LETTER OF THE MONTH<\/span><\/p>\n\n After reading lots of articles in your excellent magazine about possible explanations for the beginning and end of the Universe as we know it, I wondered if my little ode might amuse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where do we go from here? <\/strong><\/em> Kay Hunting, <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>via email<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n The writer of next issue\u2019s Letter Of The Month <\/em>wins a year\u2019s subscription to Earthwatch Book Club. <\/strong>For \u00a310 a month, Earthwatch sends out a book every other month for readers, and then there is an online live Q&A with the author the following month. The carefully selected books feature a range of topics, including conservation, nature and the environment. Subscribers have access to recommended books, as well as offers on events. earthwatchbookclub.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n Prof Adam Hart made a good point about what era do you aspire to rewild to (August issue), but I suggest that the only genuine way to rewild is to leave an area totally undisturbed and accept what you get, even if it is unattractive. After millennia it will be full of new species we can\u2019t even imagine.<\/p>\n\n Julian Wiseman,<\/strong> via email<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n In your article about first contact, it was written: \u201c\u2026we won\u2019t share the same biology or the same brain\u201d (October issue). As far as I am aware, the Universe contains the same elements, and all life forms on this planet are carbon-based. From a chemistry point of view, am I right in thinking that the only other element which can chemically combine in the same way as carbon is silicon? Presumably, silicon-based life would be possible, and if so, why silicon and not carbon? Why should life on other planets not be carbon-based? <\/p>\n\n Geoff Todd, <\/strong>via email <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n That\u2019s a great observation. Yes, the chemical elements are the same everywhere in the Universe. So, extraterrestrial life may indeed be based on carbon, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the biology will be the same. For example, perhaps the molecule carrying those alien genes will be different from DNA. Until we understand the origin of life on Earth, or see examples of alien life, we have no real idea how similar \u2013 or different \u2013 it will be. It seems prudent to assume it will be different, because what we do know about life on Earth is that evolution has taken many twists and turns to get where it is today. It seems highly unlikely that those same twists and turns will be replicated on a distant planet. Similarly, since brains evolve to \u2018cope\u2019 with the environment in which we live, a brain evolving on another planet may well be different from ours. As for silicon, it can bond to four neighbouring atoms in the same way that carbon does, which is why some people have speculated about silicon-based life. But those bonds are not as strong as for carbon, so the molecules would not be as robust.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Dr Stuart Clark, astronomy writer <\/strong><\/p>\n\n Thank you, Hayley Bennett, for your explainer article on the vagus nerve (September issue). My husband just had a vasovagal syncope episode which was very scary, but this has helped me to understand it more. Thank you! <\/p>\n\n Shelley R\u00f6stlund, <\/strong>via Twitter <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n You are very welcome, Shelley. I\u2019m glad to be of use! I hope your husband has recovered from his fainting episode.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Hayley Bennett, science writer <\/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 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, Scott Balmer, Rob Banino, Steve Benford, Hayley Bennett, Peter Bentley, Steve Boswell, Sam Brewster, Daniel Bright, Steve Brusatte, Becki Clark, Stuart Clark, Daniel Crespo, Kate Darling, Emma Davies, Russell Deeks, Pete Etchells, Stuart Farrimond, Lisa Feldman Barrett, Alastair Gunn, Matt Holland, Christian Jarrett, Stephen Kelly, Pete Lawrence, Katie Mack, Nish Manek, Holly McHugh, James Olstein, Jheni Osman, Stephanie Organ, Merav Ozair, Ceri Perkins, Helen Pilcher, James Round, Julia Shaw, Valentin Tkach, Luis Villazon.<\/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:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/12\/013532_high-1024x752.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOde to the JWST<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When 15 billion years go by, <\/strong><\/em>
Will we freeze, or will we fry? <\/strong><\/em>
Should we worry, should we care? <\/strong><\/em>
One thing\u2019s for sure: we won\u2019t be there. <\/strong><\/em>
Or will we? Will the James Webb Telescope, <\/strong><\/em>
Reveal a multiverse of hope? <\/strong><\/em>
Where we will leap from world to world, <\/strong><\/em>
Our other lives to be unfurled. <\/strong><\/em>
Pi in the sky? <\/strong><\/em>
Recurring, again, and again, and again…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWRITE IN AND WIN!<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n
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Rewilding for the future<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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A question of biology <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/12\/Vagus_Nerve_Opener-767x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nHelping me understand <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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\n\nTHE TEAM <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
EDITORIAL<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
ART<\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
CONTRIBUTORS<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
ADVERTISING & MARKETING<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
MOBILE<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
INSERTS<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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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