The problems with talk of a 1.5掳C climate 'goal'
Anyone can look up the Paris Agreement (PA) text on curbing global warming to see that calling 1.5掳C a “goal” is wrong. This matters for several reasons (18 January, p 8).
First, many lower-income countries regarded 1.5掳C as fundamentally inequitable, given the implication that high-income countries had used up most of the carbon budget for this and were implicitly now trying to “cut the ladder” on the use of fossil fuels for basic industrialisation. Some thus regard the popular “1.5掳C limit” narrative as a breach of trust on what was actually agreed.
Second, the limit narrative diverts from the reality that 鈥� as your leader said 鈥� there isn’t a warming cliff edge, but rather that every tenth of a degree matters. The actual aim of the PA to remain “well below 2掳C”, while “pursuing efforts” for 1.5掳C, reflects the balance of concerns.
A durable legal agreement couldn’t rest on a single threshold that many considered undeliverable. Focus on 1.5掳C as “the limit” risks undermining the PA’s credibility.
Pandemic was perfect setting for conspiracies (1)
Your look at the lessons learned from the covid-19 pandemic largely missed one crucial aspect 鈥� that lockdown was a perfect Petri dish for conspiracy theories and blatant untruths to spread and take root across online platforms, contributing to real-world harms (4 January, p 7).
That lesson hasn’t been learned; media literacy was neglected despite it being an issue long before the pandemic. Long-running mistrust in “experts” plus millions of bored people with instant access to the entire sum of human knowledge (good and bad) led to conspiratorial thought spreading from covid-19 and vaccines to just about anything in the human sphere. I doubt if we can ever roll this back.
Pandemic was perfect setting for conspiracies (2)
One thing about the passing of time during the pandemic wasn’t that the year of lockdown seemed longer or shorter than normal, but everything from before covid-19 felt like decades ago, even by 2022.
On the discovery of a new species of marine reptile
You covered a study that suggests Xenodens calminechari, a new species of mosasaurid named by us, could be based on a forged jaw fossil. We can confirm the authenticity of the fossil (25 January, p 21).
Our team includes world experts in Moroccan mosasaurs. Having published 20 papers, described 10 new mosasaurids, examined thousands of specimens over two decades, carried out fieldwork and worked under two international official academic agreements between Morocco, France and the UK, we are familiar with recognising fossil alteration.
We can confirm the fossil’s authenticity because the first author prepared the specimen from the original matrix using a pin vice and paintbrush. Any alteration would have been obvious. Furthermore, during preparation, a tooth detached, exposing the interior of the crown and root, showing both are original. The “gummy” texture identified in the study you covered as possible reconstructed material is standard Paraloid B-72 resin used to prepare the fossil for study. Last, two new Xenodens, identical to the holotype, are now under study. We plan further research, including CT scans, and are confident this will vindicate X. calminechari and lay all doubts to rest.
New wearables aren't for everyone
Wearables meant to boost mental health sound like a nightmare. With these, I wouldn’t be allowed to drift off to sleep thinking about what I want to think about 鈥� I plan the next day: where am I going for my walk, what am I having for dinner, etc. But that would bring a storm rumbling in my ears(18 January, p 36)!
Threats to Antarctic wildlife are numerous
Your article on scientific advances helping to increase knowledge of emperor penguins in Antarctica was fascinating. However, there are other problems apart from climate change affecting these and other creatures there. Increased tourism is leading to disturbance of the penguins, especially when newborn chicks are about. Litter is an increasing problem, as is waste from ships. Even on some bases, waste-water disposal is an issue. Non-native grasses have come in on people’s boots and there may be other problems not yet identified (11 January, p 36).
Like the rest of the world, Antarctica is suffering from problems caused by people.
Time is ripe to begin polar geoengineering trials (1)
As the world continues to react at a snail’s pace to the threat of climate change, we need to at least start to experiment with geoengineering. The poles are nearing a runaway feedback loop that will forever change the Arctic and, in turn, world weather patterns. Does anyone truly believe our current governments can cut emissions enough to stop this disaster(18 January, p 32)?
No one wants geoengineering as a permanent solution, but it should at least be considered as a stopgap measure. This world needs our poles to stay frozen.
Time is ripe to begin polar geoengineering trials (2)
You indicate that we can expect more extreme weather with a wavier northern polar jet stream. I suspect this is even more likely when you consider the effects of an apparently weakening Gulf Stream and its interaction with the jet stream.
One possible effect of a disrupted Gulf Stream is a cooling of Europe. Maybe this will cancel out predicted warming. I suspect, though, that the outcome could be more extremes of cold and heat.
Your heading left me feeling pretty vacant
I was fascinated by your piece on molluscs with distinctive “punk”-like hairstyles, but think you missed a trick by not headlining it: “Never mind the molluscs” (18 January, p 11).
For the record
The pigeons in Aperture (25 January, p 26), clockwise from far left, are a Franconian Trumpeter, Danish Suabian, Old Dutch Capuchine, Gimpel (or Archangel) and Jacobin.