Puzzle #4 - With Our Powers Combined

A printable PDF of this puzzle is available, or you can stop by the Bayer booth (#318) for a copy.

In a realm of green, where the sunlight shines,
A journey begins to fuel nature's designs.
From tiny bacteria to plants standing tall,
In fungi and animals, it nourishes all.

To craft a sweet molecule, a process unfolds,
With chains of carbon and water's strong holds.
Here starts the quest, with two equations to lead,
Count the elements of light and dark to proceed.

Each clue brings us closer, connecting the threads,
Stoichiometry reveals what the riddle embeds.
If you solve each prompt with their symbols in mind,
A single word answer is the treasure you'll find.

(Scroll to the bottom of this page to submit your answer.)

Across

I'm a pigment that helps life thrive in the green,
With a structure like blood, I'm part of the scene.
Fe helps hemoglobin carry oxygen true,
While Mg in me captures light for the crew.

I'm an energy molecule that keeps you on the go,
With three little phosphates, I put on a show.
When I release my power, life's processes thrive,
I am the fuel that makes you feel alive.

In the shadows I dwell, with spots on my skin,
Though I'm not a plant, I let sunlight in.
With algae in my eggs, I harness the light,
Protected by water, my future is bright.

In fields so lush, I reach for the sky,
With fluffy white bolls that catch every eye.
Through a C3 pathway, I harness the light,
Weaving soft fibers for a fabric just right.

I’m a clever tactic that borrows to thrive,
Stealing chloroplasts from algae to help stay alive.
In a process that harnesses the sun's brilliant light,
I enable my host to photosynthesize just right.

With a crown on my head and a sweet, juicy core,
In tropical lands, I'm loved more and more.
I fix carbon at night, a clever way to run,
For a spiky delight that shines in the sun.

I'm a vine that wraps around, no roots to be found,
I rely on my hosts, where my tendrils are wound.
With coils that cling and a bright golden hue,
I'm a parasite that lacks chlorophyll, too.

I'm a six-carbon chain, in a ring I do dwell,
With C, O, and H, I weave my sweet spell.
I'm a source of great energy in each living thing,
A cornerstone from which all growth does spring.

In leafy layers, my cells tightly wrap,
As a part of the C4 photosynthesis map.
Carbon fixation thrives within my embrace,
I serve as a shield, protecting CO2's space.

(with 22 down)
In the depths of your cells, I work day and night,
Turning glucose to energy, making everything right.
With oxygen's help, I release what you need,
A centralized process that fuels every deed.

In maize I thrive as a process so grand,
With a special anatomy that's expertly planned.
With PEP carboxylase, I dodge photorespiration,
Fueling growth through an efficient adaptation.

Down

I'm a captor of carbon in the plant's busy core,
A catalyst of life to build and restore.
With every reaction, I weave a fine thread,
Connecting the atmosphere to food that is fed.

(with 22 down)
In the warmth of the sun, I stray from the path,
Choosing oxygen over carbon, invoking its wrath.
An expensive error in the leaf's vibrant sway,
I disrupt the process and lead growth astray.

In the web of life, we seek out our fare,
Dependent on others, we find food with care.
From animals to fungi, we feed on organics,
As vital consumers in food web mechanics.

I'm golden and small, in the ocean I dwell,
Living in vacuoles, where I flourish so well.
With cnidarians, I dance in the light,
Creating bright reefs, a beautiful sight.

In fruits and flowers, I contain a bright hue,
With colors so vivid, I'm a painter, it's true.
While chloroplasts capture light with their green,
I carry reds, oranges, and yellows to the scene.

As a social vespid with bright yellow bands,
I harvest solar energy to fuel my demands.
With power for digging and warmth to embrace,
Electric potential helps me thrive in my space.

In the ocean's depths, where the currents play,
Filter feeders of this ancient phylum sway.
With cyanobacteria, they capture light with ease,
Together they flourish, nurturing life in the seas.

In deserts so dry, where the sun scorches high,
I'm a specialized process to thrive and not die.
I gather air at night and keep it stored tight,
Then use it by day to escape the heat's bite.

I'm a hidden alliance beneath the forest floor,
Where fungi embrace roots, creating a door.
As sunlight is captured, the plant gains its vigor,
In a symbiotic trade, I swap nutrients for sugar.

I'm a protein that senses light, both near and far,
Guiding plants in the dark to reach for the stars.
With far-red light as my cue, I spark growth anew,
Essential for life in the green world you view.

In the ocean's embrace, I'm a curious sight,
With stolen green treasures, I bask in the light.
I munch on algae, turning sun into power,
A colorful mollusk that thrives as I scour.

In the chloroplasts, I'm a flat, green disk,
Where sunlight is captured, and energy's brisk.
With pigments and proteins, I spark a reaction,
Turning light into food, I'm key to the action.

See 3 down and 21 across.

In colors so vivid, I blanket the stone,
A fusion of life where two call it home.
Fungi provide shelter, while algae bring light,
Together we thrive, a marvel to sight.

The solution to the puzzle is a single English word:

Try not to look at these hints unless you get really stuck -- they count against you on the leaderboard!

Hint 1 - early puzzle

Hint 2 - mid puzzle

Hint 3 - late puzzle

PAG Puzzle Hunt 2025

Puzzle #4 - With Our Powers Combined

Across

Down