Shutterstock/Irina Zareva
How do sea molluscs create the consistent patterns on their shells? How do they know when and how to change the pigment?
Andrew Hawkins,
Peaslake, Surrey, UK
Shutterstock/matin
Most nuts have simple kernel shapes. What is the advantage to walnuts and pecans of their convoluted form?
Roger Miles,
St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK
Last Word is Â鶹´«Ã½’s long-running series in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions, ranging from the minutiae of everyday life to absurd astronomical hypotheticals. To answer a question or ask a new one, email lastword@newscientist.com
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.
Â鶹´«Ã½ retains total editorial control over the published content and reserves all rights to reuse question and answer material that has been submitted by readers in any medium or in any format.
