Âé¶¹´«Ã½

This week’s new questions

What tipping points can we expect to see if and when we reverse global warming? Why do teabags make fairly good tea, but coffee bags don’t make very good coffee?

18 March 2026

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Karl Petersen/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (9760878a) A general view shows an iceberg stranded near the village of Innaarsuit, in the Avannaata Municipality, northwestern Greenland, 12 July 2018 (issued 13 July 2018). The Avannaata Municipality was alarmed on 11 July, after a huge iceberg was grounded just outside the village of Innaarsuit. According to local media, police asked villagers who live closest to the water, to leave their houses over fears the iceberg could calve and affect the village with a tsunami. Iceberg grounded outside village in northwestern Greenland, Innaarsuit - 12 Jul 2018

Karl Petersen/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

If and when we begin to slow down and reverse global warming, what tipping points can we expect to see as we move in that direction?

David Edwards Hulme
Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK

 

Row of tea cups with teabags falling motion inside on dark background - Colorful line of mugs with dropping flavored herb infusion - Close up image with black copy space; Shutterstock ID 551140699; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other:

Akhenaton Images/Shutterstock

Why do teabags make fairly good tea, but coffee bags don’t make very good coffee?
Philip Woolfe
London, UK

 

Last Word is Âé¶¹´«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.

Âé¶¹´«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.

Terms and conditions apply.

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
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop