Only degrowth can save the global climate now
I welcome your editorial highlighting the lack of progress on climate change (Leader,21 May). It is true that other global problems have made progress more difficult, but it seems that many world leaders have seized upon these factors as an excuse to delay or cancel their promised actions.
Often, they place national or political interests first, or invoke the need for economic growth to solve such problems. This clearly shows that most of them still don’t get it. Far from economic growth, we need degrowth. Conventional economists will condemn this, but the simple truth is that, globally, we must aim to consume radically less than we do at present.
Leaping to the defence of Solly Zuckerman
Solly Zuckerman, referred to as “the discredited 20th-century British zoologist,” was, in fact, a remarkable man and polymath (7 May, p 42).
After a medical degree at University College London, he chose to lecture in anatomy at Oxford, where he was an early proponent of the idea that egg development in mammals is largely completed before birth. This idea is now widely accepted, though not without controversy.
During the second world war, his anatomical expertise was sought to study the physiological and psychological effects of bomb blasts, resulting in him becoming an adviser on strategic air raids. He strongly opposed civilian bombings. In the process, he also became a pioneer of what was then called operational research, the basis for modern management science. After the war, he promoted science in public policy and opposed nuclear arms proliferation. He also encouraged public scientific literacy and urged scientists to consider the social and environmental impacts of their work 鈥� values that, I suspect, 快猫短视频 readers and writers would endorse.
We fight for climate on all fronts, Brazil included
Following an article on the destruction of the Amazon, John Neimer commented that Extinction Rebellion (XR) should target the Brazilian embassy in the UK, instead of “disrupting ordinary citizens’ lives” (Letters, 7 May).
XR is an international movement and is fighting in Brazil against deforestation and other issues, alongside similar groups. In the UK, where most forests have already been felled, the average citizen’s carbon footprint is about 10 tonnes (carbon dioxide equivalent), whereas it should be around 2 tonnes to be sustainable, meaning there is a lot of room for local improvement.
Questions on the bug splat method for insect health (1)
Your report states that bug splats on UK cars declined by 58 per cent per car-mile travelled between 2004 and 2021, and suggests that this was due to declining bug numbers (14 May, p 23). Would it not also be dependent on traffic density? That is, if the number of car-miles driven had doubled, in a world with constant bug levels, then the splat count per car would surely fall by nearly as much.
Questions on the bug splat method for insect health (2)
When it comes to bug splat counts, can we take it that allowance has been made for more aerodynamic cars in the past 17 years? Or the increased numbers of taller cars, SUVs in particular?
Do ancient martial arts tap into our fascia?
The article “Your second skin” provides a very insightful overview of current research into fascia tissue (14 May, p 38). I was intrigued by the suggestion that it could be classified as a sensory organ.
Anyone who has practised tai chi or qigong for a number of years may have experienced this as the feeling of “qi flowing” 鈥� any sensation from a slight tingle to a deep ache 鈥� during stretching and movement. I have used these methods to tame upper-back muscle spasms, which lasted a week or two when I was in my 20s. I am now over 50 and, at worst, I am uncomfortable for a day or two after a flare-up.
I hope researchers investigate these ancient practices to evaluate their effectiveness in moving and stretching fascia tissue.
The alternative view on deforestation pledge
You report on the fate of the Amazon, writing that “the accelerated pace of deforestation comes despite Brazil having promised to halt deforestation by 2030” (14 May, p 7). Surely this is a wrong choice of words. It should read: “The accelerated pace of deforestation comes because of Brazil having promised to halt deforestation by 2030”. President Jair Bolsonaro is clearly determined to clear as much forest as he can before having to honour his promise.
Designers should factor in colour of light too
Your look at the psychological effects of design reminded me of an interesting experience in 1988 (16 April, p 44).
The article mentioned that the level of light can affect thinking and problem-solving, but there is no mention of differences in the wavelength of lighting. At World Expo 88 in Brisbane, Australia, there was an exhibit that involved walking through a series of coloured plastic domes: green, blue, purple, red and yellow.
I wasn’t surprised to find the blue lighting was the most pleasant, creating peace and calm. But the yellow caused an uncomfortable feeling, and I was beginning to feel nauseous by the time I left it.
The trouble with CRISPR cats: round two
I also object to the notion of using CRISPR gene editing to “make” hypoallergenic cats (Letters, 23 April). Haven’t we learned anything from the suffering we inflicted by breeding dogs as if they were accessories?
While I sympathise with those who have allergic symptoms wishing to cohabit with cats, one doesn’t have a “right” to an animal companion. If medication and preventative caution can’t alleviate symptoms 鈥� as it does with the four cats in my family 鈥� you need to find alternative pets.