NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 4, 2026): Equation of the Year

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 4, 2026): Equation of the Year

Q: This week's challenge is a numerical one. Take the nine digits -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. You can group some of them and add arithmetic operations to get 2011 like this: 1 + 23 ÷ 4 x 5 x 67 - 8 + 9. If you do these operations in order from left to right, you get 2011. Well, 2011 was 15 years ago. Can you group some of the digits and add arithmetic symbols in a different way to make 2026? The digits from 1 to 9 need to stay in that order. Will knows of two different solutions, but you need to find only one of them.

I'm a little annoyed that the example doesn't follow the order of operations and instead must be performed left to right. It would have to be (1 + 23) ÷ 4 x 5 x 67 - 8 + 9 to work correctly in most calculators.

I have one expression that works either way, three expressions that work left to right and one that only works using the standard order of operations. I have a feeling that Ed Pegg Jr. provided the two that work using the standard order of operations.

My only hint is 390,625.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 28, 2025): Seven Letters, One Syllable

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 28, 2025): Seven Letters, One Syllable

Q: Think of a two-syllable word in four letters. Add two letters in front and one letter behind to make a one-syllable word in seven letters. What words are these?

Remember: another Wednesday deadline - work at a quick pace!

Edit: Or feverishly.

A: AGUE --> PLAGUED (also accepted: PLAGUES or LEAGUES)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 21, 2025): Out to Sea

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 21, 2025): Out to Sea

Q: I was at a library. On the shelf was a volume whose spine said "OUT TO SEA." When I opened the volume, I found the contents had nothing to do with sailing or the sea in any sense. It wasn't a book of fiction either. What was in the volume?

I can't say that I've read the whole book, but the section I read was riveting. Remember the deadline this week is Wednesday.

Edit: A section on RIVETING might appear in the volume.

A: It's an ENCYCLOPEDIA

Our Annual Puzzle and Video for Christmas 2025!

Our Annual Video for 2025 is a celebration of 25 years as a couple and a family. To get the password, solve the puzzle in the image below.

Note: You can't directly type on the PDF so either print a copy, or write the words down on a separate piece of paper. Extra points if you can solve it in your head!

Once you have figured out the 6-letter password, click on the cute little mascots above, type the password and you'll be ushered into our Video Vault. Keep an eye out throughout the video as our mascots switch outfits at the beginning of each section.

As always, post a comment below about your favorite part of the video to show you've solved the puzzle, but don't give away the password directly.

P.S. If you need help, here is the answer key with the password. Also, add comments below if you encounter any issues entering the password or playing the video.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 14, 2025): International Foods

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 14, 2025): International Foods

Q: Name a famous female singer of the past (five letters in the first name, seven letters in the last name). Remove the last letter of her first name, and you can rearrange all the remaining letters to name the capital of a country (six letters) and a food product that its nation is famous for (five letters).

Her daughter has the same middle name.

Edit: Deborah Lois Atkins

A: SARAH VAUGHAN --> HAVANA, SUGAR

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 7, 2025): Song Birds

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 7, 2025): Song Birds

Q: Think of a famous living singer. The last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last name spell a bird. Change the first letter of the singer's first name. Then the first three letters of that first name and the last five letters of his last name together spell another bird. What singer is this?

I'm not sure he'd like having his first name changed to that.

Edit: My Japanese teacher would pronounce my name with an "r" sound; I didn't mind the nickname "Brain". On the other hand, if you change the P in the singer's first name to an F...

A: PLÁCIDO DOMINGO --> DODO, FLAMINGO

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 30, 2025): Game Day!

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 30, 2025): Game Day!

Q: Name a place where games are played. Move the last two letters to the beginning. Change the new last letter to an "H." The result, sadly, is what you might have when you leave this place.

Drop the second letter of the place, rearrange to name something you might use while in this place.

Edit: CASINO - A --> COINS

A: CASINO --> NO CASH

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 23, 2025): Horsing Around

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 23, 2025): Horsing Around

Q: Name some equipment an equestrian might use. Remove the second, third and fourth letters, and reverse those that remain. The result will be some more equipment an equestrian might use. What things are these?

Change the fourth letter in the original equipment to an A and rearrange. The result is a place you wouldn't expect to see a horse.

Note: The deadline this week is Wednesday

Edit: Upstairs

A: STIRRUPS, SPURS

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 16, 2025): Dry Politics

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 16, 2025): Dry Politics

Q: Take the name of a famous person in American politics (6,6). Hidden in this name reading from left to right, but not in consecutive letters, is the name of a well-known place that's very dry, in 4 letters. Remove these letters. The remaining 8 letters in order from left to right will name another well-known, very dry place. What politician is this?

I referred to a list and one place showed up just after a very familiar place.

Edit: I was referring to a list of planets where Earth comes third and Mars comes next.

A: KAMALA HARRIS --> MARS, KALAHARI

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 9, 2025): Actress Gives Advice on Fermenting Milk

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 9, 2025): Actress Gives Advice on Fermenting Milk

Q: Think of a famous actress -- first and last names. Swap the first letter of each name (e.g. Lana Turner would become Tana Lurner). Say the result out loud, and phonetically you'll get some advice on fermenting milk. What is it?

Take the name of the actress. For each letter, if it appears more than once, keep only half the instances (round up if necessary -- half of 3 is 1.5, but you'd keep 2 letters). Rearrange those letters to get a piece of outerwear.

Edit: The remaining letters anagram to BODYWARMER

A: DREW BARRYMORE, "BREW DAIRY MORE"