Âé¶¹´«Ã½

This week’s new questions

If visitors to our planet in millions of years found fossils of Homo Sapiens and another great ape in an elaborate tomb, would they be able to prove which one built it? And how did marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs breathe?

29 May 2024

R1D8PY Silverback western lowland gorilla sitting down to eat at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. (USA)

Allen Creative/Steve Allen/Alamy

If visitors to our planet in millions of years found fossils of a Homo sapiens and another great ape in an elaborate tomb, would they be able to prove which one built it?

Tom Frost,

Brisbane, Australia

2GFT7TJ Ichthyosaur swimming in the ocean, extinct marine reptile from Early Triassic to Late Cretaceous, 3d paleoart rendering

dotted zebra/Alamy

How did marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs breathe?

Andrew Hawkins,

Peaslake, Surrey, 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 style. Please include a postal address, daytime telephone number and email…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop