Letters archive

Dan Hind's article about the democratisation of research funding allocation, and the ensuing correspondence, raises provocative questions about who chooses what research gets done (11 December 2010, p 26) . However, it fails to take into account the strides already made in this direction. Since losing my son to vCJD in 2001, I have been …

I wonder whether the solution to the Fermi paradox – that if there are intelligent aliens, why are there no signs of them – might be that a civilisation capable of colonising the stars may consider it, on the whole, wiser not to do so (5 February, p 40) . After all, the global population …

"Tales from an alternate Earth" (22 January, p 38) made fascinating reading, especially the scenario of our planet having two moons. One consequence of this, not mentioned in the article, is the variety of different eclipses that could occur. As well as the usual solar and lunar eclipses, we might be treated to spectacular displays …

I read Linda Geddes's account of how depression and mental illness might be catching with great interest (15 January, p 30) . It made me wonder if researchers have considered similar work into chronic fatigue syndrome. The effects of cytokines on the human body during times of illness closely match the symptoms reported by those …

I would like to congratulate you on your suggestion that "to find out if DNA can be teleported, others must replicate this work" (15 January, p 5) . Investigating heretical ideas reflects the true nature of science: a curiosity and passion to explore and discover. Do those who suggest that such speculative work should never …

I was surprised that in your otherwise excellent article about the basis for belief in vampires (29 January, p 40) , Paul Collins made no mention of porphyria – the disease many people believe started the vampire legend. Porphyria is an incurable genetic disease, the symptoms of which align perfectly with those ascribed to vampires. …

In Jo Marchant's article designed to debunk theories about Tutankhamun (15 January, p 42) , it is a shame that a couple of myths surrounding his probable father, Akhenaten, seem to have been perpetuated. Probably the most mythologised character in history after Jesus, Akhenaten was, I believe, neither a heretic nor a monotheist. The idea …

In your discussion about the ability of animals to develop a vocabulary, you mention Alex the grey parrot, who could make sentences out of about 100 words (25 December 2010, p 8) . That Alex did more than parrot the words he learned is best exemplified by an exchange recounted by his trainer, Irene Pepperberg, …

When I read in Feedback (8 January) of a reader who was told that 2,147,483,646 people were ahead of him in a waiting list, it brought two questions to mind. First, how many other New Scientist readers immediately recognised this number as 2 31 – 2? And secondly, of all the things I learned at …