{
  "id": 5130884,
  "title": "This week’s new questions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/this-weeks-new-questions",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-02T17:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2586958-this-weeks-new-questions-361/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Why haven't marine mammals retained gills despite returning to the ocean? Why have land mammals that returned to sea not developed gills once again? John Bailey, from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK inquires. When emptying a jug of water, is tipping it upside down or pouring at a specific angle the quickest method? Dennis Leister, residing in Rockville, Maryland, USA asks. \"Last Word,\" New Scientist's ongoing feature, invites readers to respond to each other's inquiries, spanning everyday life's minutiae to the fantastical and improbable. To pose or submit a query, email lastword@newscientist.com. Questions must be scientific inquiries about commonplace happenings, and both questions and replies should be succinct. We retain the right to modify items for lucidity and style. Please supply a postal address, daytime phone number, and email address. The utilization of artificial intelligence to craft inquiries or responses is prohibited; any submissions discovered to have been penned with AI will be rejected.",
  "summary": "Why hasn’t evolution reintroduced gills in the land-based mammals that returned to the sea? And what is the fastest way to empty a full jug of water?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}