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Letters archive

Join the conversation in Âé¶¹´«Ã½'s Letters section, where readers can share their thoughts and opinions on articles and see responses from experts and enthusiasts across a range of science topics. To submit a letter, please see our terms and email letters@newscientist.com


5 August 2020

Leaders should be judged on their actions not style

From Andrew Glassner, Seattle, Washington, US

Your article contrasting two types of leadership – prestige and dominance – emphasised style over substance ( 4 July, p30 ). Someone's past and promised actions and agenda are important criteria when people consider that person for leadership. I would hope many would reject a leader who denied science, vilified immigrants and placed children in …

5 August 2020

Hadza diet also holds lessons for healthier life

From Craig Sams, Hastings, East Sussex, UK

In "How to sit", the authors suggest that squatting might maintain enough muscle activity to prevent triglyceride build up and lessen risk of cardiovascular disease ( 18 July, p28 ). They cite the Hadza of Tanzania as an example. The Hadza diet is very fibre-rich. The microbiomes of individuals have been studied and they have …

5 August 2020

Hadza diet also holds lessons for healthier life (2)

From Hillary Shaw, Newport, Shropshire, UK

The problem with how many of us sit may be a desk or table problem. If we are to squat on the floor to improve health, we would need desks that are much lower.

5 August 2020

How long can you shut borders to control a virus?

From Linda Phillips, Narrogin, Western Australia

You list places where the virus has almost been eliminated, including Iceland, Taiwan and New Zealand ( 25 July, p10 ). In Western Australia, the virus has been eliminated too – the few cases are inbound travellers who are in quarantine. As a result, life has returned to near normal. The hard lockdown of the …

5 August 2020

Blanket testing might beat covid-19 within weeks

From Graham Jones, Bridgham, Norfolk, UK

To avoid a coronavirus resurgence, the UK should follow the guidance of the World Health Organization and test more widely ( 18 July, p7 ). How about testing everyone every week and quarantine under supervision anybody who tests positive? I estimate this could be done for about 2 per cent of the cost of furloughing …

5 August 2020

Cosmology's fudge factors hint at a systematic error

From Guy Cox, St Albans, New South Wales, Australia

You have lately had some great articles by giants in the cosmology field, including Jim Peebles admitting that there are huge gaps in our understanding ( 6 June, p30 ). As a biologist, if I had to review results that required fudge factors in the way cosmology does (dark matter and dark energy, both lacking …

5 August 2020

For the record

Andrew Wight was the author of the article on links between drug cartels and deforestation in Guatemala ( 11 July, p17 ). Teijin is Elitac's partner company in developing a vibrating belt for navigation use ( 25 July, p15 ).

12 August 2020

Observations on the call for covid-19 slimming (2)

From John Davnall, Manchester, UK

In answering the question "Why are we getting heavier", one possible answer was missed. We expend energy just to maintain our body temperature. In the UK, this is usually to keep warm. With improvements in home heating, this demand on our bodies' energy consumption has been reduced. Have the habits of how much we eat …

12 August 2020

Why a second wave of coronavirus might be dire

From Gerben Wierda, Heerlen, The Netherlands

Christine Duffill argues that a second wave of coronavirus might not be as bad as the first ( Letters, 18 July ). Not because people that have fought it off will be immune, but because they have fought it off easily the first time, so will do so again. Sadly, this isn't at all certain. …

12 August 2020

Shout about it: ways to combat superspreading

From Iain Murdoch, Marton, Warwickshire, UK

You list people being indoors and in close proximity as factors in coronavirus "superspreading" events ( 8 August, p 10 ). A further factor is another typical behaviour at social events: the raising of voices at close quarters to make yourself heard. To stay safe, as the noise of conversation rises in a room, leave, …

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