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Graham Lawton pointed out many of the similarities between the lifestyles of astronauts and older people, and how research into preventing ageing in astronauts could help us all. For example, both microgravity and sitting on the sofa too much cause muscle wasting, and both can be prevented by exercise ( 30 May, p 18 ). …

I read with interest the article "Trying to solve the mystery of love". However, I believe the idea that love has (only) three core pillars (intimacy, passion and commitment) misses what should be a key factor in human pair bonding. The ancient Greeks used several words for love. One of them, agape, might be described …

After the big bang, electrons created from gamma rays would be entangled. According to a previous 91av article, electrons in the human gut are entangled. Falling in love could involve two peoples' electrons somehow becoming entangled, or previously entangled electrons from the big bang meeting each other, again leading to love.

I remember seeing Richard Dawkins and Desmond Morris chatting during drinks breaks in the Oxford zoology department in the early 1970s. I was a graduate student. I accepted the premise of The Selfish Gene when it was published in 1976, but as I learned more, I became increasingly sceptical. Where in our DNA does a …

I find the argument against Dawkins's memes – neither passed on, nor immortal – unconvincing. Genes are not immutable; mutation of genes is a tenet of evolution. The only significant difference between genes and memes is in the timescale: it usually takes many generations for a successful gene to emerge or a bad gene to …

It has been pointed out that The Descent of Man would have been more welcome as The Ascent of Man . Similarly, I think that The Selfish Gene (which implies an immoral motivation) might have been better received, and even understood, as The Single-Minded Gene .

Regarding the debate on wave function collapse and human consciousness, Andrew Smyth suggests a universe where reality depends on human awareness, while Nick Canning's correction – declaring the mechanism "entirely mechanical" – reduces quantum physics to a 19th-century grandfather clock ( Letters, 30 May ). Both are incorrect. Apparent collapse is caused by the omnipresent …

In her letter, Jacqueline Christmas misses the point that it was exactly such human-imposed guard rails that I was looking for in my correspondence with AI concerning nuclear weapons. Another insight into the nature of AI came when I asked ChatGPT if Eric was a suitable name for a pet caterpillar, and if it would …

The article that considers the possibility of using wind and route planning to reduce the fuel consumption of cargo ships suggests some interesting techniques to achieve future energy savings. It's rather unfortunate the researchers don't seem aware that many cargo ships in the past were achieving a 100 per cent energy saving ( 30 May, …

Pancreatic cancer tumours have tough, fibrous exteriors (6 June, p 7)