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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

Yellow wash scrub sponge placed on wet blue background covered with drops of water in light room during household chores; Shutterstock ID 2167323189; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Last Word

Why does a slightly damp sponge absorb water better than a dry one?

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In this Voyager 2 image of Saturn, obtained Aug. 11, 1981, from a range of 14.7 million kilometers (9.1 million miles), north is at the upper right edge of the disc. Seen above the planet are the satellites Dione (right) and Enceladus. This false-color print shows a green spot at the south edge of a yellow band; in true color, the spot would appear brown and the band white. A bright yellow spot slightly above and to the left in this image moves eastward relative to the green spot at a rate that allows it to pass the green feature in about 50 days. The convective clouds that appear between the two spots are typical of the region. Here, the smallest visible structures measure about 270 kilometers (170 miles). The Voyager project is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia01959-voyager-2-image-of-saturn

Last Word

What is the probability that Voyager 1 or 2 will hit a planet or star?

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2F4D4YW Two American crows sitting on a bare branch communicating with each other.

Last Word

This week’s new questions

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Issue no. 3473 published 13 January 2024

New ÒÁÈ˾þà issue 3473 cover
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