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24 June 2020
From William Cole, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, UK
You report that there are already 26,000 potential volunteers willing to take part in a "human challenge" trial for a covid-19 vaccine, in which they would be exposed to the virus post-vaccination to test its efficacy 6 June, p 10 . However, as indicated, ethical concerns are likely to prevent or delay such trials. Given …
24 June 2020
From Stephen Graham, Ottery St Mary, Devon, UK
Your fascinating articles about dark matter, in particular "Have we got the universe right?" by Jim Peebles, prompt me to suggest that we should consider more closely how much mass has been drawn into black holes since their inception and what has happened to it 6 June, p 30 . Some scientists suspect that dark …
24 June 2020
From David Aldred, Elloughton, East Yorkshire, UK
Annalee Newitz wrote interestingly about our general desire, in this lockdown hell, to experience vigilance and amazement 6 June, p 21 . They cite as an example being able to watch the daily life of a family of falcons unfold through a webcam, and say that this reflects a need to vicariously experience natural processes …
24 June 2020
From Ian Simmons, Thorpe Bay, Essex, UK
The oddly satisfying videos that Newitz enjoys brought to mind videos that are said to provoke an autonomous sensory median response (ASMR). The audio and tactile triggers in ASMR footage that apparently give some people a pleasurable sensation leave me cold, but I do get something close to that from looking at things like robots …
24 June 2020
From Julian Higman, Wantage, Oxfordshire, UK
Peebles is correct to say that physics is incomplete. It probably always will be. So, have we got the universe right? Well, the short answer must be that we don't know. But there are good reasons for suspecting that we haven't, and that the big bang theory is wrong. As we get more and …
1 July 2020
From Peter Borrows, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, UK
As a scientist, I tend to see inverse laws all over the place, and am wondering how they feature when it comes to the transmission risk of the coronavirus ( 30 May, p 10 ). As a first approximation, does the risk of virus transmission with social distance follow an inverse, an inverse square or …
1 July 2020
From James Edmondson, Ilchester, Somerset, UK
Your coverage of developments that could bring us closer to controllable, sustainable fusion power reminded me that our attempt to develop this energy source is undoubtedly the best example of Hofstadter's law ( 13 June, p 30 ). This states: "It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law."
1 July 2020
From Brian Pollard, North Hill, Cornwall, UK
The problem with fusion power is that both major designs now in operation – laser confinement and toroidal plasma containment – are far from ideal for a practical power plant. In order to generate fusion power continually and remove the heat generated, a third, and completely different, design, yet to be envisaged, will be required. …
1 July 2020
From Guy Cox, Sydney, Australia
Nick Bostrom's reprinted article, which discussed the idea that our reality may be a simulation, doesn't begin promisingly when he says "we are made of the same stuff as mud" ( 6 June, p 46 ). Well, not so much – the essential components of mud are alumino-silicate clay minerals and these play no part …
1 July 2020
From Toby Pereira, Rayne, Essex, UK
It would be impossible to simulate a reality as detailed as the one we are in (at least in real time) because to do so would require all the resources that the universe contains. It is still possible to have a simulation of sorts requiring less resources by concentrating more of its power on the …
