Bend the ear of politicians to tackle the climate crisis (1)
Your excellent feature on the climate emergency was helpful in including a “What can I do?” section 24 April, p 34. While the effect of a person’s lifestyle changes is dwarfed by the impacts that governments can make, if enough of us commit to reducing our carbon footprint, it can still accomplish a lot.
However, the best option for an individual is surely to collapse that power gap. Organisations such as and insist that the most significant action a person can take is to engage their elected representatives in the problems we face and their possible solutions.
Those of us who live in democracies often forget that the wheels of power are intended to be subject to our views and interventions. If you aren’t bending your government’s ear, then who is?
Bend the ear of politicians to tackle the climate crisis (2)
I urge readers who are concerned about climate change to take action with others and join some of the environmental, advocacy, political or faith-based organisations that are working on this critical problem. This has many benefits, including developing a sense of community and solidarity that can counteract the growing issue of climate anxiety.
Algae can make biofuel without trashing Earth (1)
In your look at the links between biodiversity and climate change, you state that “measures to limit warming often don’t take biodiversity into account 10 April, p 41. Some, such as the push for biofuels, directly harm it.” However, microalgal systems offer significant opportunities to produce renewable biofuels without affecting farming or biodiversity.
Algae can make biofuel without trashing Earth (2)
Of all the arguments for GM crops, the idea that growing them intensively will release farmland for wildlife is the one I find least persuasive. It seems to be based on the idea that once we grow a certain quantity of food, we will say “that’s enough”.
The evidence suggests otherwise: modern farming already produces “enough” food. Michael Le Page points out that if we all ate a plant-based diet, we could allow three-quarters of farmland to return to a more natural state. Instead, we choose to produce less efficient, more luxurious food. I see no indication that we have reached the limit of our ability to consume more.
Aliens, if they visit us, really will be green
Your story on the high likelihood of alien civilisations experiencing a climate crisis akin to ours seems to presume that all intelligent life will be destructive 10 April, p 12. This is only true if life tends to follow the religious notion that a planet is a gift from god to use as it wishes. The view of many Aboriginal Australians, that we are responsible for the land, is better. This bestows nature with a god-like status.
I suspect an advanced alien civilisation could only exist long enough to conquer deep space by adopting that view. If aliens did visit us, I expect they would not be destructive invaders, but wise and respectful scientists.
Half doses could help make vaccines go further
With the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, some evidence that half the current standard dose would be at least as effective 1 May, p 7. In view of the desperate shortage of vaccines in India at the moment, perhaps we could save lives by stretching supplies of that vaccine, if it were established that a lower dose was safe and worked well.
Sentient trees? Best respect your elders
So trees may have a form of sentience 1 May, p 39. Now I know that if I have to cut any elder, I must apologise and explain to the plant or face the consequences. Elder may or may not be sentient, but folklore says it is witchy and potentially vengeful. Best not take the chance.
Black hole disaster in our backyard is very unlikely
Martin Watson and Tim Johnson worry about a possible black hole orbiting the sun colliding with it or another, similar black hole Letters, 24 April. In order for it to hit the sun, the very large angular momentum that the black hole would have as it orbits would need to be brought close to zero. The chance of that is very small.
Similarly, the likelihood of two planetary mass black holes colliding in our neighbourhood is very low. If a black hole has the mass of Earth, say, then its diameter is about 9 millimetres.
Cooling paint may help ease water shortages (1)
An ultra white paint has been invented and suggested as a means of cooling houses as potently as air conditioning 24 April, p 19.
However, perhaps it could also be used to provide a supply of fresh water. A horizontal, slightly conical metal sheet that was painted white on top would cool and condense water vapour beneath it. With the point of the cone facing downwards, the condensate would run down and be available for collection.
Cooling paint may help ease water shortages (2)
Is there a flaw in the idea of using super white, cooling paint on buildings in some places? Yes, sunlight will be deflected in summer so less air conditioning will be needed, but what about in winter? Presumably, its effect may mean more heating is needed then.
Nuclear plants can now deal with coastal breaches
Steven King worries about possible tsunamis affecting nuclear power plants in the UK Letters, 10 April.
However, much of the nature of the Fukushima disaster in Japan resulted from a design that took no account of the possibility that sea defences might be breached. Emergency power supplies were vulnerable to inundation and were rendered inoperable just when they were most needed.
This mistake isn’t being made again, with all nuclear power stations planned in the UK (and all of the ones I am aware of in other coastal locations) having to show that they can remain safe when sea defences are breached.