Letters archive

London While I agree with the broad points made in your article on motorcycle messengers, I note with some concern you neglected to state the percentage of motorcycle accidents not caused by the motorcyclist ( "Messengers of Death", 5 October, p 14 ). Of the 48 rider deaths in 1988, how many were the fault …

London This industry is now a significant part of the communications infrastructure of this country and is unlikely to go away. Can you imagine what congestion and pollution would be caused if four-wheeled vehicles were substituted for the two-wheeled variety? The issue of the damage to children's health and to the environment caused by society's …

London Your editorial discussed a paper on the health effects of radiation exposure that was presented at the Uranium Institute's annual symposium ( 28 September, p 3 ). However, the editorial failed to point out that this paper was one of four presented in a session on radiation. The session was held to mark the …

Maryland, US The debates about standards for digital TV make no mention about using the existing standards for computer monitors ( "A thousand channels in every home", 10 August, p 32 ). There would seem to be a number of advantages. They are already being made in huge numbers, at low prices, with excellent resolution …

Edinburgh John Etherington's useful comment about revitalising "old-fashioned" analytical methods could certainly be the answer for preserving historical plastics ( Letters, 28 September, p 64 ). Museums worldwide are worried that amongst their vast and varied collections, an unknown percentage of plastic artefacts could be made of cellulose nitrate which is deteriorating. Rather than wait …

Thaxted, Essex I was interested to see your reference to a new type of computer virus that resides in the macros of document files ( Feedback, 12 October, p 84 ). Because the viruses do this, they are often missed by virus scans, as most people only scan executable files. You will only detect them …

Peppermint Grove, Western Australia Michael Rego might have saved himself a lot of trouble had he tried this method of getting his cellphone and Global Positional System receiver to work again ( Feedback, 28 September ). When the batteries of my electric shaver run down, I freshen up the ends of the batteries and their …

Cambridge Courtney contends that "the scientific method is based on, and developed from, the methods of early Christian theology". He continues: "And this is not surprising because most early scientists were Christian theologians." Actually, scientific empiricism was alive and kicking in Ancient Greece sometime prior to the birth of Christ. Aristotle, credited by some (Dante …

Baulkham Hills, New South Wales Peter Rowland's insistence that science and religion must always be at odds is highly presumptive and totally breaches his insistence on the supreme value of "perpetual doubt". The only sensible hypothesis is that science and religion are not in conflict, since science cannot prove or disprove the existence of God, …

London It is astonishing that a debate over subliminal advertising can still continue in serious journals (New Scientist, Science, 28 September, p 20 ). More than 12 years ago, James Vicary, the author and perfector of this influential con on regulators and advertisers alike, admitted to Advertising Age that he had fabricated the research to …

Reigate, Surrey One reason for ships not discharging gases underwater ( Letters, 12 October, p 49 ) may be because of the danger of water backing up the exhaust pipe and filling the engine if the engine stops. A partial vacuum would result in the cooling of the very hot exhaust gases, the condensation of …

Australia It is not a good idea to make assumptions about who "God" might be without distinguishing the experiences which (continue to) inform this word with meaning, and the orthodoxies which enshrine a meaning regardless of experience. The church and science may be at odds, but the church is not religion.

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire In appealing to the untestability of the generality of the laws of physics, Courtney betrays a profound confusion over the difference between principle and practice in the philosophy of science and the nature of faith. A statement such as "the laws of physics are the same everywhere" is testable. You simply go everywhere …

London The new type of roof for sports stadiums must have the Roman emperors writhing in their graves ( Technology, 21 September, p 24 ). Over 2000 years ago, Roman theatres and amphitheatres had precisely this type of covering, over the stage in the case of theatres and over the tiers of spectators in the …

Reading, Berkshire The absurdity of the illogical knows no boundary ( Letters, 28 September, p 63 ). Science is based on theory supported by observation and experiment. It is perfectly reasonable to assume, as long as the assumption is based on supporting facts. We believe the laws of physics apply throughout the Universe because observation …

Padua, Italy David Grimes's claims about cholesterol ( Letters, 14 September, p 51 ), are both scientifically wrong and socially dangerous—because they may lead people to eat ad libitum, thereby increasing their risk of coronary heart disease. He claims that "dietary manipulation is of no benefit" in lowering cholesterol. This sounds grotesque in view of …

London "No detail is forgotten" when it comes to designing a deep nuclear waste repository, say Julia West and Ian McKinley ("Some bugs like it hot", 5 October p 42 ). But where are the authorities they claim are being so cautious? West and McKinley state that the site of a deep repository should be …