The crossword puzzle discussed was created by Adam Vincent. His clever puzzle features a multilayered theme and offers a sense of accomplishment upon solving, releasing the feel-good chemical dopamine in the brain.
The theme in today's crossword is related to Independence Day.
The article describes the puzzle as having a multilayered theme and being quite challenging, requiring significant effort to solve. The author mentions working up a sweat, going through their supply of anxiety chocolate, and repeatedly slapping their forehead in the process of solving it. However, they also mention that conquering the puzzle gave them a tremendous boost, as the "aha!" moment of solving is connected to the release of dopamine in the brain.