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This week’s new questions

Do winged animals like birds ever suffer comparable mishaps to human-made aircraft, such as aerodynamic stall, wing icing or hard landing? And how can popped knuckles be so exceptionally loud?

11 October 2023

Two seagulls above aircraft wing

SEAN GLADWELL/Getty Images

Do winged animals like birds ever suffer comparable mishaps to those of human-made aircraft, such as aerodynamic stall, wing icing or hard landing?

Christian Digby-Firth,

Dorchester, Dorset, UK

2EXM9NK Hand Knuckle Finger Joint Crack. Fingers Snap

Andriy Popov/Alamy

How can popped knuckles be so exceptionally loud?

Greg Michalski,

Toronto, Canada

To answer this question – or ask a new one – email lastword@newscientist.com.

Questions should be scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena, and both questions and answers should be concise. We reserve the right to edit items for clarity and style. Please include a postal address, daytime telephone number and email address.

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