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Last word

New ÒÁÈ˾þÃ'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

DRE532 Elephant (Loxodonta africana) waving its trunk sitting in the waterhole of Gwarrie Pan, Addo Elephant Park, South Africa

Last Word

Why do we have pubic hair but other animals, like elephants, don’t?

Regulars

This photograph is of the sky over north London on Wednesday 15th June at 8:13 am. The picture Is cropped to centre the image. The effect was not due to camera or glass of vehicle photo was taken from and looked identical to naked eye. What can have caused the contrails to end so evenly? No aircraft were immediately apparent, it did turn out to be a remarkable hot day. I am assuming my passenger?s suggestion of a glitch in the matrix leading to an incomplete sky rendering is incorrect- can you or your readers provide a more sensible explanation

Last Word

Why do some contrails run in parallel and end abruptly in the sky?

Regulars

mist, rain

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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2F7R4DY Volume button close-up on TV remote control with braille

Last Word

Why do even numbers feel ‘right’ to me, and odd ones ‘wrong’? (Part 2)

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Issue no. 3404 published 17 September 2022

New ÒÁÈ˾þà issue 3404 cover
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