Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881
Published by Naitik Mehta · June 1, 2025
Stuck on the clue Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881 from the New York Times Daily for June 1, 2025? We have the correct 4-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881 (4)
Answer
The answer to Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881 is Agar (4 letters).
Why does Agar fit this clue?
This clue works as a historical direct definition, naming the answer AGAR through a specific scientific milestone. Agar is a gelatinous substance derived from red algae that solidifies at room temperature and is used as a growth medium in microbiology labs. Fanny Hesse, a lab assistant working alongside her husband Walther Hesse in Robert Koch's laboratory, suggested using agar as a replacement for gelatin in petri dishes because it stays firm at body temperature and resists bacterial breakdown. Her 1881 adaptation transformed lab culture work and made agar a cornerstone of microbiology.
What does Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881 mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
substance
noun
•a particular kind of matter with uniform properties
adapted
verb
•modified or adjusted for a particular use or purpose
lab
noun
•short for laboratory, a room for scientific experiments
Fanny Hesse
proper noun
•wife of microbiologist Walther Hesse who suggested using agar-agar as a solidifying agent for bacterial culture media
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 44-across in the New York Times Daily on June 1, 2025, by Sam Brody, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Jun 1, 2025
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What does Agar mean?
noun
•A gelatinous material obtained from red algae, especially Gracilaria species, used as a bacterial culture medium, in electrophoresis and as a food additive.
•A culture medium based on this material.
Origin of the word Agar
•origin: Malay 'agar-agar'
•period: 19th century
The word entered English through scientific terminology when European botanists discovered this seaweed-derived gel substance used in Asian cuisine and later adopted it as a crucial medium for bacterial cultures in laboratories.
How to use Agar in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Agar.
•“Fanny Hesse suggested using agar as a solidifying agent for bacterial culture media in 1881, revolutionizing microbiology laboratory techniques.”
•“The scientist prepared petri dishes with nutrient agar to grow bacterial colonies for her research on antibiotic resistance.”
•“Many Asian desserts use agar as a vegan alternative to gelatin because it sets at room temperature and creates a firm, translucent texture.”
What are other crossword clues for Agar?
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Jun 1, 2025 crossword
The New York Times Daily for June 1, 2025 titled “Making Arrangements” was published by Sam Brody and has 140 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881
- What is the answer to Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881?
- The answer is Agar (4 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on June 1, 2025.
- How many letters does the answer to Substance adapted to lab use by Fanny Hesse in 1881 have?
- The answer has 4 letters: Agar.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Jun 1, 2025
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