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Last word

Â鶹´«Ă˝'s popular Last Word series gives readers the opportunity to answer each other's questions about everyday science phenomena, from the shape of scones to the evolutionary history of toenails. To answer a question or ask a new one, email lastword@newscientist.com

Motion Speed Light in London City; Shutterstock ID 1093994570; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Is the speed of light in high gravity different from in low gravity?

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The surface of Venus, the irregularities of the planet. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. High quality photo; Shutterstock ID 2157724597; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Could we build a habitable dome on the surface of Venus? (continued)

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Middle-aged woman in glasses fell asleep while reading book at home, female sleeping with open mouth on sofa near coffee table with houseplant in living room. Sleep deprivation; Shutterstock ID 2122133960; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Are we conscious when we are asleep?

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Two seagulls above aircraft wing

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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2GA52R4 A woman on the beach at Portrush, Co. Antrim, on Northern Ireland's north coast doing open water swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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Ben Lomond ski village and wild kangaroos on a quiet winter's day in Tasmania, Australia; Shutterstock ID 1815999107; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Would a northern hemisphere “ice age” trigger one in the south too?

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The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, in the southern Spanish province of Cadiz, July 12, 2014. Occurring when a full moon or new moon coincides with the closest approach the moon makes to the Earth, the Supermoon results in a larger-than-usual appearance of the lunar disk. REUTERS/Jon Nazca (SPAIN - Tags: SOCIETY CITYSCAPE TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1EA7D0FC401

Last Word

When was it first realised that moonlight must be reflected sunlight?

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Big dog meets small dog; Shutterstock ID 2045462630; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

How do dogs recognise that another animal is also a dog? (continued)

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Four cheerful female friends having fun on summer road trip

Last Word

Which is more efficient when cooling a car, A/C or windows? (Part 2)

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Pink flowering pelargonium turning red.

Last Word

Why did a piece of pink geranium make red flowers after breaking off?

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2A65AYC Woman stroking her Pet dumbo rat

Last Word

Given the impact of cats, why don’t we domesticate more rats? (Part 2)

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JANUARY 9, 2014: The vibrant magentas and blues in this Hubble image of the barred spiral galaxy M83 reveal that the galaxy is ablaze with star formation. The galactic panorama unveils a tapestry of the drama of stellar birth and death. The galaxy, also known as the Southern Pinwheel, lies 15 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Acknowledgement: W. Blair (STScI/Johns Hopkins University) and R. O'Connell (University of Virginia) NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA?s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. ...more Date Created:2017-12-08 Center:GSFC Keywords: spiral galaxy M83 Albums: Test Creator:NASA Goddard Location:Greenbelt, MD

Last Word

What would happen to a galaxy if the black hole at its centre left?

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