When I’m One Hundred and Sixty-four . . .

November’s “Staying Alive,” about the prospects of increased human longevity, was informative, but it overlooked one potential snafu. I am bored silly 90 percent of the time, which is why I read Discover and other tech magazines, and I could not imagine the sense of pure ennui and tedium that life would become if I lived a few centuries or so.

ROBERT SCHREIB JR.

Toms River, New Jersey

Let’s see. If I interpret your November article correctly, I guess I should move to the frigid north slope and live in an igloo, find a 40-year-old woman willing to bear my child, and then get spayed. Do that, and maybe I’ll live to 120. Is that a life? No thanks. Pass me the Twinkies and a shot of bourbon . . .

JAMIESON SPENCER

St. Louis, Missouri

An Article of Faith

Thank you, Ann Druyan, for articulating what I have often struggled to express [“Mistress of the Cosmos Sets Her Sail,” Discover Dialogue, November]. I have tried to explain to those who would have me participate in religious tradition that my spiritualism lies in my curiosity about nature, not in religious doctrine. As a science teacher, I commend you for promoting science education. I agree that in order to have citizens who can participate in informed decision making, we must dispel myths and provide as many opportunities as possible for learning about the evidence we have for how the universe works.

ROBERTA COULTER

Danville, Pennsylvania

Ann Druyan is to be commended for her efforts to promote science education. Still, it is fascinating that she can explain away religious beliefs as a response to fear of the unknown and at the same time demonstrate her own apparent fears of the unknown in rejecting the possibility of a single creation source. I extend the idea that, contrary to the concept of a planned creation being disproved by science, new understandings of the workings of our universe validate the presence of an intelligence greater than our own.

GAYLE PINSKE

Madera, California

I respect Ann Druyan for her love of science; however, she errs in equating faith with “superstition” and asserting that “unquestioning faith and science are antithetical.” It is erroneous to set up a false dichotomy between faith and science. Many a great scientist has found real intellectual inspiration in the idea that there is an Intelligent Designer who imparted to the universe order and meaning.

DAVID GRAHAM

Edmond, Oklahoma

“Mistress of the Cosmos Sets Her Sail” is, in my opinion, the most important two pages Discover has published in years. It’s too bad it wasn’t the cover story. Thanks to Ms. Druyan for continuing to try to make science accessible to the public.

J. R. STATON

Moore, Oklahoma