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Last word

New Å®ÉúСÊÓƵ'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

Row of tea cups with teabags falling motion inside on dark background - Colorful line of mugs with dropping flavored herb infusion - Close up image with black copy space; Shutterstock ID 551140699; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other:

Life

Why don’t coffee bags make very good coffee?

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Karl Petersen/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (9760878a) A general view shows an iceberg stranded near the village of Innaarsuit, in the Avannaata Municipality, northwestern Greenland, 12 July 2018 (issued 13 July 2018). The Avannaata Municipality was alarmed on 11 July, after a huge iceberg was grounded just outside the village of Innaarsuit. According to local media, police asked villagers who live closest to the water, to leave their houses over fears the iceberg could calve and affect the village with a tsunami. Iceberg grounded outside village in northwestern Greenland, Innaarsuit - 12 Jul 2018

Environment

What tipping points can we expect to see if we reverse global warming?

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KEXX6Y Mowing grass

Life

This week’s new questions

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A 3D illustration of the now debunked competing conspiracy theory that the Earth is flat, as it appears from land, rather than spherical. Earth texture maps courtesy of NASA.gov; Shutterstock ID 1240127368; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other:

Physics

What would the horizon look like on a disc-shaped planet? part 3

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Last Word

This week’s new questions

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Close-up of adorable young seal swimming in clear blue water and looking at camera, near Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom

Last Word

Why do seals have such cute faces?

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EH7TAT Clock faces, illustration

Last Word

Can a person experience more than 24 hours in a day? Part 3

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Last Word

What is the advantage to walnuts and pecans of their convoluted form?

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nose

Last Word

When we breathe, why does the dominant nasal passage swap sides?

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Last Word

This week’s new questions

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Last Word

Why don’t orcas attack humans? part 3

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Last Word

Can acquired tastes become unacquired?

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