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Even with 1.5°C of warming on the very near horizon, the vast majority of humanity seems to be in denial of climate change and is failing to act. Perhaps calling it climate change is part of the problem. I suggest always calling it human-induced warming or fossil fuel-induced warming, so the cause is clear ( …

We are at more than 424 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and rising. With no reference to temperatures, the chemist James Lovelock – who proposed the Gaia hypothesis – considered approaching 450 ppm to be reckless; by then, damaging, irreversible positive feedbacks would start locking into place. Unlike speculating about …

Regarding negotiations between actors in the US and the film industry over the use of artificial intelligence to mimic performers on screen, it seems to me that if this technology takes over film, TV and online drama, then there will be a huge boost for live theatre. Seeing real actors on stage will be everybody's …

Though it is great to see animal issues covered in New Scientist , it is heartbreaking to see Peter Singer, who was once a great voice for animals, even contemplating the idea that their farming and humane slaughter might be considered ethical ( 3 June, p 43 ). Can you imagine Gloria Steinem discussing types …

While not wishing to promote the freezing of heads more than sense dictates, it did occur to me that a severed head isn't just missing the rest of its natural form, but also its microbiome – increasingly recognised as an additional dimension of health and personality. To partially compensate for this, perhaps a frozen head …

Your article about synaesthesia didn't really get into everyday uses for it. I have one: all those PINs and passwords we are expected to remember without writing them down. I write the names of the colours associated with the letters and numbers. It works perfectly for me and is a code that would be hard …

Passing 1.5°C of warming will be politically significant, but, as you indicate, it isn't a magic threshold below which everything is fine and beyond which we are doomed ( 10 June, p 32 ). I do worry, though, about the lack of urgency in the UK government strategy for reaching net zero by 2050, which …

I worry that passing the 1.5°C threshold will be bad news for an ageing population, with high temperatures and humidity leading to an increased risk of heat strokes and cardiovascular and renal side effects, with a significant chance of death.

I have just read your article on the maths of efficient packing. I work in the maritime industry, and it is great to see "maths in real life" like this that connects the subject with people's own experiences ( 10 June, p 44 ). We use exactly this kind of maths when we look at …

I loved Tom Gauld's depiction of two scientists who discover they are in a cartoon – a great idea, brilliantly drawn. Thanks to Tom for this and his many other tremendous creations ( 3 June, p 55 ).