Across

NYT Daily • August 8, 2025

Their tracks diffract light into rainbows

Answer:

CDS

Hint:

"Here’s a helpful hint for the clue: "These shiny discs hold music and reflect light in colorful ways." This hint: - References the musical aspect ("hold music") and the optical effect ("reflect light in colorful ways"). - Avoids repeating the original clue or giving away the answer directly. - Uses simpler language while still guiding the solver toward the key features of CDs."

Explanation:

The clue "Their tracks diffract light into rainbows" leads to the answer "CDS" through the following reasoning: 1. Surface Meaning: The clue describes something that can diffract light into rainbows. This is a property of CDs (Compact Discs), whose reflective surfaces break light into spectral colors, creating a rainbow-like effect. 2.