The research on how infants learn to coordinate movement ("Minds on the move," SN: 3/20/99, p. 184) would seem to be most applicable in modern homes with floors and central heating. In some cultures, notably in cold climates, infants remain mostly wrapped and strapped to their mothers for up to a year. Has there been any comparative study with these infants?

Carol Burns
Olympia, Wash.

The first paragraph of "Fickle climate thwarts future forecasts" (SN: 2/27/99, p. 133) mistakenly refers to Sisyphus as the person who constantly reaches for elusive goals. Sisyphus was doomed to forever push a rock uphill, only to have it roll back down.

Tantalus, however, was tempted from above by grapes that moved away when he reached for them, and from below by water that receded when he tried to drink it.

David Bartczak
Huntington Woods, Mich.

I feel that the title and subtitle of the article "Redefining dioxins: Once dreaded as industrial poisons, some of these compounds may prove to be natural—even beneficial" (SN: 3/6/99, p. 156) were very misleading. They suggest that the extremely dangerous dioxins like TCDD have now been found to be beneficial, when this is not the case, as the article goes on to explain. The content of the article was excellent, as usual.

Lynn Markham
Chippewa Falls, Wis.

What a letdown to see an article such as "Redefining dioxins" in Science News. What a perfect out for the producers of these once-dreaded and, yes, still-dreaded industrial poisons.

We are now instructed to label any and every entity that binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) as dioxin. Then, we encounter the sidebar telling us that dioxins are actually anticancer agents and that breakdown products of broccoli, cabbage, and brussels sprouts activate the very same Ahr receptor that dioxins do.

To rename beneficial, naturally occurring molecules as dioxins—rather than informing, clarifying, educating, and enlightening—would disinform and defraud, as well as cloud, the issues.

Linda J. Tanner
Black, Mo.