Dangerous dental sealants?

allow three different levels of carbon dioxide to be maintained, with identical plants grown in each section. Broecker said they are looking at conducting long-term experiments (perhaps decades-long) that emphasize perennial plants. They will look at factors such as the quality of fruits and nuts, as well as water-use efficiency. Many questions remain about what experiments to conduct, what plants to study, and how to conduct studies, Broecker said. "We want to use the bios-phere for things we can't do elsewhere," he said. "It would be silly to use this expensive structure for experiments that could be done in smaller labs." For example, the ocean biome of Biosphere 2 offers a unique opportunity to study oceanic phenomena in a controlled setting. Researchers plan to study the effects of rising carbon dioxide on the growth of coral. "This is something we can do that others can't," Broecker said. In searching for the best ways to use Biosphere 2 for scientific purposes, the Columbia management is welcoming input from other scientists. "We have to explore other people's opinions about the validity of what we want to do," Broecker said. "I think the success of the place requires that we make close ties with experts from around the world. That gives us more credibility and prevents us from making dumb mistakes." Columbia officials have been collaborating with the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Broecker said that the information highway is bringing universities in closer contact with one another to work on projects such as Biosphere 2. "We hope to make Biosphere 2 a center for plant physiology," he said. In addition to directing research at Biosphere 2, Columbia will also introduce educational programs. These include a college level program in earth and environmental sciences, a "semester abroad" program in which students from around the world can conduct research at the bios-phere, an earth sciences curriculum linked through the World Wide Web, and teacher workshops. Columbia also plans to expand the science and visitors' center, which will be open to the public. No more live-in missions are planned for Biosphere 2 at this time, according to university officials. The use of dental sealants containing bisphenol-A-related compounds should be reevaluated, according to researchers at the A fter World War II, impoverished people throughout the world were suffering A from health problems such as chronic malnutrition, communicable diseases, and parasitic infections, and many people …