Letters to the Editor
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19801
This article describes an elegant study. I found the 7 percent addiction-susceptible figure interestingly similar to the 10 percent of people who drink alcohol who become addicted. I wonder if similar percentages of other species are impulsive and vulnerable. Ellen WaggenerPoughkeepsie, N.Y.
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19800
E. Fred Schubert and his colleagues are to be congratulated for developing an improved antireflective coating. But the coating would not make a lens “absorb” more light. Rather, it would help the lens “propagate” the light. Nathaniel L. CohenSan Diego, Calif. “Absorb” probably was a poor word choice in reference to a lens. The point […]
- Humans
Letters from the March 3, 2007, issue of Science News
Up, down, around I haven’t seen any reference to the similarity between the “morphing” wing (“Ahead of the Curve: Novel morphing wing may reduce aircraft’s fuel use,” SN: 12/23&30/06, p. 406) and the “warping” wing that the Wright brothers used on their gliders and powered aircraft. It seems we’ve come full circle in our quest […]
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19799
This article reports on new age dates for Clovis sites. It may be of interest to your readers that the dates given (11,050 to 10,900 years ago) are in “radiocarbon years” and are not in real or “calendar years.” As a result of variations in the production of carbon-14 in the atmosphere through time, radiocarbon […]
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19798
Your article shows that meerkats bear an uncanny resemblance to human beings. We, too, have an innate sense of responsibility for our group and individually commit acts of unspeakable violence. John HagerhorstFrederick, Md.
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19797
Your article mentioned choline as a possible treatment. This is not a new idea, as I found while searching the Science News Web site: In the June 22, 1935, issue, choline is reported as “a new aid in controlling diabetes.” Dr. C.H. Best, codiscoverer of insulin, reported the new finding. Daniel VanceCleveland, Tenn.
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19796
In regards to the findings noted in this article, I find it hard to rule out an interpretation that would not require anything similar to planning. This could simply be pattern completion, similar to building a nest or bower. The animal is not necessarily planning, but simply filling in missing pieces. Robert FizzellBeloit, Wis.
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19795
Fractal characteristics associated with Jackson Pollack’s paintings are interesting, but to determine authenticity, it would seem that two propositions would have to be proved: first, that Pollack’s paintings always had fractal character; and second, that only Pollack’s paintings had fractal character. Both seem highly dubious. Steve JohnsonPrairie Village, Kan. In doing drip or splash painting, […]
- Humans
Letters from the February 24, 2007, issue of Science News
No piece of cake The new mathematical method for equitable cake sharing (“A Fair Slice: New method makes for equitable eating,” SN: 12/16/06, p. 390) actually leads to a version of Zeno’s paradox. The problem is that the cake remnant left after the referee gives the two eaters their respective, equally valued pieces is no […]
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19794
Finding CO2 levels that are 2,500 times higher in 5,000-year-old fulgurites than in modern samples, scientists have speculated that the extra CO2 resulted from vaporization of organic material by lightning. Could some of this gas reflect elevated atmospheric CO2? And if so, could current laments regarding “unprecedented levels” of CO2 be insupportable? John M. CorboyMililani, […]
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19793
I enjoyed reading this article about the marine census that’s been taking place, but I was waiting for some mention of the organisms’ parasites. Granted, worms are not glamour-pusses, but they are fascinating creatures. If we want a complete survey, they must be included. Ann GardnerLincoln, Neb.
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19792
This article points out that vital intrinsic neural activities may in part stem from a person’s random thoughts and daydreams, or from neural efforts to balance the opposing signals of cells simultaneously trying to jack up and cool down brain activity, or could occur during an internal process of generating predictions about upcoming environmental demands […]
