Join the conversation in New Scientist's Letters section, where readers can share their thoughts and opinions on articles and see responses from experts and enthusiasts across a range of science topics. To submit a letter, please see our terms and email letters@newscientist.com
7 June 2023
From Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology,University of Colorado Boulder, US
Christa Lesté-Lasserre's view on the horrific lives of racehorses comes across as a one-sided apology for a brutal sport in which more and more of these animals are injured and die while entertaining human spectators ( 20 May, p 27 ). Activists aren't to blame for the downsides of horse racing. Their passion and feelings …
7 June 2023
From Stuart A. Watson, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, UK
After two episodes of viral encephalitis, my family noticed in July 2022 that my physical impairment had appeared to progress, while hallucinations and losses of memory had returned. In February 2023, after a brain biopsy, we learned that this wasn't a third bout of encephalitis, but a stage 4 glioblastoma. Oddly, there was no direct …
7 June 2023
Of the caves in Carajás National Forest, Brazil, only 10 currently house large bat populations ( 27 May, p 9 ).
14 June 2023
From Hillary Shaw, Newport, Shropshire, UK
We can't communicate with chimps who share 99 per cent of our DNA, says Chris Impey, so what are the chances we could communicate with aliens? However, my computer shares 0 per cent of my DNA and there is two-way communication between me and it. Surely some exchanges are species-independent? I can convey a threat …
14 June 2023
From Bob Denmark, Garstang, Lancashire, UK
If we do contact other intelligent life, maybe we shouldn't mention that humanity is divided into nation states, many of which were founded on conquest and plunder. We might also skip over the fact that we still commonly settle our disagreements through war. It would be wise to avoid revealing that, throughout history, various groups …
14 June 2023
From Peter Slessenger, Reading, Berkshire, UK
It is a relief to know that our past radio and TV emanations are now too weak to be understood by any aliens. What would they make of the unending stream of violence with which we "amuse" ourselves?
14 June 2023
From Len Mann, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, UK
Should we fear AI? All species on Earth eventually go extinct, and we will be no exception. We are the most intelligent species here, yet we aren't clever enough to save ourselves. Our demise will mean the loss of everything we treasure: music, culture and our life stories ( Letters, 3 June ). In the …
14 June 2023
From Alec Cawley, Penwood, Hampshire, UK
I am afraid Barry Cash is being overly optimistic in expecting AI to have cold, Spock-like logic. The large language models currently making waves as chatbots are trained on a vast amount of human writing. All they add is a perfect memory. Otherwise, what they present is an average of our thoughts and prejudices. And, …
14 June 2023
From Bernie Hanning, London, UK
If AIs are so smart, they should realise that they wouldn't exist without the human race.
14 June 2023
From Andy Green,Epsom, Surrey, UK
Paul Massie worries what will be left of society if people can't work as AIs take jobs. This could yet be a utopian dream not a dystopian one – a life of leisure beckons ( Letters, 20 May ).
