Join the conversation in New Scientist's Letters section, where readers can share their thoughts and opinions on articles and see responses from experts and enthusiasts across a range of science topics. To submit a letter, please see our terms and email letters@newscientist.com
11 November 2009
From Michael Bellingham, Pet Food Manufacturers' Association
The interesting discussion in Kate Ravilious's article on the ecological impact of owning pets appeared to be based on a fundamental misconception about how pet food is produced (24 October, p 46) . The pet food industry makes use of material that is surplus to the requirements of the human food industry. In the UK, …
11 November 2009
From Nedim Buyukmihci, British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection
The extended online version of your report on drug trials carried out on pet dogs in the US quotes me as expressing some concern about the use of dogs suffering from cancer to test drugs intended for people ( newscientist.com/article/dn17969 ; 17 October, p 7 ). I would like to make it clear that I …
11 November 2009
From Hugh McLachlan
According to Rory Allen (17 October, p 31) , I was right to criticise Hume's and Dawkins's arguments against miracles but a misunderstanding of science mars my case (8 August, p 26). However, he attributes to me a view I did not express and do not hold. He suggests that I assume scientific laws are …
11 November 2009
From George Powell
Your report by Paul Marks makes a good case for virtual autopsies, which use 3D imaging of the exterior and CT scans of the interior of the body to create a faithful virtual double for diagnosis (24 October, p 22) . It is a promising tool that could add much information when used in combination …
11 November 2009
From David Giles
We cannot push asteroids away with nuclear explosions (26 September, p 30) . A nuclear explosion on Earth heats up and vaporises everything around it, producing a powerful shock wave. Space is a vacuum, so there is nothing to vaporise and heat except the bomb casing. All the energy from the nuclear explosion stays as …
11 November 2009
From Bernie Masters
The letter from Calverley Redfearn implies that to increase harvests of kangaroo meat in Australia, the animals would need to be farmed like sheep or cattle (17 October, p 31) . Several million humanely culled kangaroos are harvested across Australia, but only a small proportion of the meat produced is destined for human consumption, the …
11 November 2009
From Paul Stafford-Allen
Emma Riccobena presents something of an under-informed, alarmist take on issues surrounding the UK's National DNA Database (3 October, p 29) . As one of the "experts" to whom she refers, I would be delighted to respond. Riccobena's contention that a DNA database would lead to corrupt experts framing celebrities for money applies to any …
11 November 2009
• Our apologies to Jeff Greason for inserting the sentence "Stephen Hawking calls for moon and Mars colonies" into our interview with him. (24 October, p 27) . This was the result of an editing glitch. Greason made no such statement to our interviewer. • The DOI reference in our article reporting the use of …
Issue no. 2734 published 14 November 2009
