Letters : . . .
Paul Bahn writes: The Phaistos Disc was found on Crete in 1908 by an Italian
archaeologist. Dating to about 1600 BC, it is a round piece of fired clay, 16
centimetres in diameter, bearing Europe’s “oldest literature”, the world’s
oldest known example of print using movable type in the form of a pictographic
inscription, using 45 picture-like symbols. Endless explanations and attempts at
translation have been put forward. Steven Fischer believes that the script is a
previously unknown Hellenic dialect, and that the disc’s text is a call to arms.
He published his findings in a 1988 book, Evidence for Hellenic Dialect in the
Phaistos Disk, and his reading of the disc was endorsed by the National
Geographic Society, which flew him to Washington DC to receive a commendation
for historic decipherment.
Letters : Fire and ice
I read with interest your article “Volcanoes take their cue from changing
climate” (Science, 29 June, p 16), which suggested that warm periods following
glaciations may have provoked increased volcanic eruptions as pressure from ice
sheets on volcanoes was reduced鈥� subsequently producing cooling of the
climate. But I believe this is only part of the picture.
Back in 1989, I was pondering the impacts of sea level changes on the
activity of crustal plates with a civil engineering friend, Patrick Reynolds.
We concluded that an event such as the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet,
which has happened in the past, would significantly increase loading on the
ocean floor relative to continental crust.
We predicted that this differential loading, enhanced by deposition from
marine erosion, would probably lead to increased crustal warping, subduction and
earthquake activity along destructive plate margins such as the Pacific coast of
North and South America. This seems probable if we consider evidence that even
atmospheric pressure changes can affect earthquake activity, that large dams can
initiate seismic events, and that rapid increases in sea level are thought to
have occurred due to glacial meltwaters at the end of the Pleistocene.
In the longer term, we believe this increased subduction of oceanic plate,
coupled with more buoyant continental crust, would precipitate an increased
upwelling of magma and volcanic activity along continental margins. This in turn
would be likely to lead to global cooling. In effect, it produces a
self-regulating negative feedback loop which we dubbed the “geological Gaia
hypothesis”.
We are investigating a number of indicators that this may have occurred,
despite our other commitments and lack of funding. Your reference to ice core
analysis revealing global warming has been associated with greater volcanic
activity appears to be the first circumstantial evidence.
Letters : Very hard disc
The Netherlands
The Phaistos Disc deciphered (“Cracking the Easter Island code”, 15 June, p
36)? Really? Please tell us more.
Letters : Whale poll
London
Your editorial of 29 June (p 3) raises the question of public opinion over
whaling. Our recent survey for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society showed
that 88 per cent of the adult population of Great Britain oppose the practice
and just 1 per cent are in favour (the rest say it depends on the methods or
reasons, say they don’t know, or are neutral).
Perhaps most revealing are the views of younger people: not a single one of
our 149 respondents aged between 15 and 24 years old supported whaling鈥攁nd
three-quarters opposed it strongly. We seldom see that degree of unanimity on
any subject.
If the opponents of whaling are to give up their traditional scientific
arguments, they need only look as far as the science of public opinion to
provide fresh support for their case.
Letters : Diverse dealings
Worcester, Massachusetts
I wish to respond to the article written by Rob Edwards (This Week, June 29,
p 7) entitled “Biotech firm `embarrassed’ by leaked plant deal”.
First, let me clearly state that Phytera is firmly and irrevocably committed
to sharing a portion of the future commercial benefits which derive from sourced
plants with both the botanical gardens and the country of origin, where
that can be ascertained. The company has taken this position from its inception,
in the full awareness that, in the case of botanical gardens, no such
requirement to do so currently exists within the United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity. The majority of our agreements with botanical gardens and
countries clearly contain language regarding sharing of benefits with the
country of origin. Where such language is not present, Phytera is committed to
using its available resources to identify the country of origin and to arrange
for an equitable sharing of commercial benefits with that country.
Phytera is also actively negotiating direct access to plant sourcing via
country agreements, which fully adhere to the principles of the convention.
Additionally, at Phytera’s expense, these agreements establish long-term storage
banks of plant cells in culture within the country of origin and provide the
country with access to their plant biodiversity, preserved in culture, for the
foreseeable future. With the loss of natural species proceeding at an alarming
pace, this provides a significant addition to the preservation of biodiversity
within the country of origin.
Letters : Media interference
Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire
The sad fate of Ariane flight 501, following close on the heels of the Long
March rocket in February this year, prompted me to consider the possibility that
the presence at the launch of the world’s media may have unwittingly been the
cause of malfunction in the on-board interpretation of telemetric data, due to
interference from mobile phones or other communications equipment. This
phenomenon has been linked with problems in aircraft navigational equipment
which give rise to misleading data. The use of laptop computers is now
discouraged on tricky manoeuvres such as takeoff and landing. Hospitals display
signs asking visitors to switch off mobile phones, or check them in at
reception, as interference can lead to problems with medical equipment.
I have been following press reports and have seen no reference to this
theory, only indications that the fault probably lay in the software. The team
investigating the accident may care to consider the possibility that the
“garbage in, garbage out” principle may have entered into the equation. If
navigational equipment was misled by extraneous signals from unshielded
communications on the ground, these could have the effect of confusing where
“up” is.
While the actual conditions existing at the time of the accident would be
difficult to replicate, it should be possible to assemble a range of the types
of communications equipment commonly used and test whether they can affect the
navigational equipment.
Letters : Radiation shield
UK House, 24 Ribocon Way, Luton, Bedfordshire
I was disappointed to read your article on the Microshield
(Feedback, 11 May, p 80).
We have never implied that the Royal Society of Medicine has sanctioned our
product. However, as we firmly believe that there is a health issue here, we do
feel that the choice of the RSM as a venue was very appropriate.
There are a number of published papers which have appeared in peer reviewed
journals associating exposure to varying levels of radio frequency/microwave
with various biological effects. When asked whether it was advisable to base
RF/MW maximum exposure limits solely on thermal effects, Dr Ross Adey, who is
Chairman of US National Council on Radiation Protection, said: “The laboratory
evidence for athermal effects of both extremely low frequency and RF/MW fields
now constitutes a major body of scientific literature in peer reviewed journals.
It is my personal view that to continue to ignore this work in the course of
standard setting is irresponsible to the point of being a public scandal.”
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Radiation Biologists, Dr John Holt, has
carried out research which is shortly to be published and which confirms his
statement that the radiation threat from mobile phones represented one of the
most serious forms of radiation he had ever researched.
Epidemiological studies will be of no use for at least 10 to 15 years, but to
deny that biological effects exist is somewhat naive. The manufacturers and
networks themselves will admit reluctantly that they receive complaints from
users ranging from headaches to ear, eye and skin problems. We have details of
doctors who have confirmed that their patients have reported these symptoms,
which have subsided once cellular phone usage has stopped. There are currently
at least two local authorities in England who have members of staff reporting
these symptoms which have been relieved once they have ceased using their mobile
phone. Both these employers have now arranged to supply Microshield cases to the
staff involved. One of the National Radiological Protection Board’s scientific
advisers, Sir Richard Doll, will confirm that mobile phones can cause a change
in temperature in the brain and it is not unreasonable to suggest that this
might cause some damage.
In the meantime, we are offering mobile phone users a means of prudent
avoidance against the RF/MW radiation emitted from their phone. The Microshield
was designed by its inventor to cure his own headaches experienced when using
his mobile phone and already we have similar headache sufferers reporting a
subsidence of their symptoms on using their Microshield.
Our independently commissioned test reports show that not only is the initial
radiation amount shielded against, but also the increased amount which is
created as a result of the phone’s powering up to compensate for the fact that
it is being shielded.
For your information, digital phones will only power up to their maximum
“safe” level no matter how much shielding is applied to them and they are
designed to operate at that maximum safe level without causing damage to their
components. There will however be an additional drain on the battery as a result
of this shielding and powering-up process, which you will see from our test
results has been measured at an average of 12 per cent of talk time. With the
new generation of batteries and phones now available, giving up to 4 hours talk
time and 100 hours standby, a battery charge time reduction of 12 per cent still
leaves a very healthy amount of capacity left for the user.
Only a very heavy user indeed would be able to criticise the effect which
using the Microshield has on the battery life and ironically it is that user who
would probably most benefit from the protection which the Microshield gives!
After testing our product, British Telecom described the effect on the
received signal strength indicator as being “slight”. The aerial guard on the
Microshield is however adjustable to compensate for areas of poorer reception
quality.