to the editor: The decline in trust in science reported in Hayley Smith's article was no surprise to this former medical writer currently living in the intense heat of Arizona (“The Earth continues to warm and Americans' trust in science is declining.” January 15).
From time to time I have had conversations with neighbors about the heat. Most of the conversations have been thoughtful, but some have veered into absurd territory. One conversation in particular sticks with me.
Discussing the difficulty of staying cool on a 111-degree day, one neighbor said, “Oh, Arizonans have been dealing with really hot weather since the dinosaurs lived here. People always find a way, and we don't need hysterical scientists telling us what to do.”
I felt like asking what kind of dinosaur designed the air conditioning that was still running in his car while he picked up his mail. But I thought better of the idea.
Maria Stanik, Tucson
