# 128: Across the Universe (with Natan Last)

An episode of [Because Language - a podcast about linguistics, the science of language.](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/436133392), 22 Oct 2025, 2 h 07 min.

Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/talkthetalk/128_Across_the_Universe.mp3?dest-id=897956

Among so many great word games, crosswords still reign supreme. How have they survived — and even expanded — in our digital age? What goes into a good puzzle, and will computer techniques take over? Daniel chats with author Natan Last about his book Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle. Timestamps • Intros: 0:35 • News: 4:42 • Related or Not: 22:13 • Interview with Natan Last: 37:56 • Words of the Week: 1:24:52 • Comment: 1:53:37 • The Reads: 1:55:31 • Outtakes: 2:02:50

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.