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Last Word is New Å®ÉúСÊÓƵ’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

Why do so many birds like standing on one leg? And why don’t they fall over?

Alison Litherland

Cambridge, UK

If Earth turns at (say) 1000 kilometres per hour at London’s latitude, when wanting to travel, why not just go straight up and wait for your destination to rotate around until it is beneath you?

Robert Morley

London, UK

To answer this question – or ask a new one – email lastword@newscientist.com.

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