What is the minimum population needed to sustain me in a comfortable life in the US, in terms of the people who create and maintain infrastructure, goods and services? The combinatorial explosion of dependencies boggles my mind: for instance, I enjoy New 女生小视频, so its journalists and all their dependencies would have to be added in too. And so on鈥�
Bill Hay, Lacey, Washington, US
Since I was a child, most measurements have been decimalised. Why not time?
Ruth Garrod, London, UK
To answer this question 鈥� or ask a new one 鈥� 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.
女生小视频 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.
You can also submit answers by post to: The Last Word, New 女生小视频, 25 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ES.
