Letters to the Editor

19097

This article gives the incorrect and highly misleading definition of how wood preservatives work: by releasing “toxins into the water, killing everything nearby.” False. The treated wood itself becomes unpalatable to these organisms. Leaching does occur, but the literature is full of conflicting results as to the extent of the effect. Ironically, probably the most […]

19023

This article advances the idea that a positive attitude is conducive to longevity. As a senior citizen, 87, looking at my contemporaries, I wonder about that. Possibly, the good health prompted the positive attitude as much as the attitude influenced the health. Wayne LewisGate, Okla. While the researchers accounted for some confounding factors, they did […]

19090

A pet dog doesn’t have to be hungry to enjoy chewing on a bone. Perhaps dire wolves did enjoy a “glorious paradise” 15,000 years ago. Without other predators to chase them away from a kill, they had more leisure time to hang about and chew the bone. Matt FenskeSpokane, Wash. From 15,000 to 12,000 years […]

19022

All of the characteristics the researchers ascribe to sexual abusers–hostile masculinity, penchant for impersonal assembly-line sex, sexual preoccupation, emotional callousness, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder–prevent them from forming enduring emotionally intimate attachments. Perhaps abusers turn to domination sex in the vain attempt to relieve their frustration through an imposed physical intimacy they control. Marilyn M. KramerWausau, Wis. […]

19089

As I recall, neural networks also require, from time to time, periods of very low input in order to maintain their learning efficiencies. Neural-network researchers call these periods sleep, yet these networks obviously don’t require glycogen to function. Thus, it always seemed to me that sleep is probably more of a requirement of the neurons’ […]

19088

This article touches on one of the dirty little secrets of beauty products: By and large, they are a chemical stew with ingredients that would require EPA warnings if used in industrial settings. I’m amazed that EPA doesn’t regulate the volatiles in nail salons. Steve SchlosserSaratoga, Calif.

19087

While reading that the cranial crest of the pterosaur Thalassodromeus helped regulate body temperature, I pondered another potential use. While gliding near the water, its crested head might act as a rudder for the large-wingspan animal. Perhaps the crest also included nerves that allowed Thalassodromeus to sense fleeing fish. Steve M. AdamsPlano, Texas Perhaps the […]

19086

This article says that the water drop is added to the back of the paper “as a wall against which the metal plume could push.” It seems more likely that the heat of the laser would even more violently vaporize the water, creating a small explosion that would drive the plane forward via the relatively […]

19085

Regarding this article, I live close to Mendota, Calif., the site of the photo depicting ground subsidence due to overpumping of groundwater. Though I have only lived here for two summers, I am surprised at the amount of water wasted daily by agriculture and residential users in this area. A casual observer would not know […]

19084

This article confirms what food-allergic persons have known for quite awhile, that food allergy reactions are not provoked only by ingestion. Another kind of kiss can cause reactions. My food-allergic daughter reports that “kisses” from pets may or may not cause hives, depending on the animal’s diet. Diane SmithOakton, Va.

19021

As stated in the article, nitric oxide is a recognized and commonly monitored pollutant. It would be of interest to see the incidence of sickle-cell disease plotted against NO pollution levels for similar populations. Sufficient data are probably already available. Ken MartwickFall Creek, Ore.

19078

I was saddened to see that water conservation received such short shrift in this article. The easiest, cheapest way to conserve water supplies is simply not to use them. Instead of figuring out how to put blankets on snowdrifts, why not just focus on turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving? Alan […]