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Surplus requirement
See newscientist.com for letters on: G What kind of god is that? G Mirror on morality G Fountain of youth
George Monbiot, in his book Heat, thoroughly explored that option and declared it unworkable. On the other hand, cars powered by solar-charged batteries are eminently feasible. Dunedin, New Zealand
Everyone’s a loser From Mark Dowson Phil Stracchino makes the assumption that voters will be reasonably satisfied if their second choice is elected (3 May, p 20). This will not always be the case. Consider a hypothetical election in which the candidates are Mcbain, Oblama and Rader. Forty per cent of the electorate (give or take a few per cent) think Oblama would be wonderful, Rader incompetent and Mcbain a disaster. Forty per cent think Mcbain would be wonderful, Rader incompetent and Oblama a disaster. The remaining 20 per cent think Rader would be wonderful and either of the others equally disastrous – and so pick their second choice, if any, at random. There is no possible outcome – given this highly polarised electorate – in any voting system that would not leave the majority of the voters disgruntled. Leesburg, Virginia, US
Surplus requirement From Donald Rooum As Bryn Glover describes (26 April, p 20), there is a reverse correlation between the monetary rewards and the social usefulness of paid individuals. But what is true of individuals is not necessarily true of populations. Useless rich are vastly outnumbered by useful poor so, for instance, a firm employing 20,000 assembly-line workers could give a £100,000 bonus to a failed director at only half the cost of giving the workers a bonus of £10 each. It seems likely that the injustice of “inverse differential www.newscientist.com
rewards” is insoluble where rewards consist of money. London, UK
Needs must From William Stanton Richard Dobson says that if the grain now fed to animals were used to feed people instead there would be plenty for everyone on Earth (26 April, p 20). He omits to say that for corn and wheat to be grown in the huge tonnages that are currently produced requires diesel-powered farm machinery. The world is now passing through “peak oil”, so petroleum production will soon be declining. Liquid fuels such as diesel and petrol will become steadily more scarce and expensive. A farmer
using liquid fuels is far more productive of grain than a farmer deprived of them. In addition, essential nitrogen fertiliser is made from natural gas, which is approaching peak production. Taking these factors together leads to the probability that in a few years’ time the world will have passed “peak grain” too. Meat from animals fed on grass will be available to a small proportion of the world’s population, but the diminishing supplies of corn and wheat will soon be inadequate to feed everyone else. Wells, Somerset, UK From David Sandilands Richard Dobson must surely realise there are not many real “needs” at all. I presume Dobson is a vegetarian (or is happy to
become one), and that this is why he is able to dismiss meat as not being a need. I could equally dismiss travelling to work by car as not a need, since I am able to take the bus. Whether or not you value these things are to some extent lifestyle choices. But trying to strip people of these choices and dismissing their aspirations simply because they are not your own can only lead to them reacting defensively. Instead, we should work on solutions that can meet people’s aspirations and be sustainable. Surely this must be the basis of progress in modern science. Edinburgh, UK
Wind-power feedback From Alec Cawley Feedback is puzzled by windgenerators that turn at a constant speed (26 April). Propeller aircraft often have constant-speed propellers, which change thrust by changing the pitch of the blades. They are particularly suitable for turbine engines, with their very narrow speed range. Wind turbines are the same: some are constant speed, some variable. A constant-speed turbine is much easier to synchronise with the national grid, and is therefore better for systems which sometimes give and sometimes take power. It might be that, if there is no wind at all, they actually use power to keep spinning. But in a very light breeze, they will spin at the same speed as in a stiff wind. Newbury, Berkshire, UK
Trust him, he’s a lawyer From Tracy Ambler Shame on you Lawrence Krauss. I thoroughly disagree with Ben Stein’s apparent support for the idea that there is a “controversy” worth promoting in evolutionary education (26 April, p 50), at least as far as is supported by facts (beliefs are something different). However, to lead your piece with a
description of Ben Stein as “an actor” and a “game show host”, thereby conjuring up images of a lightweight who is in over his head attempting serious intellectual work, is out of line. Stein, as you should know, received a BA from Columbia University with honours, he was valedictorian at Yale Law School and, after several years prosecuting false and deceptive advertising cases, taught at the American University, Washington DC, the University of California and Pepperdine University law school. So he may be wrong, but if combatants usually lead with their best punch, yours missed and makes me wonder if you haven’t got a better argument. South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, US
Boxing clever From Carl Zetie Feedback wonders what is in the box with the message “CAUTION: To be kept closed at all times” (3 May). The answer is Schrödinger’s cat, and the reason for not opening it is obvious. Waterford, Virginia, US From Mark Sewell That box would be Pandora’s, wouldn’t it? I recommend following the instruction. Halls Creek, Western Australia
For the record G In our report on India’s space agency having “sent 10 satellites into orbit on a single rocket” last month, we said incorrectly that this beat “Russia’s previous record of eight” (3 May, p 7). On 17 April 2007 Russia launched 14 satellites together. Letters should be sent to: Letters to the Editor, New Scientist, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NS Fax: +44 (0) 20 7611 1280 Email: [email protected] Include your full postal address and telephone number, and a reference (issue, page number, title) to articles. We reserve the right to edit letters. Reed Business Information reserves the right to use any submissions sent to the letters column of New Scientist magazine, in any other format.
31 May 2008 | NewScientist | 23
George Monbiot, in his book Heat, thoroughly explored that option and declared it unworkable. On the other hand, cars powered by solar-charged batteries are eminently feasible. Dunedin, New Zealand
Everyone’s a loser From Mark Dowson Phil Stracchino makes the assumption that voters will be reasonably satisfied if their second choice is elected (3 May, p 20). This will not always be the case. Consider a hypothetical election in which the candidates are Mcbain, Oblama and Rader. Forty per cent of the electorate (give or take a few per cent) think Oblama would be wonderful, Rader incompetent and Mcbain a disaster. Forty per cent think Mcbain would be wonderful, Rader incompetent and Oblama a disaster. The remaining 20 per cent think Rader would be wonderful and either of the others equally disastrous – and so pick their second choice, if any, at random. There is no possible outcome – given this highly polarised electorate – in any voting system that would not leave the majority of the voters disgruntled. Leesburg, Virginia, US
Surplus requirement From Donald Rooum As Bryn Glover describes (26 April, p 20), there is a reverse correlation between the monetary rewards and the social usefulness of paid individuals. But what is true of individuals is not necessarily true of populations. Useless rich are vastly outnumbered by useful poor so, for instance, a firm employing 20,000 assembly-line workers could give a £100,000 bonus to a failed director at only half the cost of giving the workers a bonus of £10 each. It seems likely that the injustice of “inverse differential www.newscientist.com
rewards” is insoluble where rewards consist of money. London, UK
Needs must From William Stanton Richard Dobson says that if the grain now fed to animals were used to feed people instead there would be plenty for everyone on Earth (26 April, p 20). He omits to say that for corn and wheat to be grown in the huge tonnages that are currently produced requires diesel-powered farm machinery. The world is now passing through “peak oil”, so petroleum production will soon be declining. Liquid fuels such as diesel and petrol will become steadily more scarce and expensive. A farmer
using liquid fuels is far more productive of grain than a farmer deprived of them. In addition, essential nitrogen fertiliser is made from natural gas, which is approaching peak production. Taking these factors together leads to the probability that in a few years’ time the world will have passed “peak grain” too. Meat from animals fed on grass will be available to a small proportion of the world’s population, but the diminishing supplies of corn and wheat will soon be inadequate to feed everyone else. Wells, Somerset, UK From David Sandilands Richard Dobson must surely realise there are not many real “needs” at all. I presume Dobson is a vegetarian (or is happy to
become one), and that this is why he is able to dismiss meat as not being a need. I could equally dismiss travelling to work by car as not a need, since I am able to take the bus. Whether or not you value these things are to some extent lifestyle choices. But trying to strip people of these choices and dismissing their aspirations simply because they are not your own can only lead to them reacting defensively. Instead, we should work on solutions that can meet people’s aspirations and be sustainable. Surely this must be the basis of progress in modern science. Edinburgh, UK
Wind-power feedback From Alec Cawley Feedback is puzzled by windgenerators that turn at a constant speed (26 April). Propeller aircraft often have constant-speed propellers, which change thrust by changing the pitch of the blades. They are particularly suitable for turbine engines, with their very narrow speed range. Wind turbines are the same: some are constant speed, some variable. A constant-speed turbine is much easier to synchronise with the national grid, and is therefore better for systems which sometimes give and sometimes take power. It might be that, if there is no wind at all, they actually use power to keep spinning. But in a very light breeze, they will spin at the same speed as in a stiff wind. Newbury, Berkshire, UK
Trust him, he’s a lawyer From Tracy Ambler Shame on you Lawrence Krauss. I thoroughly disagree with Ben Stein’s apparent support for the idea that there is a “controversy” worth promoting in evolutionary education (26 April, p 50), at least as far as is supported by facts (beliefs are something different). However, to lead your piece with a
description of Ben Stein as “an actor” and a “game show host”, thereby conjuring up images of a lightweight who is in over his head attempting serious intellectual work, is out of line. Stein, as you should know, received a BA from Columbia University with honours, he was valedictorian at Yale Law School and, after several years prosecuting false and deceptive advertising cases, taught at the American University, Washington DC, the University of California and Pepperdine University law school. So he may be wrong, but if combatants usually lead with their best punch, yours missed and makes me wonder if you haven’t got a better argument. South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, US
Boxing clever From Carl Zetie Feedback wonders what is in the box with the message “CAUTION: To be kept closed at all times” (3 May). The answer is Schrödinger’s cat, and the reason for not opening it is obvious. Waterford, Virginia, US From Mark Sewell That box would be Pandora’s, wouldn’t it? I recommend following the instruction. Halls Creek, Western Australia
For the record G In our report on India’s space agency having “sent 10 satellites into orbit on a single rocket” last month, we said incorrectly that this beat “Russia’s previous record of eight” (3 May, p 7). On 17 April 2007 Russia launched 14 satellites together. Letters should be sent to: Letters to the Editor, New Scientist, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NS Fax: +44 (0) 20 7611 1280 Email: [email protected] Include your full postal address and telephone number, and a reference (issue, page number, title) to articles. We reserve the right to edit letters. Reed Business Information reserves the right to use any submissions sent to the letters column of New Scientist magazine, in any other format.
31 May 2008 | NewScientist | 23