Letters to the Editor
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19702
The photo in this article looks to me more like a solar eclipse, complete with a clear-cut circular blackout in the center and flares. Mike PattersonGrand Rapids, Mich. The similarity is because astronomers used an occulting disk on the telescope to block the glare of the central star .—R. Cowen
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19701
This article makes two questionable assertions. First, Tyrannosaurus rex might well have had excellent binocular vision and been a predator, but still have had a handicap for the detection of motion as my cats do. Second, when Thomas R. Holtz Jr. states that binocular vision “almost certainly was a predatory adaptation,” that puts us binocular […]
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19700
If having biological older brothers correlates to homosexuality, as claimed in your article, then we would expect that in the past, when families were larger, there would be a greater proportion of homosexuals. Is there any evidence for this? Rick NorwoodMountain Home, Tenn. The article concludes with psychologist Daryl Bem inferring that male homosexuals are […]
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19699
Please check the picture in this article. The teeth shown are lower teeth. Theodore BlinderHavertown, Pa. The story and caption misidentified the teeth that had been filed down 4,300 years ago. They were the bottom-front teeth, shown at left in the photo. —B. Bower
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19698
Your article implies that there’s not an available cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. I was amazed to find no mention of vitamin B12. I can attest to the remarkable effect. Earl L. PyeOak Hills, Calif . Limited evidence suggests that vitamin B12 absorption may be impaired in some people with chronic fatigue syndrome. No published […]
- Humans
Letters from the July 1, 2006, issue of Science News
Looking into the future Your article states that farsightedness will be treated with these new electric lenses (“Switch-a-Vision: Electric spectacles could aid aging eyes,” SN: 4/22/06, p. 243). With some tweaking, could nearsightedness and astigmatism be treated as well? Could binoculars, telescopes, and microscopes use this technology? Roger CurnowGrand Rapids, Mich. Yes and yes, says […]
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19697
It’s true that as we grow older, many aggravations that we used to take seriously seem to lose edge. Some of us, however, become grumpy, cantankerous oldsters. It’s generally recognized that a positive outlook on life has a favorable effect on general health. If that’s correct, then the “mellow oldsters” might have been a self-selected […]
- Humans
Letters from the June 24, 2006, issue of Science News
Timely suggestions Clock time has long been out of step with the heavens (“To Leap or Not to Leap,” SN: 4/22/06, p. 248). Since the adoption of time zones in the 19th century, we have accepted disparities of as much as 30 minutes at the edges of the time zones (more in some cases since […]
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19696
The possible link between coffee consumption and reduced occurrence of alcohol-related cirrhosis seems worthy of further study. Although the beneficial effect may be due to any of a variety of coffee ingredients, it would seem rather straightforward to investigate a correlation in caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages. Wayne H. Warren Jr.Greenbelt, Md. Since tea consumption didn’t […]
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19695
Information, and especially pictures, of these strange mammals is always of interest. I wanted to check on the statement about “several dozen species in sub-Saharan Africa.” Alas, I was unable to do so. Science News hadn’t bothered to include either generic or specific names for any species discussed. How unfortunate to have this very important […]
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19694
I learned that there are three types of birds: eagles, ducks, and tweety birds. To claim that all modern birds evolved from aquatic ancestors based on a 110-million-year-old fossil seems presumptuous. John St. ClaireCardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif.
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19693
With the known link of asbestos to lung cancer, the new finding mentioned in this article that many other diseases can be caused by asbestos only serves as fodder for litigation, clogging of our legal system, and, unfortunately, more enrichment of trial lawyers instead of asbestos victims. Nelson MaransSilver Spring, Md.
