diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 7c5e0fcbf..4768ee2d2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         conda install setuptools pip wheel build packaging numpy cython bzip2 hdf5 lzo 'typing_extensions<4.2'
-        # We can use either the c-blosc2 package in conda/conda-forge or the official wheel (blosc2 in PyPI).
-        # conda install c-blosc2
         pip install -r requirements.txt
         # conda install sphinx sphinx_rtd_theme numpydoc ipython
     - name: Source distribution
diff --git a/.github/workflows/wheels.yml b/.github/workflows/wheels.yml
index 2cae8c8c6..40572aee0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/wheels.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/wheels.yml
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ jobs:
         include:
           - os: macos-latest
             arch: x86_64
-          - os: macos-latest
-            arch: arm64
+          # Still having issues here: https://github.com/PyTables/PyTables/pull/979
+          # - os: macos-latest
+          #   arch: arm64
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -183,11 +184,14 @@ jobs:
         os: [ 'ubuntu-latest', 'windows-latest', 'macos-latest' ]
         python-version: ['3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11']
         arch: ['x64']
-#        include:
-#           This cannot be tested because NumPy does not distribute wheels for arm64
-#           - arch: arm64
-#             cibw_python: "cp*"
-#             os: macos-latest
+        include:
+          - arch: aarch64
+            cibw_python: "cp*"
+            os: ubuntu-latest
+          # Still having issues with wheels for Mac arm64
+          # - arch: arm64
+          #   cibw_python: "cp*"
+          #   os: macos-latest
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
@@ -202,7 +206,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install tables on ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         run: |
-          python -m pip install cython>=0.29.21 numpy>=1.19.0 numexpr>=2.6.2 packaging py-cpuinfo>=9.0.0 blosc2
+          python -m pip install cython>=0.29.21 numpy>=1.19.0 numexpr>=2.6.2 packaging py-cpuinfo>=9.0.0 blosc2~=2.0.0
           python -m pip install --no-index --find-links wheelhouse/artifact/ tables
 
       - name: Run tests on ${{ matrix.python-version }}
diff --git a/doc/source/usersguide/installation.rst b/doc/source/usersguide/installation.rst
index 94e6f09aa..c3fd42b9f 100644
--- a/doc/source/usersguide/installation.rst
+++ b/doc/source/usersguide/installation.rst
@@ -57,8 +57,9 @@ First, make sure that you have
 * c-blosc_ >= 1.11.1 (sources are bundled with PyTables sources but the user can
   use an external version of sources using the :envvar:`BLOSC_DIR` environment
   variable or the `--blosc` flag of the :file:`setup.py`)
-* blosc2_ >= 0.6.6 This is the Python wheel containing *both* the C-Blosc2 libs
-  and headers (>= 2.3.0), as well as the Python wrapper for Blosc2 (not used).
+* python-blosc2_ ~= 2.0.0 This is the Python wheel containing *both* the C-Blosc2 libs
+  and headers (>= 2.6.0), as well as the Python wrapper for Blosc2 (not currently
+  used, but it might be in the future).
 
 installed (for testing purposes, we are using HDF5_ 1.10.7, NumPy_ 1.23.2
 and Numexpr_ 2.8.1 currently). If you don't, fetch and install them before
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ proceeding.
 .. _Numexpr: http://code.google.com/p/numexpr
 .. _Cython: http://www.cython.org
 .. _c-blosc: https://github.com/Blosc/c-blosc
-.. _blosc2_: https://github.com/Blosc/python-blosc2
+.. _python-blosc2_: https://github.com/Blosc/python-blosc2
 
 Compile and install these packages (but see :ref:`prerequisitesBinInst` for
 instructions on how to install pre-compiled binaries if you are not willing
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e1071bf74..022614ad2 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@ requires = [
     "packaging",
     "py-cpuinfo",
     "Cython >=0.29.21",
-    "blosc2 >=0.6.6"
+    "blosc2 ~=2.0.0"
 ]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 4646b4c4e..8d2f5d245 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@ numpy>=1.19.0
 numexpr>=2.6.2
 # blosc2 wheel is actually only needed when compiling on conda envs.
 # Otherwise, lib comes bundled in PyTables wheels (but it doesn't hurt either).
-blosc2>=0.6.6
+blosc2~=2.0.0
 packaging
 py-cpuinfo
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a32e56b42..966be0286 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -113,9 +113,7 @@ def get_blosc2_directories():
     try:
         import blosc2
     except ModuleNotFoundError:
-        raise EnvironmentError(
-            "Cannot find neither the c-blosc2 package nor the "
-            "python-blosc2 wheel")
+        raise EnvironmentError("Cannot import the blosc2 requirement")
     version = blosc2.__version__
     basepath = Path(os.path.dirname(blosc2.__file__))
     recinfo = basepath.parent / f'blosc2-{version}.dist-info' / 'RECORD'
diff --git a/tables/__init__.py b/tables/__init__.py
index 9fd8ae173..168ee4e10 100644
--- a/tables/__init__.py
+++ b/tables/__init__.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 # Necessary imports to get versions stored on the cython extension
 from .utilsextension import get_hdf5_version as _get_hdf5_version
 
-__version__ = "3.7.1.dev0"
+__version__ = "3.8.0"
 """The PyTables version number."""
 
 hdf5_version = _get_hdf5_version()
diff --git a/tables/tests/test_numpy.py b/tables/tests/test_numpy.py
index 18bac2702..931811f02 100644
--- a/tables/tests/test_numpy.py
+++ b/tables/tests/test_numpy.py
@@ -548,24 +548,24 @@ def test04_setIndexNumPy(self):
         # Modify row 1
         # From PyTables 2.0 on, assignments to records can be done
         # only as tuples (see http://projects.scipy.org/scipy/numpy/ticket/315)
-        # table[coords[0]] = ["aasa","x"]+[232]*12
+        # table[coords[0]] = ["aasa","x"]+[123]*12
 
         n = len(Record.columns) - 2
 
-        table[coords[0]] = tuple(["aasa", "x"]+[232]*n)     # XXX
+        table[coords[0]] = tuple(["aasa", "x"]+[123]*n)     # XXX
         # record = list(table[coords[0]])
         record = table.read(coords[0], coords[0] + 1)
         if common.verbose:
             print("Original row:\n"
-                  "['aasa', 'x', True, -24, 232, 232, 232, 232, 232L, "
-                  "232, 232.0, 232.0, (232 + 0j), (232+0j), 232.0, "
-                  "(232+0j)]\n")
+                  "['aasa', 'x', True, 123, 123, 123, 123, 123, 123L, "
+                  "123, 123.0, 123.0, (123 + 0j), (123+0j), 123.0, "
+                  "(123+0j)]\n")
             print("Read row:\n", record)
         self.assertEqual(record['var1'], b'aasa')
         self.assertEqual(record['var2'], b'x')
         self.assertEqual(record['var3'], True)
-        self.assertEqual(record['var4'], -24)
-        self.assertEqual(record['var7'], 232)
+        self.assertEqual(record['var4'], 123)
+        self.assertEqual(record['var7'], 123)
 
 
 # The declaration of the nested table:
diff --git a/tables/tests/test_timetype.py b/tables/tests/test_timetype.py
index 9eae20743..3d4d7a996 100644
--- a/tables/tests/test_timetype.py
+++ b/tables/tests/test_timetype.py
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ def test00_CompareTable(self):
 
         row = tbl.row
         for i in range(nrows):
-            row['i8col'] = i
+            row['i8col'] = np.array(i).astype('i1')
             row['t32col'] = i
             j = i * 2
             row['t64col'] = (j + 0.012, j+1+0.012)
diff --git a/tables/tests/test_types.py b/tables/tests/test_types.py
index b9d7d0967..11c9af4ba 100644
--- a/tables/tests/test_types.py
+++ b/tables/tests/test_types.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test00_range(self):
         i = self.maxshort
         rec['var1'] = '%04d' % (i)
         rec['var2'] = i
-        rec['var3'] = i
+        rec['var3'] = np.array(i).astype('i2')
         rec['var4'] = float(i)
         rec['var5'] = float(i)
         rec['var6'] = float(i)
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def test01_type(self):
         i = self.maxshort
         rec['var1'] = '%04d' % (i)
         rec['var2'] = i
-        rec['var3'] = i % self.maxshort
+        rec['var3'] = np.array(i % self.maxshort).astype('i2')
         rec['var5'] = float(i)
 
         with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
diff --git a/tables/tests/test_vlarray.py b/tables/tests/test_vlarray.py
index 263ded9b7..e7dab1884 100644
--- a/tables/tests/test_vlarray.py
+++ b/tables/tests/test_vlarray.py
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ def test02_BoolAtom(self):
                                              atom=tb.BoolAtom(),
                                              title="Ragged array of Booleans")
         vlarray.append([1, 0, 3])
-        vlarray.append([-1, 0])
+        vlarray.append([1, 0])
 
         if self.reopen:
             name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -616,11 +616,11 @@ def test02b_BoolAtom(self):
                                              atom=tb.BoolAtom(),
                                              title="Ragged array of Booleans")
         vlarray.append([1, 0, 3])
-        vlarray.append([-1, 0])
+        vlarray.append([1, 0])
 
         # Modify the rows
         vlarray[0] = (0, 1, 3)
-        vlarray[1] = (0, -1)
+        vlarray[1] = (0, 1)
 
         if self.reopen:
             name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ def test03_IntAtom(self):
             vlarray = self.h5file.create_vlarray(
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(atype))
             vlarray.append([1, 2, 3])
-            vlarray.append([-1, 0])
+            vlarray.append([1, 0])
 
             if self.reopen:
                 name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ def test03_IntAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(
                 common.allequal(row[0], np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=atype)))
             self.assertTrue(
-                common.allequal(row[1], np.array([-1, 0], dtype=atype)))
+                common.allequal(row[1], np.array([1, 0], dtype=atype)))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ def test03a_IntAtom(self):
             a0 = a0.byteswap()
             a0 = a0.newbyteorder()
             vlarray.append(a0)
-            a1 = np.array([-1, 0], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1, 0], dtype=atype)
             a1 = a1.byteswap()
             a1 = a1.newbyteorder()
             vlarray.append(a1)
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ def test03a_IntAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([-1, 0], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
+                row[1], np.array([1, 0], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -757,11 +757,11 @@ def test03b_IntAtom(self):
             vlarray = self.h5file.create_vlarray(
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(atype))
             vlarray.append([1, 2, 3])
-            vlarray.append([-1, 0])
+            vlarray.append([1, 0])
 
             # Modify rows
             vlarray[0] = (3, 2, 1)
-            vlarray[1] = (0, -1)
+            vlarray[1] = (0, 1)
 
             if self.reopen:
                 name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ def test03b_IntAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(
                 common.allequal(row[0], np.array([3, 2, 1], dtype=atype)))
             self.assertTrue(
-                common.allequal(row[1], np.array([0, -1], dtype=atype)))
+                common.allequal(row[1], np.array([0, 1], dtype=atype)))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ def test03c_IntAtom(self):
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(ttypes[atype]))
             a0 = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a0)
-            a1 = np.array([-1, 0], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1, 0], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a1)
 
             # Modify rows
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ def test03c_IntAtom(self):
             a0 = a0.byteswap()
             a0 = a0.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[0] = a0
-            a1 = np.array([0, -1], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([0, 1], dtype=atype)
             a1 = a1.byteswap()
             a1 = a1.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[1] = a1
@@ -836,7 +836,7 @@ def test03c_IntAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([3, 2, 1], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([0, -1], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
+                row[1], np.array([0, 1], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ def test03d_IntAtom(self):
                 byteorder=byteorder)
             a0 = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a0)
-            a1 = np.array([-1, 0], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1, 0], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a1)
 
             # Modify rows
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ def test03d_IntAtom(self):
             a0 = a0.byteswap()
             a0 = a0.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[0] = a0
-            a1 = np.array([0, -1], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([0, 1], dtype=atype)
             a1 = a1.byteswap()
             a1 = a1.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[1] = a1
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ def test03d_IntAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([3, 2, 1], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([0, -1], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
+                row[1], np.array([0, 1], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ def test04_FloatAtom(self):
             vlarray = self.h5file.create_vlarray(
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(atype))
             vlarray.append([1.3, 2.2, 3.3])
-            vlarray.append([-1.3e34, 1.e-32])
+            vlarray.append([5.96, .597])
 
             if self.reopen:
                 name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ def test04_FloatAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([1.3, 2.2, 3.3], atype)))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([-1.3e34, 1.e-32], atype)))
+                row[1], np.array([5.96, .597], atype)))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ def test04a_FloatAtom(self):
             a0 = a0.byteswap()
             a0 = a0.newbyteorder()
             vlarray.append(a0)
-            a1 = np.array([-1.3e34, 1.e-32], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([5.96, .597], dtype=atype)
             a1 = a1.byteswap()
             a1 = a1.newbyteorder()
             vlarray.append(a1)
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@ def test04a_FloatAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([1.3, 2.2, 3.3], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([-1.3e34, 1.e-32], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
+                row[1], np.array([5.96, .597], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -1017,11 +1017,11 @@ def test04b_FloatAtom(self):
             vlarray = self.h5file.create_vlarray(
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(atype))
             vlarray.append([1.3, 2.2, 3.3])
-            vlarray.append([-1.3e34, 1.e-32])
+            vlarray.append([5.96, .597])
 
             # Modifiy some rows
             vlarray[0] = (4.3, 2.2, 4.3)
-            vlarray[1] = (-1.1e34, 1.3e-32)
+            vlarray[1] = (1.123, 1.1e-3)
 
             if self.reopen:
                 name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ def test04b_FloatAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([4.3, 2.2, 4.3], atype)))
             self.assertTrue(
-                common.allequal(row[1], np.array([-1.1e34, 1.3e-32], atype)))
+                common.allequal(row[1], np.array([1.123, 1.1e-3], atype)))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ def test04c_FloatAtom(self):
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(ttypes[atype]))
             a0 = np.array([1.3, 2.2, 3.3], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a0)
-            a1 = np.array([-1, 0], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1, 0], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a1)
 
             # Modify rows
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ def test04c_FloatAtom(self):
             a0 = a0.byteswap()
             a0 = a0.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[0] = a0
-            a1 = np.array([-1.1e34, 1.3e-32], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1.123, 1.1e-3], dtype=atype)
             a1 = a1.byteswap()
             a1 = a1.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[1] = a1
@@ -1097,7 +1097,7 @@ def test04c_FloatAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([4.3, 2.2, 4.3], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([-1.1e34, 1.3e-32], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
+                row[1], np.array([1.123, 1.1e-3], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ def test04d_FloatAtom(self):
                 byteorder=byteorder)
             a0 = np.array([1.3, 2.2, 3.3], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a0)
-            a1 = np.array([-1, 0], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1, 0], dtype=atype)
             vlarray.append(a1)
 
             # Modify rows
@@ -1134,7 +1134,7 @@ def test04d_FloatAtom(self):
             a0 = a0.byteswap()
             a0 = a0.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[0] = a0
-            a1 = np.array([-1.1e34, 1.3e-32], dtype=atype)
+            a1 = np.array([1.123, 1.1e-3], dtype=atype)
             a1 = a1.byteswap()
             a1 = a1.newbyteorder()
             vlarray[1] = a1
@@ -1159,7 +1159,7 @@ def test04d_FloatAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([4.3, 2.2, 4.3], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([-1.1e34, 1.3e-32], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
+                row[1], np.array([1.123, 1.1e-3], dtype=ttypes[atype])))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -1184,7 +1184,7 @@ def test04_ComplexAtom(self):
             vlarray = self.h5file.create_vlarray(
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(atype))
             vlarray.append([(1.3 + 0j), (0+2.2j), (3.3+3.3j)])
-            vlarray.append([(0-1.3e34j), (1.e-32 + 0j)])
+            vlarray.append([(0-5.96j), (.597 + 0j)])
 
             if self.reopen:
                 name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -1203,7 +1203,7 @@ def test04_ComplexAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([(1.3 + 0j), (0+2.2j), (3.3+3.3j)], atype)))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([(0-1.3e34j), (1.e-32 + 0j)], atype)))
+                row[1], np.array([(0-5.96j), (.597 + 0j)], atype)))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -1229,11 +1229,11 @@ def test04b_ComplexAtom(self):
             vlarray = self.h5file.create_vlarray(
                 '/', atype, atom=tb.Atom.from_sctype(atype))
             vlarray.append([(1.3 + 0j), (0+2.2j), (3.3+3.3j)])
-            vlarray.append([(0-1.3e34j), (1.e-32 + 0j)])
+            vlarray.append([(0-5.96j), (.597 + 0j)])
 
             # Modify the rows
             vlarray[0] = ((1.4 + 0j), (0+4.2j), (3.3+4.3j))
-            vlarray[1] = ((4-1.3e34j), (1.e-32 + 4j))
+            vlarray[1] = ((4-5.96j), (.597 + 4j))
 
             if self.reopen:
                 name = vlarray._v_pathname
@@ -1252,7 +1252,7 @@ def test04b_ComplexAtom(self):
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
                 row[0], np.array([(1.4 + 0j), (0+4.2j), (3.3+4.3j)], atype)))
             self.assertTrue(common.allequal(
-                row[1], np.array([(4-1.3e34j), (1.e-32 + 4j)], atype)))
+                row[1], np.array([(4-5.96j), (.597 + 4j)], atype)))
             self.assertEqual(len(row[0]), 3)
             self.assertEqual(len(row[1]), 2)
 
@@ -1741,7 +1741,7 @@ def test02_BoolAtom(self):
                                              tb.BoolAtom(shape=(3,)),
                                              "Ragged array of Booleans")
         vlarray.append([(1, 0, 3), (1, 1, 1), (0, 0, 0)])
-        vlarray.append([(-1, 0, 0)])
+        vlarray.append([(1, 0, 0)])
 
         # Read all the rows:
         row = vlarray.read()
@@ -1773,7 +1773,7 @@ def test02b_BoolAtom(self):
         a = np.array(
             [(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 3), (1, 1, 1), (0, 0, 0)], dtype='bool')
         vlarray.append(a[1:])  # Create an offset
-        a = np.array([(1, 1, 1), (-1, 0, 0)], dtype='bool')
+        a = np.array([(1, 1, 1), (1, 0, 0)], dtype='bool')
         vlarray.append(a[1:])  # Create an offset
 
         # Read all the rows:
@@ -1806,7 +1806,7 @@ def test02c_BoolAtom(self):
         a = np.array(
             [(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 3), (1, 1, 1), (0, 0, 0)], dtype='bool')
         vlarray.append(a[1::2])  # Create an strided array
-        a = np.array([(1, 1, 1), (-1, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)], dtype='bool')
+        a = np.array([(1, 1, 1), (1, 0, 0), (0, 0, 0)], dtype='bool')
         vlarray.append(a[::2])  # Create an strided array
 
         # Read all the rows:
@@ -2360,7 +2360,7 @@ def test04_FloatAtom(self):
             vlarray.flavor = self.flavor
             vlarray.append([1.3, 2.2, 3.3])
             vlarray.append(())
-            vlarray.append([-1.3e34, 1.e-32])
+            vlarray.append([5.96, .597])
 
             # Read all the rows:
             row = vlarray.read()
@@ -2377,11 +2377,11 @@ def test04_FloatAtom(self):
             if self.flavor == "python":
                 arr1 = list(np.array([1.3, 2.2, 3.3], atype))
                 arr2 = list(np.array([], atype))
-                arr3 = list(np.array([-1.3e34, 1.e-32], atype))
+                arr3 = list(np.array([5.96, .597], atype))
             elif self.flavor == "numpy":
                 arr1 = np.array([1.3, 2.2, 3.3], dtype=atype)
                 arr2 = np.array([], dtype=atype)
-                arr3 = np.array([-1.3e34, 1.e-32], dtype=atype)
+                arr3 = np.array([5.96, .597], dtype=atype)
 
             if self.flavor == "numpy":
                 self.assertTrue(common.allequal(row[0], arr1, self.flavor))