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This week’s new questions

What causes catchy tunes to become earworms, and is there an evolutionary advantage to being left or right-handed? Send us your thoughts
music notes
How do you silence those catchy tunes that go round and round in your head?
Yay Media AS/Alamy

Let it go

Why, when we hear some tunes, do they stick in our heads for days on end? How do earworms get in, and what is the best way to get rid of them?

Clare Wilson, London, UK

Lend a hand

Is there any evolutionary advantage to humans being right or left-handed? Does handedness exist in other animals?

Hugh Cartwright, Victoria, Canada

To answer these questions – or ask a new one – email lastword@newscientist.com.

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