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This week’s new questions

Why do cats like to sit on newspapers and magazines? And if an athlete consumed flatulence-inducing food, could the resulting emissions provide enough jet propulsion to enable victory rather than coming second?

25 September 2024

2HCTCGW grumpy cat sits on a newspaper stack

rcphotostock/Alamy

Why do cats like to sit on newspapers and magazines?

Bethan Ackerley,

London, UK

OSTRAVA, CZECHIA, JUNE 27, 2023: Play of Light and Shadow on 400m Men's Race Track in Track and Field Meet for Worlds in Budapest and Summer olympic Games in Paris; Shutterstock ID 2345996631; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

kovop/Shutterstock

If an athlete consumed flatulence-inducing food, could the resulting emissions provide enough jet propulsion to enable victory rather than coming second, given the tiny margins in sprint races?

Richard Swifte,

Darmstadt, Germany

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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