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Why is it that our hair – and for men our beard – goes white while the other hair on our head (eyebrows and eyelashes) stays its original colour? And why are some people very heavy sleepers, while others are woken by only a small disturbance?

Close-up of delighted senior man twirling moustache and smoothing his grey beard. Man taking care of his bushy beard and mustache ; Shutterstock ID 559674487; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Why is it that our hair – and for men, our beard – goes white while the other hair on our head (eyebrows and eyelashes) stays its original colour?

Guy Cox,

Sydney, Australia

FF105N Black woman sleeping in bed

Why are some people very heavy sleepers, while others are woken by only a small disturbance?

Rachel Mckeown,

Cambridge, UK

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

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