Page 55 - New Scientist

“We should probably first teach adults
how to use social media too!”
Taryn O’Neill responds to the proposition that we should teach
kids how to use social media, not scare them off (13 January, p 23)

Or is the reason more prosaic – as Allen suggests, is the province Pain is necessary to executions and hence the off-label
that not enough of it is published of government? I can’t imagine health and wellbeing and experimental use of fentanyl
in English? many doctors being happy to take (16 December 2017, p 7).
on that role as part of the day job. From Ed Prior, For many decades, barbiturate
Basic biology and better Poquoson, Virginia, US drugs have been used for humane
government as a cure Cannabis complexity Jessica Hamzelou reports genetic euthanasia of pets. I note that the
county by county research on a family that doesn’t sensation of succumbing to
From Sue Band, feel pain (23/30 December 2017, general anaesthetic may even be
Murthly, Perth and Kinross, UK From Larry Stoter, Monmouth, UK p 14). This is important for people enjoyable. Using these drugs to
Luke Allen argues that the cure for As you note, US federal law on suffering from injuries and could provide a beautiful and relaxing
winter crises in the UK’s National cannabis conflicts with states help stop the opioid crisis. But way to end life would prevent
Health Service is to shift the focus such as California making it legal there is a huge downside to losing criminals faced with the death
“upstream”towards preventative (6 January, p 7). Since then, the the sense of pain. A member of penalty from using a defence of
measures(16December2017,p24). federal attorney general, Jeff my family has type 2 diabetes “cruel and unusual punishment”.
As a long-retired medic, I am Sessions, has upped the ante. and lost sensation in his foot. He
often surprised by questions I get It’s also more complicated than fractured it without realising and Can’t we pass on the
asked by otherwise intelligent that. The state of California passed kept walking, causing so much panspermian favour?
people. I have long thought that responsibility for regulation to damage that it was amputated.
we should go further upstream city and county governments. From Paul Snell,
to teach wider understanding of Butte county, for example, has No longer a cruel and Heanor, Derbyshire, UK
human biology and pathology. banned recreational cannabis; unusual punishment? The suggestion that we should
This would enable people to better yet the city of Chico, in Butte deliberately seed life through the
evaluate what they read on the county, has legalised recreational From Gregg DuPont, cosmos alarms Richard Swifte
internet about health matters. cannabis but doesn’t allow it to be Seattle, Washington, US (Letters, 23/30 December 2017).
And surely better provision of sold in shops – you can apply for a You report on the difficulties of When the astronomer Fred Hoyle
local facilities and healthy food, licence to grow it for personal use. finding replacement drugs for championed panspermia – life >

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20 January 2018 | NewScientist | 53