Readers discuss quantum gravity and more

Words matter

An ancient grave with a sword, shield and mirror belonged to a woman who about 2,000 years ago may have fought in raids and helped fend off enemy attacks in what’s now southwestern England, Bruce Bower reported in “Iron Age warrior grave belonged to a woman” (SN: 1/13/24, p. 5).

Reader Cathryn Brenner expressed disappointment in a phrase in the story. “The woman warrior was described as potentially having a ‘violent streak.’ The connotation of violent streak, if not the actual meaning, is negative and used to describe a personality trait that is evidenced in the frequent use of violence or physical harm to others across many contexts,” Brenner wrote.