Sir Christopher Ball telling people their future longevity is in their own hands and to stop blaming others (Report, 20 May) is akin to telling a drowning man to pull himself together and swim, without asking what were the circumstances that put him in the water in the first place. Life and longevity is a complex issue and simplistic solutions rarely hold water.
Patrick Eckersley
Woodbridge, Suffolk
• A large eye does not give more detailed vision (acuity) but better vision in the dark. The owl is a familiar example. So a wide-eyed ichthyosaur (Tentacles, pointy teeth and the T-rex of the sea: the Natural History Museum on beasts that once ruled the oceans, 21 May) probably dived deep for its prey but had to contend with poor illumination. Extant abyssal animals such as giant squid have large eyes for the same reason.
Julian Vincent
Bath
• Surely one of the most extraordinary things about the Makerfield byelection is that there will be no candidate making the case for the achievements of the government. Perhaps a Labour loyalist should throw their hat into the ring as an independent?
Phil Woodford
Twickenham, London
• Bread and circuses at last (Reeves cuts VAT on summer days out to 5% as part of cost of living support, 21 May).
Morag Stuart
London
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