Last Word news, articles and features | New Scientist /topic/last-word/ Science news and science articles from New Scientist Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:44:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.8 242057827 Why do dogs usually follow instructions, but cats largely ignore them? /article/2595716-why-do-dogs-usually-follow-instructions-but-cats-largely-ignore-them/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000 /article/2595716-cats-v-dogs/ 2595716 Why can’t we cool water as quickly as we can heat it? part 3 /article/2595717-why-cant-we-cool-water-as-quickly-as-we-can-heat-it-part-3/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000 /article/2595717-hot-or-cold/ 2595717 This week’s new questions /article/2595718-this-weeks-new-questions-369/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0000 /article/2595718-hatching-a-plan/ 2595718 What’s the world actually like, if what we see is just our brain’s interpretations? /article/2594481-whats-the-world-actually-like-if-what-we-see-is-just-our-brains-interpretations/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000 /article/2594481-reality-check/ 2594481 How different would Earth be if anaerobic life were the only life form? /article/2594482-how-different-would-earth-be-if-anaerobic-life-were-the-only-life-form/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000 /article/2594482-no-o-life/ 2594482 Is there also such a thing as an olfactory illusion? (part 4) /article/2594483-is-there-also-such-a-thing-as-an-olfactory-illusion-part-4/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000 /article/2594483-smelly-illusions/ 2594483 This week’s new questions /article/2594484-this-weeks-new-questions-368/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000 /article/2594484-animal-senses/ 2594484 This week’s new questions /article/2593198-this-weeks-new-questions-367/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000 /article/2593198-colour-conundrum/ 2593198 Why don’t dogs look up when a low-flying plane passes overhead? part 5 /article/2593197-why-dont-dogs-look-up-when-a-low-flying-plane-passes-overhead-part-5/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:35:00 +0000 /article/2593197-hear-that/ 2593197 Is it faster to jog up the stairs or take them two at a time? /article/2593196-is-it-faster-to-jog-up-the-stairs-or-take-them-two-at-a-time/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=last-word&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:34:00 +0000 /article/2593196-jog-on/ 2593196