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This week’s new questions

What determines fingerprints? And what is the best angle to aim a hosepipe to maximise the distance travelled by the water?

13 July 2022

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Don Mason/Getty Images

What determines fingerprints? Is it a random process or is it something inherited from our parents?

Manyando Milupi, Muscat, Oman

Funny little girl watering from a hose flowers in her home garden. Rural life. Happy child is resting in the summer, playing with water and watering the greens with a hose evening; Shutterstock ID 2138202117; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Shutterstock/Alex Desanshe

Aiming a hosepipe, intuition told me a 45-degree angle would maximise the distance travelled by the water, as it would for a projectile. But when I did this, the water actually went a shorter distance. Why?

Robert Morley, London, UK

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

Questions should be scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena, and both questions and answers should be concise. We reserve the right to edit items for clarity and style.…

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