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4 July 2018
From Cedric Griffiths, Perth, Western Australia
I suggest that the archaeologists who found "surfer's ear" at the Körtik Tepe site look for evidence of metal-working in and around the village. A possible reason for frequent diving into a cold river may have been to hunt placer gold nuggets, rather than fish. A few days' walk from Körtik Tepe, there are gold-bearing …
4 July 2018
From Kris Szajdzicki, Baildon, West Yorkshire, UK
Nick Hunn describes the myriad pricing plans specified for smart meters in the UK (Letters, 16 June ). I was one of many experts the UK government collected to advise it on the introduction of smart meters. I was also a member of a body advising the European Commission, the only "demand side" representative alongside …
4 July 2018
From Colin Foan, Brentwood, Essex, UK
The condemnation of "smart" electricity meters continues . As with all technology, there is nothing wrong with smart meters in their own right; what is important is how they are used. The use of electricity has changed from being a luxury available to a few rich people just 100 years ago to much of the …
4 July 2018
Physiology lectures in the 1960s referenced 'Standard Man'... race not specified Sue Perrin wishes things had moved on when it comes to including black men, say, in medical trials ( 30 June, p 15 )
4 July 2018
From Tom Potts, Holsworthy Beacon, Devon, UK
Peter Fairley mentions storing energy by converting surplus electricity into hydrogen by using it to split water ( 9 June, p 26 ). This also produces oxygen. If this were used to replace air in engines, their thermodynamic efficiency could be improved, as the burning temperature of the fuel increases and it no longer has …
4 July 2018
From Nathaniel Hellerstein, San Francisco, US
You speak of "renewable energy" . I prefer to call it "owned power". If you buy a diesel generator, then you have to keep buying fuel: fuel-based energy is "rented power". When you buy a solar panel, you own a flow of electrical power. It is better to own than to rent, for independence and …
4 July 2018
From Nicholas Staveley Stanley, Coventry, West Midlands, UK
You call for us to see sweetness in football's disorder (Leader, 16 June ). As a lifelong sports participant and enthusiast, recognised for services to motorsport, and with a great interest in physics, I take exception. Objecting to the VAR (video assistant referee) system is tacitly approving cheating in sport. And cheats only cheat themselves, …
4 July 2018
From Cedric Lynch, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
Michael Le Page mentions the genetically modified Flavr Savr tomato ( 26 May, p 28 ). This was a commercial failure because it was never sold to the public except in tins or as tomato paste , making pointless its quality of keeping for three weeks after ripening.
4 July 2018
From Martin Greenwood, Stirling, Western Australia
Sam Wong reports research into fur seals' sleep and mentions the hypothesis that REM sleep serves to warm up the brain ( 16 June, p 16 ). This should be easy to test. If warming is important, a given animal should have more REM sleep in a colder environment than in a hot one. It …
4 July 2018
From Mark Crutchley, Norwich, UK
Alice Klein highlights the wide range of issues associated with the production of clothing, from plastics to pesticides, chemicals energy and water ( 16 June, p 22 ). One unequivocal fact, however, is that less is better. The fewer clothes people buy, the fewer resources are consumed in their production. The fashion industry will struggle …
