From Keith Parkin, Wharncliffe Side, South Yorkshire, UK
The introduction to Abigail Beall's report that electrons may have subcomponents says “we go to incredible lengths: generating electrons in vast power stations” (9 September, p 38) and continues truthfully that it is “a shade embarrassing that we don't fully grasp what they are”. I always thought the electrons were already present in the metallic circuit and power stations' job was to persuade them to move. Anyway, that's what I have been trying to teach for many years.
