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20 February 2019
From Colin Pritchard, Southampton, UK
Kayt Sukel reports that cognitive skills decline after the age of 45 ( 26 January, p 30 ). But other skills develop: the ability to be reflective and, given an open mind, to see the bigger picture. I am still employed. My publications show I have never been more creative ever since I hit 65. …
20 February 2019
From Lance Wayman, Torrance, California, US
Debora MacKenzie reports a connection between Alzheimer's and gum disease ( 2 February, p 6 ). Have researchers studied the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in dentists and dental hygienists, exploring the assumption that they take better care of their teeth and gums?
20 February 2019
From Les Walsh, Sydney, Australia
In Australia, we have a national health scheme (NHS) that functions tolerably, but excludes most diseases of the mouth, teeth and gums. We are pretty much on our own and required to pay in full for private dental work, although private health insurance can somewhat defray the high cost. People for whom such insurance is …
27 February 2019
From Sam Edge, Ringwood, Hampshire, UK
Spinney says that a Neanderthal home preferably backed onto solid rock and had at least one entrance. Preferably? I'm not sure I'd want a home that has fewer than one entrance.
27 February 2019
From Rosemary Sharples, Sydney, Australia
I'm glad to see that someone else has noticed that there is a difference between pain and suffering. You report that silencing brain cells in mice can make them no longer care about pain ( 26 January, p 19 ). The first time I was given opioids, I waited for the pain to go away, …
27 February 2019
From Chris deSilva, Dianella, Western Australia
Graham Lawton's seven steps to save the planet seem to rely on systems for carbon capture and storage ( 8 December 2018, p 31 ). The financial and energy costs of storing several cubic kilometres of liquid carbon dioxide a year will be considerable. I suppose we could turn the former Texas oilfields into a …
27 February 2019
From Tom Dillon, London, UK
Lawton's seven steps include consuming less meat. But there is a world of difference between intensive, high-input, grain-fed meat dependent on fossil fuels and fertiliser, and small-scale, locally sold, naturally grazed, pasture-fed meat. Big herbivores play a critical role in creating ecological diversity and enriching soil organic matter, which supports other animal life and absorbs …
27 February 2019
From Anthony Richardson, Ironbridge, Shropshire, UK
Jane Rawson takes a generalised shot at economic growth as a barrier to climate action (Letters, 12 January ). Maybe the two aren't so incompatible. While the notion of infinite economic growth is illogical, developing technologies, soft and hard, will be the major instrument of climate change moderation. And Robert Solow won the 1987 Nobel …
27 February 2019
From Geoff Convery, Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, UK
Richard Harris is surprised that, while one in 20 participants in a study carried the gene for either cystic fibrosis or spinal muscular atrophy, only one in 40 has a partner who also carries one (Letters, 2 February ). You note that there were just 15 such couples. If an explanation is needed, it may …
27 February 2019
From Scott McNeil, Banstead, Surrey, UK
Yvaine Ye discussed pitfalls of open-plan offices ( 12 January, p 33 ) and readers expanded on them (Letters, 2 February ). Another is the issue of temperature. I am surprised how many buildings have air-conditioning systems that can't cope with open-plan spaces behind expanses of glass, so occupants of the south side are baking …
