24 DISTRESS-heartache. Di’s (Dianna’s) tress (lock of hair).

25 YEMENI-type of Arab. "Men" and "I" after "ye" (half of "year," i.e. six months).

26 ENCASES-surrounds. "Ease" surrounding (double use) "NC" added to "S" (compass point).

1 SWINDLE-something not fair. "Win" in(side) perhaps (anagram of) "sled."

2 ANNIE-noted (musical) lady. Advised to get a gun (arms).

3 NUCLEAR REACTION-powerful reaction (response) from nucleus (heart). Extra hint: "r" (right) taken from "heart" gives "heat."

4 NON-ADDICTING-not habit-forming. Possibly (anagram of) "did on gin can’t."

6 ELECTROMAGNETIC-a (kind of) wave. Generated from charges of the kind (brigade) that produce light (i.e., accelerating electric ones).

7 ORCHESTRA-something that makes harmony. "H" (chemical symbol for hydrogen) in(side) turbulent (anagram of) "star core."

8 ERNIE-man’s name. "N" (head of "Norman") in(side) "Erie" (lake).

11 TEST DATA FILE-experimental results. Reorganized (anagram of) "let’s fit a date."

15 LOGARITHM-type of number. Phonetically similar to "logger" (lumberjack) "rhythm" (music).

19 THRUSTS-urges progress (mechanically, not politically). "H" (initial of "Hoover") in(side) "trust," over (literally) "S" (South).

20 ARRAY-matrix. "Ar" (chemical symbol for argon) plus "ray" (beam).

22 LOESS-geological deposit. "0" (nothing) in(side) "less" (smaller amount).