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25 May 2022
From Klára Ertl, Barcelona, Spain
Denis Watkins wrote that the loss of hope for a stable future amid crises such as climate change only leads to a pessimistic mindset, and that there is no leadership towards a solution ( Letters, 16 April ). I couldn't disagree more. I am 27 and many of my generation have realised too late that …
25 May 2022
From Tim Stevenson, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, UK
The drive to categorise kinds of intelligence and better recognise those of other animals is an important one ( 14 May, p 42 ). However, I don't think the periodic table analogy is good. It isn't obvious that there would be an underlying structure akin to that imposed by quantum mechanics on the elements. Ute …
25 May 2022
From Bryn Glover, Kirkby Malzeard, North Yorkshire, UK
US-based columnist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein laments the over-representation of science on TV as people in lab coats and chalkboards full of equations ( 14 May, p 28 ). I can think of more than a dozen scientists who regularly appear on UK television screens presenting the subject in highly accessible and enjoyable formats. Perhaps she should …
25 May 2022
From Simon Stocker, London, UK
In your look at the "blue acceleration", the ramping up of exploitation of the oceans, it seemed to me to be a forgone conclusion that we will raid the deep oceans for minerals and strip the seas of fish and anything else we can get our hands on, regardless of the consequences ( 23 April, …
25 May 2022
From Malcolm Bacchus, London, UK
Barry Cash wonders if he could insulate the solid walls of his house by attaching old clothes in plastic bottles to the outside ( Letters, 14 May ). Any suggestion – and many professional solutions – for such external wall insulation will look awful. Internal wall insulation is better, but can still ruin the interior …
25 May 2022
The president of El Salvador is Nayib Bukele ( 14 May, p 12 ) The endangered vaquita porpoise lives in the Gulf of California ( 14 May, p 21 )
1 June 2022
From Christophe Bourges, Cambridge, UK
Following an article on the destruction of the Amazon, John Neimer commented that Extinction Rebellion (XR) should target the Brazilian embassy in the UK, instead of "disrupting ordinary citizens' lives" ( Letters, 7 May ). XR is an international movement and is fighting in Brazil against deforestation and other issues, alongside similar groups. In the …
1 June 2022
From Peter Reid, Plymouth, Devon, UK
When it comes to bug splat counts, can we take it that allowance has been made for more aerodynamic cars in the past 17 years? Or the increased numbers of taller cars, SUVs in particular?
1 June 2022
From Guy Cox, Sydney, Australia
You report on the fate of the Amazon, writing that "the accelerated pace of deforestation comes despite Brazil having promised to halt deforestation by 2030" ( 14 May, p 7 ). Surely this is a wrong choice of words. It should read: "The accelerated pace of deforestation comes because of Brazil having promised to halt …
1 June 2022
From Robert Willis, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
I also object to the notion of using CRISPR gene editing to "make" hypoallergenic cats ( Letters, 23 April ). Haven't we learned anything from the suffering we inflicted by breeding dogs as if they were accessories? While I sympathise with those who have allergic symptoms wishing to cohabit with cats, one doesn't have a …
