Letters to the Editor
- Humans
Letters from the April 12, 2008, issue of Science News
Dark star In “From Dark Matter to Light: New models of galaxy formation show the gastro in physics” (SN: 3/22/08, p. 186), Ron Cowen says that gas is where the action is since dark matter predominantly responds to only gravity. Because dark matter responds to gravity, wouldn’t it, like gas, be pulled into the star-making […]
- Humans
Letters from the April 5, 2008, issue of Science News
Follow the glow “State of the Universe: Microwave glow powers cosmic insights” (SN: 3/15/08, p. 163) brings up a question. This glow should be stronger in one direction, which can point us to the center of the universe. Is this possible? Donald BurrNovato, Calif. Studies of the microwave glow reveal that Earth is moving surprisingly […]
- Humans
Letters from the March 29, 2008, issue of Science News
Why switch to grass? Regarding “Switchgrass may yield biofuel bounty” (SN: 1/19/08, p. 46): Distilleries have been around since the dawn of time, including barleycorn (whiskey), maize (whiskey), potatoes (vodka), sugarcane (rum), and arcane brews distilled from beets, bread crumbs, and bamboo. The ethanol molecule cares not one wit about its particular provenance, so what […]
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19935
In this article, Ron Cowen says that gas is where the action is since dark matter predominantly responds to only gravity. Because dark matter responds to gravity, wouldn’t it, like gas, be pulled into the star-making process and become part of the resulting star? Why is our sun not predominantly dark matter? Eugene (Gene) CaterEasley, […]
- Humans
Letters from the March 22, 2008, issue of Science News
The price of water In reference to the article “Going Down: Climate change, water use threaten Lake Mead” (SN: 2/23/08, p. 115), scarcity requires society to allocate. Usually markets do a better job than law at allocating efficiently and fairly. Lake Mead could remain full to the brim regardless of pending climate change. The quoted […]
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19934
This article brings up a question. This glow should be stronger in one direction, which can point us to the center of the universe. Is this possible? Donald BurrNovato, Calif. Studies of the microwave glow reveal that Earth is moving surprisingly quickly relative to the cosmic background radiation. But this motion is not evidence that […]
- Humans
Letters from the March 15, 2008, issue of Science News
Alpha bird(s) There is a detail not explicit in the article “Birds network too” (SN: 2/23/08, p. 125) that fits the computer network analogy. By its flight path, each bird adds its personal input and helps guide the course of the flock. Don BurnapRapid City, S.D. Andrea Cavagna, a physicist at Italy’s National Research Council, […]
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19933
This article was extremely well written! It was engaging and clear. Thank you! Katherine MuzikOkinawa, Japan
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19932
Regarding this article: A black hole is in a geometrical sense an end to the universe. If we picture the universe using Euclidean geometry, we can imagine going straight out forever. As we approach a black hole, the huge mass changes the geometry so that we also go on forever reaching the surface. We cannot […]
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19931
This article shows the formula for sodium hydrosulfide as NaH2S. Would it not be more accurate to present it as NaHS? G. David GrubbsCorinth, Texas The reader is correct.
- Humans
Letters from the March 8, 2008, issue of Science News
No cure yet “Growing Up to Prozac: Drug makes new neurons mature faster” (SN: 2/9/08, p. 83) suggests that growth of new brain cells, along with increasing connections, may mediate some of the effect of some SSRIs. Since these new cells would likely persist significantly longer than the drugs themselves, do we see a “cure” […]
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19930
I feel that Rachel Ehrenberg was entirely too glib in this article. The description of an ancient Mayan religious ritual as “plucking the hearts from humans and tossing the bodies into the sacred cenote” is disrespectful. I am sure that Science News would never describe any contemporary religious rituals in this manner. Here is hoping […]
