Healthy scepticism over complementary medicine
I share Clare Wilson’s scepticism of complementary medicine, “superfoods” and magical thinking, but the World Health Organization (WHO) summit on alternative therapies was justified. Two of Western medicine’s most important therapies, and , were first discovered by traditional healers. We shouldn’t pre-emptively reject these treatments, even if most of them lack efficacy (9 September, p 22).
However, in parallel, we must educate the public to be more cautious and to avoid conflating “natural” with safe and effective. The WHO should offer even-handed guidance.
Summon the turtles in the fight for clean rivers
With rivers polluted by sewage, frequent drought amid climate change, associated fish deaths, organic waste and low oxygen levels all adding to the woes facing UK rivers and other water bodies, natural measures to address the worst impacts are surely going to become of increasing importance (12 August, p 36).
The argument for beavers in ameliorating water flows and creating cleaner water is well rehearsed, but other approaches may be needed. The UK’s once-native turtle (Emys orbicularis) was lost several thousand years ago and is known only from one fossil site in East Anglia. But in Europe, these animals are still found, often in high densities. They can breed in rotting vegetation or sandy beaches. Most notably, they are air-breathing aquatic vertebrates that can thrive in warm and low-oxygen waters, feeding on carrion and rotting vegetation. The turtles may play a role in recycling such waste in rivers, lakes and ponds.
An exploration of the possible impact of this turtle on water quality is overdue. As with beavers, it may play an important role in supporting our rivers in times of stress and low flows. There is clearly a niche role for an air-breathing aquatic reptile!
Climate-trashing era began with white supremacists
Regarding the debate over the start of the Anthropocene Epoch, the era of human influence on planetary systems, perhaps it wasn’t to do with geology at all. Before we created technologies that led to the Anthropocene, a change in attitude had to happen. I would pinpoint this as occurring in the 16th century, when white Europeans came to believe that they were superior, a conviction that underlaid the industrial-scale slave trade. They presumed they owned Earth. As its owners, they felt they had the right to treat the planet and its people in whatever way they wanted (9 September, p 21).
Aliens might advance without discovering fire (1)
The article on how some alien worlds may lack the conditions for the discovery of fire suggests that smelting ores to extract metals is probably a prerequisite for the evolution of advanced societies. Yet it neglects the possibility of enzyme or catalyst-mediated manufacturing. For example, one of the hardest and longest-lasting materials in nature is dental enamel, and that only requires a temperature of 35掳C (95掳F) or less to produce. So, maybe there is hope for civilisations without fire (26 August, p 17).
Aliens might advance without discovering fire (2)
Your story states: “Lab experiments have found that combustion can’t fully occur in atmospheres with oxygen levels below about 18 per cent.” Under what conditions of temperature and pressure does this hold? We can’t assume alien atmospheres will always be at pressures and temperatures similar to Earth’s.
Don't forget this twist to the standard model
Though I enjoyed your recent look at the standard model of particle physics, I was surprised the “How to break the standard model” section didn’t mention teleparallel gravity, whose “twistors” may unify the electromagnetic force with that of gravity (9 September, p 36).
Fruit flies just wanna have fun? Maybe not
A study suggests fruit flies may prefer to sit on a rotating carousel for pure enjoyment. It could be argued that flying barrel rolls and loops would be more entertaining, if fruit flies like to have fun. Isn’t it more likely that the flies choose the carousel for other reasons? For example, it might be easier to take off and avoid predators due to the airflow on a moving carousel (26 August, p 13).
The battle to get drugs for covid-19 in the US
Annalee Newitz, who has had covid-19, says that US doctors are “leery of prescribing [Paxlovid]. No one is quite sure why.” Perhaps the doctors have prior experience of this antiviral? It seems that it is effective at relieving symptoms and possibly in controlling infectivity, but there have been some reports of the virus rebounding after a week or so (2 September, p 22).
For spear throwing, the Woomera was a winner
I had never heard of an atlatl, the ancient weapon in your recent story. But Australians may have heard of the rocket base developed at , aptly named after an Aboriginal spear-launching device of the same name. This weapon is possibly of far greater antiquity than the one examined at Kent State University in Ohio (2 September, p 10).
High time to get used to using less energy (1)
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High time to get used to using less energy (2)
As the years go by, it is increasingly apparent that nuclear fusion may, one distant day, become a reality, but that it is most unlikely to be a significant player in resolving our immediate climate woes. The root problem, I believe, is that everyone expects every joule of energy we currently consume from fossil fuels will be replaced by a joule from renewables. Quite simply, this isn’t going to happen.
The only logical conclusion is that, as fossil fuel consumption must be ended soon, we shall need to face a future with less energy at our disposal.