QUESTION:  
What equipment is used to study animals underwater so that your 
skin doesn't freeze? 
 
          Katharine B. of Taylor Road Middle School, 
          Alpharetta, Georgia. 

ANSWER from Sheldon Blackman, Palmer Station Communications Tech and
Independent Underwater Videographer  1/30/97

Divers in the Antarctic wear what are know as "dry suits" for diving.
These suits have built-in boots and seal around the neck and wrists.
Since the suits are dry and hopefully will not leak, the divers can
wear long underwear or insulated clothes underneath for additional
warmth.  The divers cover their heads with a "hood" and their hands
with "three-fingered gloves," both made out of thick wetsuit material.
Only the skin on their faces is exposed.  However, since that skin
is getting a good supply of warm blood from the rest of the body, the
skin just gets very numb, and does not actually freeze.  Thus dry
suits keep the divers internal body temperatures warm, providing warm
blood to the exposed skin and extremities to prevent freezing.