Inside the Womb
These superb pictures brilliantly illustrate the miracle of the earliest days of life--our very first photo album! ROSE MCBRIDE SAMRA Portage, Mich.
I am nine months pregnant, and i was totally mesmerized by your report [SCIENCE, Nov. 11]. The pictures of a baby's brain, heart, stomach, umbilical cord and other major organs were amazing. This is our first baby (it's a boy), and to see all of what's growing inside me was a blessing from God. JENNIFER BARNARD Apple Valley, Calif.
Thank you so much for the fascinating images and the article "Inside the Womb." As a registered nurse, I can appreciate the importance of these pictures and the story, especially for teaching my teenage friends. High-quality information presented in easily understood language is a valuable aid to remind the young to think before they act. MARJORIE HARCK, R.N. Lubbock, Texas
As a labor and delivery nurse, I have to say the images from conception to birth were amazing. Maybe if more people read this article, they would think twice before having an abortion. Michele Salvatore New York City
Regardless of anyone's stance on abortion, one fact has become clear, as you stated: "No matter what the species, nature uses virtually the same nails and screws, the same hammers and power tools to put an embryo together." With this knowledge under our belt, it is irresponsible if not morally reprehensible for us to continue exploiting other species for our selfish purposes. Whether we slaughter animals for food, skin them for clothing or goad them into entertaining us at the circus, we can no longer deny our kinship with them. CHRISTINA J. JOHNSON Long Beach, Calif.
Viewing this gallery of images was a unique experience. I thank photographer Alexander Tsiaras for his beautiful work. It is a moving masterpiece. BONNIE DENHARDT Salt Lake City, Utah
The timing of your article was perfect. My wife and I read it as she was entering her second trimester of pregnancy. What an outstanding education in the technology we call life! GREG HURD Santa Rosa, Calif.
The Gathering Gloom
In his piece about the early onset of darkness, Walter Kirn calls for an emergency extension of daylight saving time (DST) so it will be light later [ESSAY, Nov. 11]. Unlike Kirn, I'm glad dst is over. Without sunlight, I had trouble waking up and facing a new day's challenges. An extra hour of light in the afternoon doesn't really do any good. Who is going to take a walk in diminishing sunlight when it's almost freezing outside? Extending DST is not going to change people's perception of winter very much. Winter isn't a gloomy time; it enables us to look forward to spring. If Kirn wants a new calendar, he should be looking into the Chinese lunar calendar, in which spring starts promptly on Jan. 1. ANDREW HUANG Willington, Conn.
Re daylight saving time: fix the time, and forget it! I'm tired of resetting clocks. JOHN MASON LOUGHLIN Eugene, Ore.
Taking It on Faith