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2 October 2019
From David McKenzie, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Graham Lawton's discussion of the tension between action on global warming and electoral outcomes brings to mind a grim precedent ( 14 September, p 23 ). Newfoundland cod was massively overfished until the fishery collapsed in the early 1990s. Scientists warned that quotas needed to be reduced. Elected representatives didn't dare impose the required limitations …
2 October 2019
From Hillary Shaw, Newport, Shropshire, UK
Adam Vaughan lists challenges facing the UN Climate Action summit ( 14 September, p 6 ). One hurdle that plans for climate change reduction must overcome is that they often involve cutting things that people find enjoyable or convenient – cars and flights, for example. Humans are very short-termist as a species, as our continuing …
2 October 2019
From Fred Groenier, Don, Tasmania, Australia
It would be a shame if none of the three books on how the global economy is broken that Joanna Kavenna reviews mentioned the way that Australia dealt with the 2008 financial crisis ( 3 August, p 30 ). The Labor government of the time, headed by Kevin Rudd, recognised that employing trickle-down economics would …
2 October 2019
From Stephen Blyth, Roade, Northamptonshire, UK
Crispin Piney suggests ways to book flights to minimise your carbon footprint ( Letters , 24 August ). Couldn't we adapt the technology that launches planes from aircraft carriers to take-offs from land-based airports? Clean power to catapults could be supplied off the grid and, for some, the buzz would be great.
2 October 2019
From John Watson, Darlington, County Durham, UK
I would like to add to the argument for an ammonia-based fuel economy suggested by Phil Pope ( Letters , 14 September ). You have reported that researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a low-energy alternative to the Haber-Bosch process that makes ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen ( 27 April, p 8 ). This …
2 October 2019
From Michael Scott, Lochcarron, Ross-shire, UK
Were scientists worried in the 1970s that we were about to plunge into another full-blown icy spell? Jon Stern thinks not, and you suggest that it would have been better to say only a few were ( Letters , 10 August ). As part of my botany course in the early 1970s, I was taught …
2 October 2019
From David Holdsworth, Settle, North Yorkshire, UK
You give figures for road traffic casualties, without distinguishing between those who were in a vehicle and other victims 7 September, p 20 ). You also report a claim that advanced driver assistance systems could have the same kind of effect on fatality rates as the introduction of seat belts. But for whom? Some suggest …
2 October 2019
• The earliest of our photos of the Mer de Glace glacier was taken in 1919 ( 21 September, p 8 ). • The United Nations definition of "extreme poverty" is an income of US$1.90 per person per day adjusted to 2011 purchasing power parity ( 7 September, p 46 ). • Flaming hell. Harold …
9 October 2019
From Gerald Coles, Bristol, UK
Dawkins has usefully promoted scientific truth through his writing on evolution. We need to remember, however, that there is also historical truth, which differs from scientific truth in that history can't be repeated. It is important because it helps us to understand the cultures and countries around us and, we hope, to avoid serious future …
9 October 2019
From Richard Hambly, Sydney, Australia
It was good to read your interview with neuroscientist Dean Burnett and his conclusion that teenagers are how they are because it was evolutionarily useful ( 14 September, p 56 ). I've been going on about our adventurous species and the drive of the young towards risky behaviour and exciting experiences – looking to see …
