Why on earth is it good news, in this time when the environment is under attack, to send out a ship to “pound” through – that is, damage – ice (Antarctic expedition to renew search for Shackleton’s ship Endurance, 5 July)? This is of spurious scientific benefit and instead reflects an intrusive curiosity, not exploration. It also models behaviour that others may follow.
Dr Cleo Van Velsen
London
• I used to hear the hum at night (Can you hear the Hum? The mystery noise that says a lot about modern life, 7 July), and was convinced it was one ridiculous possibility after another, until one day I realised I had tinnitus. Now I rarely notice it.
Eric Mycroft
Newton Abbot, Devon
• Prof Mike Elliott (Letters, 5 July) questions the validity of Jonathan Jones’s criticism of the Diana statue since he himself is not a sculptor. I would refer him to the American painter Barnett Newman’s assertion that “aesthetics is to artists as ornithology is to birds”.
Seamus Staunton
Bristol
• Arwa Mahdawi asserts (Opinion, 6 July) that nothing is certain in life except death and rich people avoiding paying taxes. You can add all flat roofs eventually leak to that list.
Ralph Jones
Rochester, Kent
• Shrouded in Mustique (Boris Johnson cleared over Mustique holiday but criticised for explanation, 8 July)?
Toby Wood
Peterborough
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