Puzzle 14 - Energy Math Conference

Puzzle:

[Solution: Puzzlers start by completing the crossword. Puzzlers realize that a few of the Down clues don’t fit: KIMCHI, EMCEE, SIMCARD, MCPS, etc. As hinted by the title and flavor text, puzzlers realize that e = mc² is important and that for these clues, a single square must contain mc, and the intersecting Up clue has the letter e. Next, the puzzlers realize that “their position” referenced in the flavor text is emcee, or mc. Therefore, they use the positions of the letters m and c in the clues for the first 13 clues for each section to calculate e. (For instance, Occam’s razor says we _____ take the most complicated explanation → (5)(2²) → 20 → O.) Converting these into letters alphanumerically yields the clue: OJIBWE SQUARE and CONSTELLATION. Connecting the E/MC boxes in the crossword as the stars locations, puzzlers realize that they form the OJIBWE CONSTELLATION: MOOSE, which is the final answer.

Note: you could also Google the Ojibwe square constellation and get moose. This was not the intention, but if it works it works!]