Âé¶¹´«Ã½

This week’s new questions

Are there any plants and creatures that could be taken to the moon and would survive? If everyone got rid of their mobile phones, what would happen?

3 June 2026

Two Astronauts on the Alien Planet Discover Plant Life. Space Travel, Discovery Of Habitable Worlds and Colonization Concept.; Shutterstock ID 1042736296; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other:

Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff

Are there any plants and creatures that could be taken to the moon and that would survive, reproduce and be a viable food source in, say, 25 years’ time?

Robert Watson
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

 

FRANCE. Versailles. Ch??teau de Versailles. Salon de la guerre. 2018.

MARTIN PARR

If everyone got rid of their mobile phones, what would happen?

Malcolm Thorpe
Windsor, Berkshire, 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.comTo 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.

The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude) to write either questions or answers is forbidden, and any submissions found to have been written using AI tools will be withdrawn.

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