Letters to the Editor
- Humans
Letters from the December 11, 2004, issue of Science News
Mover Earth I would have thought that it is more likely that Earth’s hum creates the weather patterns (“Humming Along: Ocean waves may cause global seismic noise,” SN: 10/2/04, p. 212: Humming Along: Ocean waves may cause global seismic noise) than the other way around. Judy AngelGlasgow, Scotland Nuclear fallout “Hurrying a nuclear identity switch” […]
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19490
I was surprised to read in this article the explanation, “Those low-pressure swirls create suction that pulls the insect upward.” There is no physical force known as “suction.” As the article correctly states, the leading-edge wing vortices create a low-pressure zone above the wings, and the higher-pressure air under the insect’s wings pushes the insect […]
- Humans
Letters from the December 4, 2004, issue of Science News
Shouting about decaf? As a decaf drinker, I found myself shouting, “What about caffeine”?” as I read “Coffee’s curious heart effects” (SN: 10/2/04, p. 222: Coffee’s curious heart effects). How can any report not, at least, mention its involvement or lack thereof? Greg TulloRaleigh, N.C. Researcher Pertti Happonen suspects that caffeine was responsible for the […]
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19489
Since “women with chronically ill children generally reported more stress” and since “there was a very striking connection between stress and telomere length,” isn’t it probable that there is a strong connection between telomere length and becoming the parent of a chronically ill child? I would be interested to learn whether the connection between stress […]
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19488
I love Science News. Now and then, however, you write in terms that aren’t understandable to the average reader. I refer in particular to (the article above). It states that “weather models suggest winds atop the peak exceeded 50 meters per second.” I dare say that to 99 percent of your readers, like myself, that’s […]
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19487
Wasn’t Einstein so irritated at the thought of randomness in the universe that he said, “God does not play dice with the universe”? Your article seemed to suggest that Einstein endorsed quantum physics, which I was under the impression he didn’t. Andrew AlexanderToronto, Ont. Einstein did loathe the idea that physical processes could be random. […]
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19486
In this article, it strikes me as strange to project the cost of collecting DNA samples from the “estimated 10 million animal species” on Earth when at least 90 percent of that probable fauna has yet to be discovered and, at current extinction rates, probably never will be. Kevin LumneyPorter Township, Ohio
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19485
The resonance discovered in the star HD 202206 system is not unique, and it isn’t true that “[t]his particular synchrony has never been seen before in a planetary system.” Resonances abound in the solar system. The orbital periods of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, many asteroids’ orbits, Jupiter’s orbit, and Pluto’s orbit with Neptune are […]
- Physics
Letters from the November 27, 2004, issue of Science News
Dark Secrets Astronomers and physicists seem to speak of black holes as though they took matter completely out of the universe (“Information, Please,” SN: 9/25/04, p. 202: Information, Please). An evaporating black hole would not fizz away into nothingness. It would lose energy and reappear in normal space as a very dense object (complete with […]
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19484
The study in this article is missing the boat. They should use families that have eliminated asthma triggers without medications. In our safe, chemical-free home, we have been able to protect our health. Avoiding asthma triggers has resulted in one son being cured of asthma and my other son and I being under control with […]
- Humans
Letters from the November 20, 2004, issue of Science News
When Earth got gas Considering the controversy that Thomas Gold engendered when he first postulated abiogenic origins of earthly hydrocarbons, it’s odd you didn’t mention his name, in “Deep Squeeze: Experiments point to methane in Earth’s mantle” (SN: 9/25/04, p. 198: Deep Squeeze: Experiments point to methane in Earth’s mantle). Edgar T. LynkNiskayuna, N.Y. Although […]
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19483
In this article, you report on a study in which it was found that female monkeys raised in a stressful situation drink alcohol to excess only if they possess just the short serotonin-transporter gene. If a positive correlation were to be found in abusers of drugs and alcohol and the presence of two copies of […]
