- Email: [email protected]
Gasping
Last words past and present, plus questions, at www.last-word.com
THE LAST WORD One small footprint? Why can’t one of our space telescopes, capable of seeing galaxies many light years away, be pointed at the site of the moon landings where one can assume there are some remnants from the visits. Would this definitively prove to any sceptics that humans landed on the moon?
N Qebobplisfkdmltbolc^
qbibp`lmbÌqebpfwblcqebpj^iibpq l_gb`qfq`^kpbb^q^dfsbk afpq^k`bÌfpfksbopbivmolmloqflk^i qlqebaf^jbqbolcfqpibkp+Fklqebo tloap)qlpbbpljbqefkdpj^ii ^ilkdt^vlccvlrkbba^sbov _fdqbibp`lmb+ >mliil..ÑpB^dibirk^ojlarib jb^probp^_lrq1+0jbqobp^`olpp) ^kaqlpbbfqcoljB^oqe)tebktb ^ob^qlro`ilpbpqqlqebjllk) tlriaobnrfob^qbibp`lmbtfqe^k ^kdri^oobplirqflklc34-_fiiflkqep lc^abdobb+Fctbq^hbqeb t^sbibkdqelcqebobcib`qbaifdeq
“To see the lunar module on the moon would require a telescope with a diameter of nearly 60 metres” coljqebjllk^p_bfkd 22-k^kljbqobp)qebjfaaiblc qebsfpf_ibo^kdb)qebkqlpbbqeb irk^ojlaribtlriaobnrfob^ qbibp`lmbtfqe^af^jbqbolc kb^oiv3-jbqobp+Qebi^odbpq qbibp`lmbkltfkbufpqbk`b)qeb Do^kQbibp`lmfl@^k^of^plkqeb Pm^kfpefpi^kalcI^M^ij^)e^p^ af^jbqbolc.-+1jbqobp+ I^odboqbibp`lmbptlria_b
Questions and answers should be concise. We reserve the right to edit items for clarity and style. Include a daytime telephone number and email address if you have one. Restrict questions to scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena. The writers of published answers will receive a cheque for £25 (or US$ equivalent). Reed Business Information Ltd reserves all rights to reuse question and answer material submitted by readers in any medium or format.
sbovbumbkpfsb+Qeb`lpqlc _rfiafkdqebBrolmb^kPlrqebok L_pbos^qlovÑpmolmlpba LsbotebijfkdivI^odbQbibp`lmb) tfqe^af^jbqbolc3-ql.-- jbqobp)fpbpqfj^qba^q×.+/_fiiflk+ >i_vObfa Obaefii)Proobv)RH N Tb`^kpbbafpq^kqd^i^ufbp _rq`^kklqpbbqebjr`e`ilpbo cllqmofkqpibcqlkqebjllk _b`^rpbd^i^ufbp^kad^i^uv `irpqbopobmobpbkq^_fddboq^odbq7 qebvq^hbrm)loÎpr_qbkaÏ)^jr`e i^odbo^kdibfkqebphv+D^i^ufbp ^ob^ipl_ofdeq)j^hfkdqebj pq^kalrq^d^fkpqqeb_i^`hkbpp lcpm^`b+Cllqmofkqp^obpfjmiv fjmobppflkpibcqlkqebirk^o proc^`b)lccbofkdkl`lkqo^pq^q^ii+ Tbtlria_bobar`baqlillhfkd clope^altp`^pq_vqebqob^a+ Fj^dfkbqtlt^ihbop^_lrqe^ic ^jbqob^m^oq+FkvlrojfkaÑpbvb) ao^tifkbpcoljqebcl`^imlfkq lcvlrobvbqlqebqtlcfdrobp+Qeb ^kdib_bqtbbkqebqtlifkbpdbqp pj^iibo^pqebcfdrobpt^ih^t^v+ Qebpj^iibpq^kdib^qtef`eqeb qtlcfdrobp`^kpqfii_bobplisbafp ^jb^problcqebobplisfkdmltbo lc^klmqf`^ifkpqorjbkq)fkqefp `^pbvlrobvb+Tbrpbqbibp`lmbp _b`^rpbqebve^sb^dob^qbo obplisfkdmltbo)plqebv`^k afpqfkdrfpe_bqtbbkl_gb`qpqe^q pr_qbka^pj^iibo^kdib+ Tfqeqebk^hbabvbÌtelpb mrmfie^p^k^mboqroblc^_lrq /jfiifjbqobpÌqebqtlo^j_ibop tlria_irofkqllkbl_gb`q^q^ afpq^k`blc^_lrq/hfiljbqobp) ^pprjfkdmbocb`qbvbpfdeqfktef`e qeb^_fifqvqlobplisbqtll_gb`qpfp
New Scientist retains total editorial control over the content of The Last Word. Send questions and answers to The Last Word, New Scientist, Lacon House, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NS, UK, by email to [email protected] or visit www.last-word.com (please include a postal address in order to receive payment for answers). For a list of all unanswered questions send an SAE to LWQlist at the above address.
ifjfqbalkiv_vafcco^`qflk+Qeb _bpqqboobpqof^ilmqf`^iqbibp`lmb) qebDo^kQbibp`lmfl@^k^of^p lkI^M^ij^)e^p^k^mboqroblc ^_lrq.-jbqobp)dfsfkdfq^_lrq 2---qfjbpqebobplisfkdmltbo lcqebk^hbabvb+>qbibp`lmblc qefpmltbotlria_b^_ibql obplisblroqtlo^j_ibopbsbk fcqebvtbob.-)---hfiljbqobp ^t^v+Eltbsbo)qebjllkfp 05-)---hfiljbqobp^t^v)^ka^q qefpafpq^k`bqebqbibp`lmbe^pkl `e^k`blcpbm^o^qfkdqebt^ihbop) ibq^ilkbqebfocllqmofkqp+ Qlabqbojfkbqebobplisfkd mltbolc^qbibp`lmbtbrpb qebO^ibfde`ofqboflk+Qefpqbiip rpqe^qqeb^kdibpr_qbkaba_v qebpj^iibpql_gb`q^klmqf`^i qbibp`lmb`^kabqb`qfpolrdeivqeb t^sbibkdqelcsfpf_ibifdeqafsfaba _vqeb^mboqroblcqebqbibp`lmb+ Jriqfmivqe^q_vqebafpq^k`bqlqeb l_gb`q^katbdbqqebjfkfjrj pfwbqe^q`^k_bobplisba+ Q^hfkdsfpf_ibifdeqqle^sb^ t^sbibkdqelc222k^kljbqobp) qeb^mboqroblclroqboobpqof^i qbibp`lmbql_b.-jbqobp^kaqeb jllkql_b05-)---hfiljbqobp ^t^v)qebpj^iibpql_gb`qqe^q`^k _bobplisbalkqebjllktlria_b ^_lrq/-jbqobp^`olpp)^pprjfkd kl^qjlpmebof`^_boo^qflk+Qeb ^_fifqvqlobplisbcllqmofkqptlria obnrfob^qbibp`lmbtfqe^k ^mboqroblc^_lrq/-hfiljbqobp+ FcqebEr__ibPm^`bQbibp`lmb tbob_olrdeqqltfqefk 1-hfiljbqobplcqebirk^oproc^`b fq`lria^`efbsb^obplirqflklc .`bkqfjbqob^kaj^hblrq cllqmofkqp+Irk^o*lo_fqfkd qbibp`lmbpe^sb`ljbqefp`ilpb
Do Polar Bears Get Lonely? Our latest collection serious enquiry, brilliant insight ight and the hilariously unexpected cted Available from booksellers and at www.newscientist.com/ m/ polarbears
_rqqebfolmqf`p^obklq^pdlla+ >klqebolmqflkfpqlrpb^k^oo^vlc qboobpqof^iqbibp`lmbpqlpfjri^qb^ i^odbbccb`qfsb^mboqrob+ Fk^kv`^pbFprpmb`qqe^qqebob ^objlobfkqbobpqfkdqefkdpql pqrav)dfsbkqe^qqebp`bmqf`p tlriaklq_b`lksfk`ba^kvt^v+ JfhbCliiltp Tfiibke^ii)TbpqJfai^kap)RH N LkK>P>Ñptb_pfqb%_fq+iv,MaPR&
vlr`^kpbbqebqo^filccllqmofkqp ibcqlkqebjllk_vqeb>mliil.1 ^pqolk^rqp)melqldo^mebacolj qebIrk^oOb`lkk^fpp^k`bLo_fqbo _bqtbbk..^ka.2Griv/--6+ ?fiiT^qplk Abm^oqjbkqlcJ^qebj^qf`p ^ka@ljmrqboP`fbk`b PqGlekÑpRkfsbopfqv G^j^f`^)KbtVloh)RP N Fcqebp`bmqf`ptelalr_qqeb jllki^kafkdalkÑq_bifbsbqeb melqlpq^hbklkqebjllk_vqeb mblmibteltbobpq^kafkdqebob) tevlkb^oqe%klmrkfkqbkaba& tlriaqebv_bifbsbmf`qrobp _b^jbaaltkcolj^qbibp`lmb lmbo^qba_vqebsbovlod^kfp^qflk qebvprpmb`qlcivfkdqlqebj< PqbmebkDfppbi_ob`eq ?lpqlk)J^pp^`erpbqqp)RP
This week’s question GASPING
Fe^sbgrpqob^aqe^q^Ptfppj^k) Mbqbo@li^q)e^ppbq^kbttloia ob`loacloeliafkdefp_ob^qe rkabot^qbo7.6jfkrqbp^ka/. pb`lkap+Eltfpqefpmlppf_ib< GlekGrkflo Ibf`bpqbo)RH
THE LAST WORD One small footprint? Why can’t one of our space telescopes, capable of seeing galaxies many light years away, be pointed at the site of the moon landings where one can assume there are some remnants from the visits. Would this definitively prove to any sceptics that humans landed on the moon?
N Qebobplisfkdmltbolc^
qbibp`lmbÌqebpfwblcqebpj^iibpq l_gb`qfq`^kpbb^q^dfsbk afpq^k`bÌfpfksbopbivmolmloqflk^i qlqebaf^jbqbolcfqpibkp+Fklqebo tloap)qlpbbpljbqefkdpj^ii ^ilkdt^vlccvlrkbba^sbov _fdqbibp`lmb+ >mliil..ÑpB^dibirk^ojlarib jb^probp^_lrq1+0jbqobp^`olpp) ^kaqlpbbfqcoljB^oqe)tebktb ^ob^qlro`ilpbpqqlqebjllk) tlriaobnrfob^qbibp`lmbtfqe^k ^kdri^oobplirqflklc34-_fiiflkqep lc^abdobb+Fctbq^hbqeb t^sbibkdqelcqebobcib`qbaifdeq
“To see the lunar module on the moon would require a telescope with a diameter of nearly 60 metres” coljqebjllk^p_bfkd 22-k^kljbqobp)qebjfaaiblc qebsfpf_ibo^kdb)qebkqlpbbqeb irk^ojlaribtlriaobnrfob^ qbibp`lmbtfqe^af^jbqbolc kb^oiv3-jbqobp+Qebi^odbpq qbibp`lmbkltfkbufpqbk`b)qeb Do^kQbibp`lmfl@^k^of^plkqeb Pm^kfpefpi^kalcI^M^ij^)e^p^ af^jbqbolc.-+1jbqobp+ I^odboqbibp`lmbptlria_b
Questions and answers should be concise. We reserve the right to edit items for clarity and style. Include a daytime telephone number and email address if you have one. Restrict questions to scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena. The writers of published answers will receive a cheque for £25 (or US$ equivalent). Reed Business Information Ltd reserves all rights to reuse question and answer material submitted by readers in any medium or format.
sbovbumbkpfsb+Qeb`lpqlc _rfiafkdqebBrolmb^kPlrqebok L_pbos^qlovÑpmolmlpba LsbotebijfkdivI^odbQbibp`lmb) tfqe^af^jbqbolc3-ql.-- jbqobp)fpbpqfj^qba^q×.+/_fiiflk+ >i_vObfa Obaefii)Proobv)RH N Tb`^kpbbafpq^kqd^i^ufbp _rq`^kklqpbbqebjr`e`ilpbo cllqmofkqpibcqlkqebjllk _b`^rpbd^i^ufbp^kad^i^uv `irpqbopobmobpbkq^_fddboq^odbq7 qebvq^hbrm)loÎpr_qbkaÏ)^jr`e i^odbo^kdibfkqebphv+D^i^ufbp ^ob^ipl_ofdeq)j^hfkdqebj pq^kalrq^d^fkpqqeb_i^`hkbpp lcpm^`b+Cllqmofkqp^obpfjmiv fjmobppflkpibcqlkqebirk^o proc^`b)lccbofkdkl`lkqo^pq^q^ii+ Tbtlria_bobar`baqlillhfkd clope^altp`^pq_vqebqob^a+ Fj^dfkbqtlt^ihbop^_lrqe^ic ^jbqob^m^oq+FkvlrojfkaÑpbvb) ao^tifkbpcoljqebcl`^imlfkq lcvlrobvbqlqebqtlcfdrobp+Qeb ^kdib_bqtbbkqebqtlifkbpdbqp pj^iibo^pqebcfdrobpt^ih^t^v+ Qebpj^iibpq^kdib^qtef`eqeb qtlcfdrobp`^kpqfii_bobplisbafp ^jb^problcqebobplisfkdmltbo lc^klmqf`^ifkpqorjbkq)fkqefp `^pbvlrobvb+Tbrpbqbibp`lmbp _b`^rpbqebve^sb^dob^qbo obplisfkdmltbo)plqebv`^k afpqfkdrfpe_bqtbbkl_gb`qpqe^q pr_qbka^pj^iibo^kdib+ Tfqeqebk^hbabvbÌtelpb mrmfie^p^k^mboqroblc^_lrq /jfiifjbqobpÌqebqtlo^j_ibop tlria_irofkqllkbl_gb`q^q^ afpq^k`blc^_lrq/hfiljbqobp) ^pprjfkdmbocb`qbvbpfdeqfktef`e qeb^_fifqvqlobplisbqtll_gb`qpfp
New Scientist retains total editorial control over the content of The Last Word. Send questions and answers to The Last Word, New Scientist, Lacon House, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NS, UK, by email to [email protected] or visit www.last-word.com (please include a postal address in order to receive payment for answers). For a list of all unanswered questions send an SAE to LWQlist at the above address.
ifjfqbalkiv_vafcco^`qflk+Qeb _bpqqboobpqof^ilmqf`^iqbibp`lmb) qebDo^kQbibp`lmfl@^k^of^p lkI^M^ij^)e^p^k^mboqroblc ^_lrq.-jbqobp)dfsfkdfq^_lrq 2---qfjbpqebobplisfkdmltbo lcqebk^hbabvb+>qbibp`lmblc qefpmltbotlria_b^_ibql obplisblroqtlo^j_ibopbsbk fcqebvtbob.-)---hfiljbqobp ^t^v+Eltbsbo)qebjllkfp 05-)---hfiljbqobp^t^v)^ka^q qefpafpq^k`bqebqbibp`lmbe^pkl `e^k`blcpbm^o^qfkdqebt^ihbop) ibq^ilkbqebfocllqmofkqp+ Qlabqbojfkbqebobplisfkd mltbolc^qbibp`lmbtbrpb qebO^ibfde`ofqboflk+Qefpqbiip rpqe^qqeb^kdibpr_qbkaba_v qebpj^iibpql_gb`q^klmqf`^i qbibp`lmb`^kabqb`qfpolrdeivqeb t^sbibkdqelcsfpf_ibifdeqafsfaba _vqeb^mboqroblcqebqbibp`lmb+ Jriqfmivqe^q_vqebafpq^k`bqlqeb l_gb`q^katbdbqqebjfkfjrj pfwbqe^q`^k_bobplisba+ Q^hfkdsfpf_ibifdeqqle^sb^ t^sbibkdqelc222k^kljbqobp) qeb^mboqroblclroqboobpqof^i qbibp`lmbql_b.-jbqobp^kaqeb jllkql_b05-)---hfiljbqobp ^t^v)qebpj^iibpql_gb`qqe^q`^k _bobplisbalkqebjllktlria_b ^_lrq/-jbqobp^`olpp)^pprjfkd kl^qjlpmebof`^_boo^qflk+Qeb ^_fifqvqlobplisbcllqmofkqptlria obnrfob^qbibp`lmbtfqe^k ^mboqroblc^_lrq/-hfiljbqobp+ FcqebEr__ibPm^`bQbibp`lmb tbob_olrdeqqltfqefk 1-hfiljbqobplcqebirk^oproc^`b fq`lria^`efbsb^obplirqflklc .`bkqfjbqob^kaj^hblrq cllqmofkqp+Irk^o*lo_fqfkd qbibp`lmbpe^sb`ljbqefp`ilpb
Do Polar Bears Get Lonely? Our latest collection serious enquiry, brilliant insight ight and the hilariously unexpected cted Available from booksellers and at www.newscientist.com/ m/ polarbears
_rqqebfolmqf`p^obklq^pdlla+ >klqebolmqflkfpqlrpb^k^oo^vlc qboobpqof^iqbibp`lmbpqlpfjri^qb^ i^odbbccb`qfsb^mboqrob+ Fk^kv`^pbFprpmb`qqe^qqebob ^objlobfkqbobpqfkdqefkdpql pqrav)dfsbkqe^qqebp`bmqf`p tlriaklq_b`lksfk`ba^kvt^v+ JfhbCliiltp Tfiibke^ii)TbpqJfai^kap)RH N LkK>P>Ñptb_pfqb%_fq+iv,MaPR&
vlr`^kpbbqebqo^filccllqmofkqp ibcqlkqebjllk_vqeb>mliil.1 ^pqolk^rqp)melqldo^mebacolj qebIrk^oOb`lkk^fpp^k`bLo_fqbo _bqtbbk..^ka.2Griv/--6+ ?fiiT^qplk Abm^oqjbkqlcJ^qebj^qf`p ^ka@ljmrqboP`fbk`b PqGlekÑpRkfsbopfqv G^j^f`^)KbtVloh)RP N Fcqebp`bmqf`ptelalr_qqeb jllki^kafkdalkÑq_bifbsbqeb melqlpq^hbklkqebjllk_vqeb mblmibteltbobpq^kafkdqebob) tevlkb^oqe%klmrkfkqbkaba& tlriaqebv_bifbsbmf`qrobp _b^jbaaltkcolj^qbibp`lmb lmbo^qba_vqebsbovlod^kfp^qflk qebvprpmb`qlcivfkdqlqebj< PqbmebkDfppbi_ob`eq ?lpqlk)J^pp^`erpbqqp)RP
This week’s question GASPING
Fe^sbgrpqob^aqe^q^Ptfppj^k) Mbqbo@li^q)e^ppbq^kbttloia ob`loacloeliafkdefp_ob^qe rkabot^qbo7.6jfkrqbp^ka/. pb`lkap+Eltfpqefpmlppf_ib< GlekGrkflo Ibf`bpqbo)RH