LETTER OF THE MONTH<\/span><\/p>\n\n Britain\u2019s temperate rainforests along the western (Atlantic) coast (September, p38) bear considerable similarity to the eastern coastal Atlantic forest reserves of Brazil, in the states of Bahia and Esp\u00edrito Santo. These are World Heritage listed because of their biodiversity. Although in the southern hemisphere, it is likely that both coasts of the Atlantic had extensive forests, and may have originated from a similar ancient forest. There seems to be a good case for nominating Britain\u2019s temperate rainforests for similar recognition to increase their protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Roger Webber, Argyll, Scotland <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n The writer of next issue\u2019s Letter <\/em>Of <\/em>The <\/em>Month <\/em>wins a pair of Edifier <\/strong>W240TN <\/strong>earbuds. <\/strong>The earbuds come with a stylish industrial-chic design, featuring a gunmetal finish inspired by a robust piston head \u2013 think RoboCop <\/em>meets Blade <\/em>Runner. <\/em>But they don\u2019t just look cool, they come with active noise-cancelling tech, over eight hours of playtime, three different sound modes (classic, dynamic or customised), plus they\u2019re water-resistant, so they can power you through your workout. amazon.co.uk<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n My dad used to say, \u201cyou can\u2019t get something outta nothing\u201d. Does this mean that every single one of the tiniest particles that make up our surroundings has previously existed in one form or another, and in a different part of the Universe, before being re-assembled into all the forms of life, nature and structures that we see around us? Whatever the answer, how mind-bogglingly beautiful and incredible is life and the planet we live on? <\/p>\n\n Paul Roberts, <\/strong>\u00d6vertorne\u00e5, Swedish Lapland <\/span><\/p>\n\n The Big Bang and the expansion of the Universe make the question of the conservation of energy in cosmology a bit tricky, so whether or not something can come from nothing is still a topic physicists argue about. But if we don\u2019t worry too much about the very <\/em>beginning, and we just look at the particles that make up our bodies and our surroundings, then it is true that all the particles we\u2019re made of have existed in one form or another since particles began to exist in the cosmos! Every atom that isn\u2019t hydrogen or helium or a sprinkling of other light elements was formed through some violent process occurring during the life or death of a star \u2013 but the protons and neutrons and electrons have all been around since the start, with the possible caveat that some conversion between matter particles and photons (light particles) may have occurred. Every calcium atom in your bones was assembled from lighter elements by a dying star, and every hydrogen atom was forged in the Big Bang! <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n Dr Katie Mack, cosmologist<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n I just read your article about men being lonely (October, p68), and I was wondering about intergeneration interaction. I found that when going through my teenage years, I was closer to my maternal grandmother than my own parents. Not only would I spend a lot of time with my grandmother, but I could talk to her more freely. Also, if my mother wanted to know where I was, or what I was doing, she would invariably ring my grandma. I believe that bonds that skip a generation are far stronger, because they give a sympathetic ear and are not judgmental. Wisdom is also freely given and listened to more receptively. <\/p>\n\n Bernard Brignall<\/strong>, via email <\/span><\/p>\n\n As a car lover, I\u2019m often torn between the excitement a high-performance engine provides and the guilt of adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. With this in mind, synthetic fuel is something I\u2019m hoping will provide less guilt in the future. After reading your article about how trains could suck CO2<\/sub> out of the air as they cross the country (August, p18), I wondered if this collected CO2<\/sub> could be used to produce synthetic fuel, rather than storing it in rock formations? <\/p>\n\n Greg Watson,<\/strong> Cambridgeshire <\/span><\/p>\n\n We spoke to Prof Geoffrey Ozin, who led the research, and the answer is a resounding yes! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, managing editor <\/strong><\/p>\n\n Email<\/strong> \u2022 reply@sciencefocus.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n Post<\/strong> \u2022 BBC Science Focus<\/em><\/em>, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4ST<\/p>\n\n Twitter<\/strong> \u2022 @sciencefocus<\/a><\/p>\n\n Facebook<\/strong> \u2022 www.facebook.com\/sciencefocus<\/a><\/p>\n\n Instagram<\/strong> \u2022 @bbcsciencefocus<\/a><\/p>\n\n Editor<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> Daniel Bennett<\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing editor<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> Alice Lipscombe-Southwell<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commissioning editor<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> Jason Goodyer<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff writers<\/strong> \u2022 <\/strong>Alex Hughes, Holly Spanner<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editorial assistant<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> Amy Barrett<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art editor<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> Joe Eden<\/p>\n\n\n\n Picture editor<\/strong> \u2022<\/strong> James Cutmore<\/p>\n\n\n\n Claire Asher, Rob Banino, Hayley Bennett, Peter Bentley, Dylan Bickerstaffe, Daniel Bright, Steve Brusatte, Dean Burnett, Andrea Chronopoulos, Stuart Clark, Daniel Crespo, Emma Davies, Kate Darling, Sam Freeman, Mark Frudd, Alastair Gunn, Christian Jarrett, Stephen Kelly, Pete Lawrence, Till Lukat, Katie Mack, Nish Manek, Radha Modgil, Stephanie Organ, Ceri Perkins, Helen Pilcher, Kyle Smart, Valentin Tkach, Luis Villazon, James Witts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Business development manager \u2022<\/strong> David D\u2019Souza<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newstrade manager \u2022<\/strong> Rob Brock<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subscriptions director \u2022<\/strong> Jacky Perales-Morris<\/p>\n\n\n\n Direct marketing manager \u2022<\/strong> Kellie Lane <\/p>\n\n\n\n Head of apps and digital edition marketing \u2022<\/strong> Mark Summerton <\/p>\n\n\n\n Laurence Robertson 00353 876 902208 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Director of licensing and syndication \u2022<\/strong> Tim Hudson<\/p>\n\n\n\n International partners manager \u2022<\/strong> Anna Brown <\/p>\n\n\n\n Production director \u2022<\/strong> Sarah Powell<\/p>\n\n\n\n Production coordinator \u2022<\/strong> Lauren Morris<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ad services manager \u2022 <\/strong>Paul Thornton<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ad designer \u2022 <\/strong>Julia Young <\/p>\n\n\n\n Publisher \u2022 <\/strong>Andrew Davies<\/p>\n\n\n\n Group managing director \u2022<\/strong> Andy Marshall<\/p>\n\n\n\n CEO \u2022 <\/strong>Tom Bureau <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chair, editorial review boards \u2022<\/strong> Nicholas Brett<\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing director, consumer products and licensing \u2022 <\/strong>Stephen Davies <\/p>\n\n\n\n Director, magazines and consumer products \u2022 <\/strong>Mandy Thwaites <\/p>\n\n\n\n Compliance manager \u2022 <\/strong>Cameron McEwan <\/p>\n\n\n\n UK publishing coordinator \u2022<\/strong> Eva Abramik <\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact UK.Publishing@bbc.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/Alamy_2H1EM7X-1024x883.jpg\")
Britain\u2019s rainforests <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
WRITE IN AND WIN! <\/h5>\n\n
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\n\nStar stuff <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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Don\u2019t forget Grandma <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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A neat solution? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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\n\nTHE TEAM <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
EDITORIAL<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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CONTRIBUTORS<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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LICENSING & SYNDICATION<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
PRODUCTION<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
PUBLISHING<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
BBC STUDIOS, UK PUBLISHING<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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