*********** 052693A.BIO *********** Contributory Categories: ENG, ENV Country: Japan From: Japan Technology Highlights v. 4, no. 9 p. 4-5 April 21, 1993 Translated from NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBAN KEYWORDS: Japan, Biotechnology, Nuclear reactor This has to be one of the dumbest as well as one of the most politically insensitive examples of advanced technology development. A proposal by the Japanese Nuclear Power group to voluntarily put a nuclear reactor on the sea floor. This is after all the concern about the dumping of radioactive waste etc. by the Russians in the Sea of Japan and elsewhere and the stink about the Japanese importation of plutonium from France. The idea is heat water in the more nutrient rich deeper waters to culture organisms at 400 deg. C as opposed to the ambient deep water temperature of about 4 deg. C. This would in essence would be an attempt to create an artificial deep-sea vent community. I can't begin to go into all the problems and oceanographic misconceptions about this project. I am sure anyone who reads this can name several without even thinking. It certainly shows that money and brains don't always go together. ************** END Msg. A.BIO **************