Letters archive

While I accept your positive idea of easing up on doom-mongering in messages about climate change, I fear your article doesn't address one of the great climate unknowns ( Leader, 19 August ). You state that "climate change is happening, and we can stop it if we choose to". But we really don't know how …

I am pleased you are encouraging a less catastrophist approach to the messaging on climate change. I despair to see young people frightened to the point of feeling hopeless about the future. Our message to them should be one of optimism. We will have technologies in place to reduce our influence on the rise in …

One less-discussed effect of human adaptation to rising temperatures could be a change in clothing fashions in some parts of the world, which may have wider repercussions. If we have more very hot and sunny days, will Western fashion begin to lose its appeal? Some may opt for longer, cooler dresses with arms covered, causing …

Your latest special issue on climate change was generally fair and objective, but other than a brief parenthetical reference to China's nuclear power programme, there was no recognition of nuclear power as a major and near-term contributor to reducing our carbon emissions. No "green" movement can be taken seriously without a full-throated endorsement of this …

In "Unnatural disasters" by Friederike Otto, we learn that Multnomah county in Oregon is suing fossil fuel companies for $50 billion in damages caused by a 2021 heatwave. Thanks to Google Street View, I was able to see the nature of the place. Everywhere I looked, I saw nice houses, many with visible air conditioning …

It has been more than 35 years since I saw it, but seeing Simon Ings recommend the film Threads brought up memories of how horrific this fictional account of nuclear war is. It should be required viewing for all politicians in a country with a nuclear arsenal ( 12 August, p 30 ).

I enjoyed your look at "the hidden powers of gesture". However, regarding the puzzle posed at the beginning – that people who listened to a debate between the US presidential nominees Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy felt Nixon won it, whereas those who watched felt Kennedy won – there may be an explanation other …

The story on the impact of ancient wildfires was interesting. When it comes to the threat today, most of what we do aims to stop them happening. This preserves fuel for when a wildfire does get going, making it potentially worse. We must think more strategically ( 26 August, p 9 ). Perhaps permanent settlements …

Glenda Dixon asks why we can't use warming oceans as a power source. Inevitable waste heat is the problem. Back in the 70s, a system used the warmth of surface water to vaporise a refrigerant and drive an electricity-generating turbine. The gas was then pumped to the cold depths to liquidise. The result is that …

So spiderlings kept in starvation eat siblings faster than those that are fed. No surprise! What is the purpose of such predictable research? It seems unnecessary and, surely, unethical ( 19 August, p 18 ).