“The Tooth Fairy” studyScientists have searched for the cause of autism for decades. They have found trends — such as children with older siblings with autism are at significantly higher risk — but have yet to discover its trigger.Researchers at the University of Washington are part of a national study looking at the baby teeth of the siblings of children who have autism. The Fishers have been enlisted to take part.Since the teeth are collected from young children, the research quickly earned a nickname, “The Tooth Fairy” study.Scientists will analyze the teeth looking for signs of exposure to toxins, such as pesticides, flame retardants, chemicals that soften plastics, and heavy metals such as lead, which can affect the development of genes.A scientific instrument is used to determine when a child was exposed to a contaminant.
Artificial tooth enamel could one day lead to the development of materials that could be a better alternative to the metals currently used to build airplane fuselages and automobile chassis. The fake enamel is not only lighter, the researchers say it’s able to withstand the constant vibrations, pressures, plus expansions and compressions that metals experience during flights, which overtime lead to microscopic cracks and eventual structure failure—the last thing you want at 30,000 feet.
