Letters to the Editor
-
19727
This article cites evidence of a severe genetic bottleneck, suggesting that perhaps no more than three pregnant females launched the expanding western Atlantic red lionfish population. How can there be “pregnant females” in an animal with the external fertilization described in the article? Do you mean a founder population of as few as three individuals? […]
- Humans
Letters from the September 9, 2006, issue of Science News
Brother bother If having biological older brothers correlates to homosexuality (“Gay Males’ Sibling Link: Men’s homosexuality tied to having older brothers,” SN: 7/1/06, p. 3), then we would expect that in the past, when families were larger, there would be a greater proportion of homosexuals. Is there any evidence for this? Rick NorwoodMountain Home, Tenn. […]
-
19726
I was sorry to learn Pluto did not qualify as a planet (“New Solar System? Twelve planets and counting,” SN: 8/19/06, p. 115, and this article). Pluto has a diameter comparable with the Earth’s moon. The size of our moon relative to Earth might cause any observer to consider Earth and its moon as double […]
- Humans
Letters from the September 2, 2006, issue of Science News
B line “A Vexing Enigma: New insights confront chronic fatigue syndrome” (SN: 7/1/06, p. 10) implies that there’s not an available cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. I was amazed to find no mention of vitamin B12. I can attest to the remarkable effect. Earl L. PyeOak Hills, Calif. Limited evidence suggests that vitamin B12 absorption […]
-
19725
From literature I’ve reviewed, there can be significant differences between small-building cooling towers and large cooling towers—at a power plant, for instance. A large cooling tower is designed with significantly more water circulation, flushing, and chemical treatment that reduce the potential for pathogens. The researchers should be encouraged to not lump all “cooling towers” in […]
-
19724
I wonder if the researchers in this article have made any observations of the prevalence of males mating with juvenile females when mature females are present in the environment. Carolyn CramoyLake Placid, N.Y. Maydianne Andrade of the University of Toronto at Scarborough says that no information on that is available yet. She and her team […]
-
19723
I won’t state that “dark matter” hasn’t been discovered. However I disagree that empirical evidence for it is demonstrated in this collision. Other phenomena that could explain the images include excitation of preexisting gases or imaging artifacts. Nowhere in the article does it state that the mass of “dark matter” was actually observed passing unimpeded […]
-
19722
There is a serious limitation to the “print clock” technique described in this article that can probably be addressed. The method proposed holds good only for works with small print runs (such as expensive maps), where the damage to the printing surface in successive printings is minor in comparison to deterioration over time. Damage to […]
- Humans
Letters from the August 26, 2006, issue of Science News
Dust to dust In “Not a planet?” (SN: 6/17/06, p. 382), Alycia Weinberger says, “The discovery of a disk around the planetary-mass companion to 2M1207 should be a bit of a relief to planet-formation theorists” because it casts doubt on the object being a planet. But wouldn’t our early solar system have been composed of […]
-
19721
I was sorry to learn Pluto did not qualify as a planet (this article and “Doggone! Pluto gets a planetary demotion,” SN: 9/2/06, p. 149). Pluto has a diameter comparable with the Earth’s moon. The size of our moon relative to Earth might cause any observer to consider Earth and its moon as double planets. […]
-
19720
I have a question concerning this article. It says, “As the sun rotates, its polar regions make a complete circle in about 34 days, compared with the 25 days required by its equator.” I was wondering how it’s possible to have two points on a rotating body take different amounts of time to make a […]
- Humans
Letters from the August 19, 2006, issue of Science News
Aye carumba Math isn’t the only science that makes it into The Simpsons (“Springfield Theory,” SN: 6/10/06, p. 360). In one episode a few years ago, a meteorite landed near Bart. He picked it up and put it in his pocket. Although most people are under the impression that meteorites are extremely hot, they’re not. […]
