Letters to the Editor
- Humans
Letters from the August 5, 2006, issue of Science News
Rod is the spoiler While I applaud the work that is looking at the biochemical correlates of aggressive and delinquent behavior, it is important to emphasize that environmental factors still predominate when we are searching for the roots of violence (“Violent Developments: Disruptive kids grow into their behavior,” SN: 5/27/06, p. 328). Although there is […]
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19715
I suspect the findings in this article might be correlated with the reduction in lead exposure over the same timeframe. I wonder if the greater reduction in early-childhood blood lead for blacks might be sufficient to explain the effect described in the study. Richard B. MottRingoes, N.J. What can we conclude from these facts? Not […]
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19714
This article, I think, has it backwards. It’s not that labeled trials are more likely to be funded. Rather, well-funded, large trials are more likely to be named. We research chemists label only the important projects. The name makes the project easier to track and reference. Charles D. ShusterColumbus, Ohio
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19713
What about circumcision in the United States and Europe, not just sub-Saharan Africa, as a means of reducing AIDS? As I recall, the most recent trend among U.S. doctors is to discourage this practice as painful and unnecessary. James SeeserSt. Louis, Mo.
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19712
I applaud your coverage of the BioBlitz in the National Capital Area in this article. You only touched the surface, however. BioBlitzes are just a part of All Taxa Biodiversity Inventories that are being conducted from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to some protected areas in Europe. Specifically related to slime molds, the National Science […]
- Humans
Letters from the July 29, 2006, issue of Science News
Squeeze, please It would seem to me that instead of looking to minimize the effect of grapefruit juice in slowing the metabolism and elimination of drugs, one could cut drug dosages by taking advantage of it (“Nabbed: Culprit of grapefruit juice–drug interaction,” SN: 5/20/06, p. 317). Grapefruit juice costs less than any drug and has […]
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19711
This article raises some questions. What about people who are physically unattractive—those whom a majority of the society considers ugly? I suspect that many people treated for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are unattractive by that definition. The psychiatric profession tends to deny that many of the “illnesses” it treats are the result of realities that […]
- Humans
Letters from the July 22, 2006, issue of Science News
First, count all the lawyers The study in “Legal Debate: Assumptions on medical malpractice called into question” (SN: 5/13/06, p. 291) fails to address the more disturbing issue: Most of the insurance money (apparently) goes to lawyers (both sides), and very little to those injured. Peter WilsonSimi Valley, Calif. The numbers in the story pose […]
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19710
I live in Northern California, where forest-biomass power plants are common. One power plant takes the ashes that result and places them where cows forage. I’m wondering to what level of concentration this process will accumulate the cesium in organic dairy products. Jesse NoellEureka, Calif. The amount of radioactive cesium-137 taken up by trees is […]
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19709
I was surprised to see in Science News, conclusions about causation made on the basis of correlational research. The variance in activity levels may have been a consequence of differing levels of energy among the participants at the outset of the study, perhaps due to differences in general health. We should be careful about this […]
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19708
On this article, real cats do this too. I have observed many adult cats teaching kittens (not necessarily theirs) to hunt. People who receive “presents” from their cats are not being gifted. The cats are trying to teach them how to hunt, but the cats probably think we are pretty dumb. Emily JohnstonWestminster, Md.
- Humans
Letters from the July 15, 2006, issue of Science News
People want to know “Sharing the Health: Cells from unusual mice make others cancerfree” (SN: 5/13/06, p. 292) reported that years ago it was discovered that certain male mice eradicate cancer cells and that white blood cells from these mice make normal mice cancer resistant. It also reported that it is superpremature to look forward […]
