Can you do cryptic crosswords? Beginner in need of help.

[Flamingoose]

Substances left from evaporation are absorbing uranium (7)

Last letter is E.

I sort of want it to be RESIDUE, because that's a substance left from evaporation. If we assume 'absorbing uranium' means put a U in it, then I've put a U in RESIDE - but I have no idea where the RESIDE came from, so maybe RESIDUE is wrong?

Any help?

[Before warnings] [tears back] Milky Way wrappers? (6,4)
P L /

Warnings are “alarms”
Before that you need to put a word for “tears” backwards - that’s rips which becomes spir

@NatriumChloride

Omg this thread moved fast! Can someone please explain how you got spiral arms from the clue?

So tears = rips, and that gets reversed because it’s ‘tears back’ so you’ve got SPIR, then warnings = alarms, and that gives you SPIRALARMS, spiral arms relates to the shape of the Milky Way galaxy 😄

"back" is a sort of CC code word meaning "put this word in backwards". So like "back bath" in a clue might make you think "ok a bath could be a tub... so that backwards is but", and then see how "but" could fit into the answer

@Cooroo

I didn't get 1 ac in Times Quick - which is embarrassing as it was my job for 30 years!

Press employee, sort with dog in tow (10)

I think I've worked it out from the first two words but can anyone explain how the second part works? Thanks in advance!

Sort is another word for type - as in "a sort of flavour"

A setter is a breed of dog.

Press employee, sort with dog in tow

Press employee is the literal answer.

Sort = type
Dog = setter

Answer = typesetter

Ah thanks, I hadn't got it right at all - thought it was journalist and couldn't work it out from the dog/sort clues.

Ah, you got hoodwinked by press as in media rather than press as in printing…

Small talk primarily concerning manufacturer of headgear (7)

I also liked:

Utter anarchy at first in outskirts of Sydney (3)

• it seems wonderful that such a long clue results in a 3 letter word!

@Cooroo

Small talk primarily concerning manufacturer of headgear (7)

I also liked:

Utter anarchy at first in outskirts of Sydney (3)

• it seems wonderful that such a long clue results in a 3 letter word!

Small talk = literal answer

Primarily concerning = C
Manufacturer of headgear = hatter

Answer -= chatter

@Cooroo

Small talk primarily concerning manufacturer of headgear (7)

I also liked:

Utter anarchy at first in outskirts of Sydney (3)

• it seems wonderful that such a long clue results in a 3 letter word!

Utter = literal answer

Outskirts of Sydney = S Y
Anarchy = A

Answer = Say

@PurpleDaisies

[Before warnings] [tears back] Milky Way wrappers? (6,4) P L /

Warnings are “alarms”
Before that you need to put a word for “tears” backwards - that’s rips which becomes spir

Seriously? 🤯 Mind blown. I thought I was good at these as I started learning how to do them in the first lockdown, but this is waaaay beyond my standard. @PurpleDaisies and @Sunbird24 and all the others, you’re on a different level! I wish I could train my brain to work like yours!

Thanks @NatriumChloride, I’ve been doing them for a long time and it really helped to learn with someone who knew the tricks.

Dh and I have just done Saturday’s i cryptic which had a few nice ones and a few stinkers. We were googling the last clue we were stuck on and as I was typing it in we got it in a flash of inspiration.

Painter also engaged by related blue shade (9)

We had knisy which on reflection should have made it easier than we found it!

So that’s Kandinsky, but besides from sky blue being a shade of blue, and the fact that you’ve pretty much provided all of the letters in the answer anyway, I couldn’t for the life of you tell you how the rest of the clue is supposed to relate. This is the problem. Even when working backwards from some of the answers I just cannot figure out how the clue works to give you it.

Also = AND, then the ‘engaged by related’ means you put it inside KIN, so KANDIN

Painter also engaged by related blue shade

Also = and.
Related = kin
And is 'engaged' by kin - it's inserted.
blue shade = sky.

Oh wow, @Sunbird24and @ErrolTheDragon

Honestly I’m so in awe of this!

Keep going @Natrium, practice really helps!

Googling to work out the answer you have is DEFINITELY not cheating! I wouldn't have a hope with the New Scientist if I didn't.
A good example:

Toxic gas destroyed shop and family inheritance (8)

I got it but then had to google what it was!

Laughing at everyone merrily dashing off crosswords in their lunchbreak. I'm still doggedly pushing on with the one that started this thread. Three more clues to go.

I'm nearly there with this one (so don't tell me!)

Loud holler finally interrupts quilt assembly (8) I R _ G

I have just googled the toxic gas it turns out I was right also. Wonder if lots of us googling it at once might trip some fbi search alert criteria!

Should have said, well done to all who got Kandinsky far more quickly than me.

This one from the i wouldn’t have been out of place in the new scientist one…
Company beginning to collect Channel Islands bacteria (5)

This one made me smile:
Emphasis the journey back? (5,4)

I really like the puns and spooners.

Got the bacteria, but puzzled by the journey back!

@Cooroo

Got the bacteria, but puzzled by the journey back!

Something Chris Rhea does for Christmas…

I didn't need to Google the toxic gas... but I'm a chemist so that may help with some New Scientist clues!

Here's one for you then Errol:

Chlorine and iodine contaminate uncovered carbon- 12, for example (7)

C _ E