Letters to the Editor

19331

Since “most pleural abnormalities don’t actually interfere with lung function,” the statement that dangerous asbestos exposures extended beyond the workplace in Libby, Mont., must be considered an opinion or assumption, not something confirmed by scientific studies. The heading for the article could just as well have ended “may only be a minor problem.” Bud MarchettePebble […]

19262

Although I was thrilled, as usual, to hear of yet another discovery that might lead us to our brethren in the universe, I was dismayed to learn that our scientists have been in such disagreement about the requirements for planetary existence. It made me worry about how many other “requirements” they may have all wrong. […]

19330

With the facts as given in this article, the birds spent about 7 percent of their time flying and 93 percent not flying. At the energy rates given, I get that 25 percent of the energy used was spent during the 7 percent of time the birds were flying. The article appeared to state that […]

19261

This article raised so many questions. Do children who play in the dirt get their increased immune resistance from phages in the dirt? Is there a phage connection in the AIDS story? Does the risk of dying of heart attacks have a phage connection? If so, is group A Streptococcus involved? Do we need a […]

19036

Regarding the article on udder tampering in livestock competitions, it’s sad that the push for easy success is so pervasive. Although colleges and universities receiving federal research funds must require research-ethics education of their students, I don’t see an impact on plagiarism. How might we encourage future generations of students in all disciplines to internalize […]

19260

Lowered melatonin secretion was an implied factor in the 35 percent increase in colon cancer among night shift nurses, compared with their daytime counterparts. A couple of altered lifestyle factors may contribute, as well: The night shift is often occasion for a sedentary work style, and decreased alertness might even affect daytime activity. Also, there […]

19259

Yes, trying to pin an actual date and time of the day to van Gogh’s painting is an intellectual exercise, but no one should believe this is possible. An artist plays with what’s seen. One only need look at van Gogh’s painting. Does the sky really have white streaks in it? No. So what makes […]

19258

Family members who perform the caregiver function usually pay a price because of the stresses involved. If “chronic adversity” is theorized to be the cause of a rise in a person’s IL-6, then questions for research include whether the IL-6 effect also applies to younger spouses and other family members, such as a child caring […]

19257

After reading your article, I am sure others must have also wondered if the “Tunguska meteor” that struck in Siberia in June 1908 might have been a mirror meteor. The mirror-asteroid strike described in the article sounds very much like descriptions of the event: tremendous energy and no impact crater. If a mirror object were […]

19329

I was surprised to read about the extensive research in Puerto Rico that has found a link between phthalates in plastics and premature breast development in young girls. I was under the impression that a completely different culprit, growth hormones in chickens, was established many years ago. The article indicates that the San Juan researchers […]

19328

Picture this: The year is 2700. A report is made of an “excavation of an 850-year-old site where butchered human skeletons have yielded evidence of cannibalism.” Corprolite discovered at the site contained “the chemical residue of human flesh.” A group of nomadic cannibals had briefly occupied an area known as Donner Pass. Perhaps prehistoric Anasazi […]

19256

In your article, Lawrence Sirovich assumes that the degree of unpredictability shown in Supreme Court decisions results from judicial independence, with the implication that this is a good thing. That unpredictability could easily result instead from confusion caused by absent or conflicting principles in the justices’ political and juridical doctrines, a not-so-good thing. Alan EsworthyApex, […]