This doesn’t seem to account for convection, which is presumably the entire point of a heat sink?

I’ve never actually seen or heard of this in the UK. It could well be real, but it’s not that common. Most people I know have reasonable spice tolerance given as you say the popularity of Indian food there.

For those who aren’t scientists, no. You don’t need legal access. You don’t necessarily need any access at all (though imo it’s negligent to cite without having read the paper)

Where do you live!? Cocos islands?