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This week’s new questions

Why do some flowers close up at night but others stay open? And is it more environmentally friendly to keep my 23-year-old petrol car, or to scrap it and buy a new electric car?

1 May 2024

Âé¶¹´«Ã½. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Patrick Hofer/Getty Images

Why do some flowers close up at night but others stay open?

Steve Child

Glossop, Derbyshire, UK

Crane picking up a car in a junkyard; Shutterstock ID 36444292; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Huguette Roe/Shutterstock

Is it more environmentally friendly to keep my 23-year-old petrol car or to scrap it and buy a new electric one? I drive about 8000 kilometres a year and am quite old, so my car may outlast me.

Ian Burton,

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK

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…

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