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This week’s new questions

Why have all but my yellow plastic clothes pegs disintegrated in the sun, and when and why did our prehistoric ancestors start to sing?

19 March 2025

PE5P96 Close up of two purple socks with yellow lemon detail, pegged to a washing line with two yellow clothes pegs, shot from below against a clear blue sky

Caroline Burrows/Alamy

I recently bought multicoloured plastic clothes pegs. All but the yellow ones have slowly disintegrated in the sun. Why?

Nick Roxburgh,

Sydney, Australia

an australopithecus, one of our ancestors; Shutterstock ID 790742188; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Shutterstock/Procy

Is it known when humans or our ancestors first started to sing? And what is the reason for starting to do so?

Kevin Halford,

Pelt, Belgium

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…

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