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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

iss067e189024 (July 16, 2022) --- The sun's rays begin to illuminate the Earth's atmosphere as the International Space Station flew into an orbital sunrise 261 miles above Texas. iss067e189024 NASA ID: iss067e189024 iss067e189024 (July 16, 2022) --- The sun's rays begin to illuminate the Earth's atmosphere as the International Space Station flew into an orbital sunrise 261 miles above Texas. Date Created:2022-07-16 Center:JSC

Last Word

When was the first sunrise on Earth?

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Bengal cat washing itself on bed; Shutterstock ID 1123136123; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Why do cats wash themselves, while dogs don’t?

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MNN37P Illustration comparing the planets of the Solar System and the Sun on the same scale. The planets are shown to scale relative to each other but their distances are not. From left to right the bodies are: the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Last Word

Will the planets of our solar system ever line up in a row? (Part 2)

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HCNBCF THOR: THE DARK WORLD, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, 2013. ph: Jay Maidment/?Walt Disney Studios/courtesy Everett Collection

Last Word

Could you make a machine that “flew” like Thor’s hammer in the comics?

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HDTNNH Crab-eating macaca in Thailand ; specie Macaca fascicularis family of Cercopithecidae

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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This mosaic of Mars is a compilation of images captured by the Viking Orbiter 1. The center of the scene shows the entire Valles Marineris canyon system, more than 2,000 miles (3,000 kilometers) long, 370 miles (600 kilometers) wide and 5 miles (8 kilometers) deep, extending from Noctis Labyrinthus, the arcuate system of graben to the west, to the chaotic terrain to the east.

Last Word

If humans colonised Mars, how would they calculate time? (Part 2)

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2AFPK7B Cyclist and Runner on Trail

Last Word

If a cyclist and runner exercise together, who expends more energy?

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Close up to the dictionary definition of Phlegmatic; Shutterstock ID 1188169102; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Why do I need to be able to pronounce a word to recall it?

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Open dishwasher with clean utensils in it; Shutterstock ID 218515030; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Is there a correct way to fill a dishwasher? (continued)

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Afrcan Elephant on the move

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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Galaxy - Elements of this Image Furnished by NASA; Shutterstock ID 1716207277; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

So much in the universe spins. Could the universe itself be spinning?

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Denis Closon/Shutterstock (947726e) Sticking plasters Sticking Plaster

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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