Subscribe now

Letter: Function unknown

Published 5 September 1998

From John Hinde

You might be interested in the questions raised at the tail end of an
introduction to the film Carry On At Your Convenience, part of a season
of Carry On films on ABC TV in Australia:

” . . . And, talking about what we so oddly call `toilet’ bowls, not far back
a New Scientist story was pondering the things that humanity will leave
behind when we’re gone”
(“Buried treasure”, 27 June, p 26).

“It puzzled me that it never pondered on those strange, big, trumpet-shaped,
indestructible ceramic bowls that we’ll have to leave behind in billions. Will
the visiting aliens coax strange tunes out of them while they puzzle over why we
needed so many and where we met to play on them?”

jango@ozemail.com.au

Issue no. 2150 published 5 September 1998

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop