POETRY OF SCIENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 709, 7 January 1910, Page 9

POETRY OF SCIENCE.

;PnOPESB6B;A7; W.; Bickeeton.) ;;,,: ;--.:.if l ,weibok-witb.'a:!prism of glass';at a, :be"iun! : ;of,.sunb;gii't .reflected, from-;a/silver bead,,'.the' ; 'shining.spot.!becomes' a!strip of /inariy' coloured ;lighl:;/as/.thpugli/we i.h'adjbut a;jibbori:frbmacross/a rainbow/ ;.A'be"am'.bf:sunlight-'is:'a ;buhdlp of, beau-: ;tifui:ltbKads; >of that, ;seen! : together^', look' .whitev prism'.'has. th'e.-'pb.wir:, tb; y: be'nd; ..the :it, bends"sombicbloiifs iriora 'thaniothe'rs.'and 'sorts 'the;! ray., of (-light; into ; its: con 1 ;; s'tituents,'--bending.'" thb :',viblet:; nibstVand. 'the red -least:',;,There/^^are-strands it. bends iiiipre than ,thb:violet,, but'the eye. cannot, "(ietedt they;; will .tell.! of-their; 'phbtbgraphic Tilin'.; Light ';coiisis!t's !'bf ,;wa!ves; of.'a';substance ;c'al)ed !ethe'r,'-. : ',whicK .as ; eyeiTwbere.»'.'lt;-reaches "frbm.tho earthtbth'e'suiij.and,from star: ; to:'star;!;'A team' of!white;light is':lilcb ; a !niany-colouTed 'threadVof,:.wMl, : .;.;its;.;strucr: : :ture'is';wa,vy, the yaribus'cplours'.are; .ooarse„iwoblj;;:.:th6;; ;v/aves; are''ybng,.;"the -violet-is. shorter, -and.! those'outside, -the: "viblet:,tho..shortest y'of'.,all., -AVhenv the ; light; has ■! passed., thrpugli; • we c'aiFath'e:-;' "rainbp-w-tihted..^,streak'' , '.-.the.' ;spectfuiii;, and-initlhe.: waves are Sail ;in ; .order',;;-"assorted.i according;'to ilength;:,' If :we ;loo,k .th'rbugh'-a; prism ;'at. the' .'coloured lancesj'bf - a. set'.piece rof/! fireworks ;;ei-ery. lance";;.is.:!a>spectrum^i,'but •'. tho.-;speptTa; ;.v.ary; accbrding,io ,the<x)lpur..';,!Eacli:burn-.irigviiahceV-shows! bands;;bf;;'its especial corour/.ani^th'e,exact;place of the.bands on;tlie : !tinted: ; ribbbn'Vtells:-'by .the'.atbmib. : is! being. btiTnt. and: is 'giving xolour- to the ;differMt ;^flames.. : /;..:■';■ ;H::;;';!^ ';>:!?;>;;;:;';;';■!:;■ i 3'->-i-'

l';ii-,ThisS'detectjbn'rbf::-ra«idls.--'--and f^dth«:| ; chbmical;;subs>ariceS;;.hy;:;flio;:lightr;they : •give' through'; a ! ;prism is.'.called' spectrilnj 'wonderful of 'air;;kirid^bf;arialysis.>; ; ,By.:j ■'irs;aid:.'wo;'cari' de.tect'tho.ten-thoiisandth'l -ip'art;of' a grain {of common: bait; . We.cari., .'light;^fK'the::'sriu,; i ;of; stars; these'iuis-' !:tant:bodies':':Me:;niade' ; ',bf, ,ariA;-nbt-.;.bnly : , '<■ u( 'what;triey?'are^iiade^,blit h'f brmatibri,-'for;' .• : ic^e^by.;.preKft'r^.'.'.and''.'.by'.inoti6nV ; );;They';' i; altera when-;:ihe; sun; is:- eclipsed;,|br, full, 1 alter if : ;the;bbdy'.fis':*spiririing dr?at -sb.-that .-astronomical -.spectrograiusi .are hvenrablb^telegtahiß^teUingf.^s^the'jstpry.:. ! bf -the'staTa,;.;;,,;^;.^;,;'^:^v ; i;';W; ;; ;:-:;L'•;' ■-•-' i;

f S;;Thfi;message\seritlby;hew, i ,star9;is;very 'aporiiplexi'• and'. astronomers", ifind it: hard /to? read, Jaiid ■ 'dlfferVimu'ch'.: a»/to, whatjit; ?is''saving.V?;The-;wbriderfui;: thing .'about :thb/third; bbdy.;;theory ;.of;.the;prigia; of, .hew stars-is,- that it-told'•■ in-the/miriutest-detail'/dll;; the ■''wbuld:''produc'o .exactly.? the-Idnd'ofspec-. itra';-that.Vis now; abtually. seen, : '..;and ; ;;did ■it : a-;dozeri : ; : years;hefbre:. : the.; astronomers • , had ! ',phetbeT.aphed:'tHem.:.';Tho; common-, : bstV;.ei«menty.that ;-;shpws'.; itself :';iri.;;.star. ;saiue'#siory ; Jis f; told :;;by,vbthbr/elements;) ';b'ydrbgfchX'generally . tells -it.-,best, %?/.;,''.'; ?of ; :;new];starSi : ;.js; 'thatsdeadvisuns > have come-;^iiitb/-partial: iiripiict; ''have;! had- a ;piec'e)3iit-/frbni'"each,; ; :; the ; vpiecesj,; haye ; their, .'• fief y■; scars/ k '■■' '-•' -';' •.'•'■- ■■■''■';'-" : /'--. ';;'-''//-;• : ..; : >Accpfdirig;.''to' .Professor ; vSimoii-X'-.-New-. : :c'bfaiban : !"Sidelißhts' i .pn;:'As'tr6nomy,v| i fM/ ; new;':stars-irire/the .iriqst;' Astpnishing. iphenbmeriav'.of arid/as ;'inexplicV ;ablb''.W'the^ bf;/partial impact;.-does inot/'lessen.-;, their Hvonder,.; but; most certainly..":.takes;:w {their/mystefy.'u^ -tunes.'scbres; of:lthbiisands;;of. ; times.;.tho. ;brilliancy-'ofr,tne/suny, ~./'v/?;;;■ '.{':' ■/■■;/?•,- {■ ; Cha racter';df /New./Sfars^/;;/ '.. p^i^l ';'/ : 'to ; ;-de'ductiohs,;;.'from.;- this fthebry/if-ithey ; Vedihy>:thfl:'grazirig .ini'p'act.-off dead 'suns; Inew ystars■i.shbuld,: : :...haye:...certain --.i.well-. '.defined/bharactefistics. ■■:;;';■. -..;. ■$,:&■''■?:!;■■:'■'■■;; : ;in' less -thai varii hour;; for {a ; ;.week.or ; iso,/alminish:;fqrra;;lew;m 'then; disappear'';by f ;;.diffiiEafiptt';Vilito;.;cpn'!. ;'centric' jplarietafy. riebulae;',.'; They'i'shpuld; I give ! . at first;; aV.stellar J;''spectrum'f-'crpssed; I displacbdviowards/.the: I'ibands. being; shauiAved',nni,tho/yiolet'v'side';by '■• absprption;,liries. ! ii-The Waflds-.of s h'y/ ■dfpgen vßnbiild :tie'.' : ,wider j jhantthe {hblium; .bands; ; and;the'.displaceriie'rit of'.tho/.black: vlirien :that,|;bf< l ;Ubliurfl>/ln-'aU:btheryelements the.bands; (wiUtb'etriarrewer/; thari/the ; .'ribliuin;:barids/' i : i displaberiiMt /ef ;j the;:' black/lihefe, i prpp'ortipriately.-. less;;;beirig;:na'rroweif: as' ■the j; atdmioV'.weight;vrif/ the;?element //is; /heavier. / ; *-&P7\ssW:'s£%-'s''s 1 //After; some itim'e'' tlie '■black;, bands' wbul d idiei. but;}',-:.:. Then /thb',;;brighfebari'ds;..;bf ;hydr^eri/ r aridiihelmiri:;'shduld;c:;alsp.s;die; ■put;- arid 'as - the/bands /the.' elementa i tpf.;heavier/;eleiriehts)':;sKbu!d;;shbwL;them-; I'selvesV /especially':•'^^those; : :h'4yirig ■itySfor 'bxygerii;; asliitro'g'en,; neon,'.argon,. .'etc',:-: ; ; ;lf./the: -graze;-: 'of-:;'.the'::dead; sun's -be va"idebpy;oriej'ithcsß:may;forria;..a;permarieri .:nebulae/':;;«{:.;;,';^/';;-/';;'//.' ' ,'prepiably-;lessen,'- the.,width -of- tlioiblazo' iDari'ds/arid'-thevdisplaceriienticf the;dark ihydrogen/lines//shouid':.-ript)'-appVe'ciably' 'diriiiriish;/bv'en:;when;.:they.;die ..put./-; The; ;helmm-vWou!d. : ribt.;lesseriV;ui'ueh/ ! . ; dark/lines; tenHingitbVpermanbricy;'''should; ■ ; dimiriish;'and/have .filially .•liiiti'.slight: (lis'/ i.placerhent,'.-arid : >;;the;;,permaneht',: fright |;biiridVshbuld ';I)e/narrow.;';:, ; rihally,;. an !;.pbject;'shbwirig:?ai;fluctuating.Jight ; :;riiiiy' '.be ! :left;aftbr;'all\,else;his' disappeared;;»'ln I ivery'/deepV' grazes,.,^yariable ; ;.and,.;r'dbiible' ''stars;-mayi.be-left./'as:may ;also,;irieteoric. '.swariris,-'andjiiltiriiately:'starVclii§ters.'. l;An-..eta'miriatibn'■,-btTth«::', :.new., ; stars.',arid/their.',spbbtra , \confirriis':nl--'mbs't: ! ey'ery,.pne/pf'';these ';deductioris, ;thus; wiping-away: every;., trace j of Jthe. mystery. ~in'',the^ ! phenomeria;'>.-,of ; ; :,-'theyi;tempbrary Jfrpni;the';dawn>ef;.liistbry,..,.;;.;;/.'•';/: .;'

IT He' Mysteries/bf f New'-; Stars v;/^,:;;-///;;,. ;i : ;It : ,waS:',the...blaze.'.bf ;ari; imm"crise.;star' ■in itheJScorpibn •that,caused >;Hipparchus; 'tc: draw ■'■: up,; his 1 .historic: 1 ist 'of.' the;; stars.'Itjwas ;the .Avonderful Pilgrims star, that '!brliliast',; temporary.: 0f',1572, vthat,'madethe'.'alchbmist Tycho.-'Brahe-into■ anVomi- . rierit.' astrpnbmer. ■ ■ It, is J, the unlocking 'of 'the-mysteries of;new stars that has shown .;ris;the;key.to/the.evolution/of the.'urii-;ver'se,-.;,aild. converted;the ; ch'ab3;of- astro.ripriiical; fact .into a cpsrriic system—a: key ■at. : present:; handled and: tossed about 'by astroriomers,: biit.:a's; yet-they .have .riot. , tried'to; fit,it. into its. wards i:.they have nptiopened--'the.:;:dobr;-;'and'.looked".upon, this:;solution,'of- many.:of .Nature's deepest- mysteries.y-v-"''-:':'- /.--"":?; ;;V; : -'."':",:. : ''-,"■■' i.-Tt. is; a-mplancholy fact'how the lack of .training' causes /astfpnprabrs .t'o-misread.:spectra.'•-'; Here is a::ca'se where .'physical;r«asatiing:told-the' very, character ot'the: actual ; ; pheuomeria; that; niu'st pro-, duce just such 'spebtra;'!-Yet-astronomers cannot .read it aright,;' although' they, have seen: it/'scores'.of 'times.' Could anything, be more conclusive as to the cause' of hew ' start ? - Dead. suns' a're.'.adniitt'eel'; to;exist in myriads. '..Grazing'.impacts' aro admitted: to; 'be''more probable than direct inipacte.;:'. Physical:, reasoning y tolls ; that a; griiie must ,pro^iicb:-;a : ;third-::body'and must bo, an'.explosion; while,on the other hand•astrbnomers...talk; oi■.. -.stellar'.';ciplo-; sioris as/having.'certainly-bccnrxed.-';Eo-, toting-.dead'-suns with;fiery,-scars riiust, send .;their : search.- light ; around'- the, ;he'a'vons,o.and/.be/;variable:. stars. ;; Vari-' able stars must'be.for sometime iri pairs. Astrbrioinical, researbh;'.shows that .they. are:»..: They,,mrist;spmetinies , be,';'siir--roiinded s by/luminous.'- cosmicv;dust.: •• .'Research Bhpws-that they are so surrounded., .This'should...be brightest; at vraininium,-, ':and-' it : . :k. Ho'. ;y The,;third ".body", should .show .'aJßcries'.'bf :complex spectra';bf.' a /particular type, and;new, stars: show. all , thb' characteristics.' that' physical, reasoning tells.us.they/.sheuld.'.'So/much, for ..this.; fragment; 0f,., this; 'theory .of, .cosmic, evolution. ;'} tt' :'/''•;■ ' "/./■-; /'--'-'' -'-:'" : --'■'-' ■': -Wo/have- nbt'done-;with..;our three bodies, yet. Por .'convenience ' I;' havo calletl ;-the". two ."dead suns -'."Flint;--, and. : Steel'-";' and.: the'.loxploding: mass /'Cosmic, Spark.", 'Eemeniber'. this -cosmic, spark, ;may be' ten million times the mass bf tho :nften.is:eyen;a greater mass,'.and. reason.•irig; from.,etar.-;clusters'.'tells -that some; times it may :bb Jnlariy' times greater- than that. ,:,We left;..' Flint: and Steel- flying ; from the Cosmic Spark, Cosmic Spark ox-

ploding, .and its gas becoming a.hugo shell; -Khich is called a planetary nebula. It-expands so fast as ,to. enclose flint and steel.inside its vast gas globe. ■'••..■' '

Doub|e Stars; /";-; ;|Cbsmio ■'.- bodies .get up'most of'their, .speed;when, near each other. A. comet falling {fl'om. .the earth on to the sun ..wqiilif ;gefc up.uioro than ten iinies .as much speed as one would acquiro in falling from a fixed star to; the earth. .In;:tlie same;,.-way-, bodies lose speed, in leaving : ehch other',' so the headlong : rush ■ of'.a'graze will bo mainly over. in.a day , .Bill.iri'the case of Fjint and Steel.tbey' .hot; only, pull 'one another, but Cosmic: Spark: (the third body) pnlh them as ;ivell;.sb. their, final speed- is less:than-be-;foro: they.'begah to.fall. togctlier.. Sometimes,. they. will. never get entirely away. :froni;each .other's, They will be '.wedded 'into: double 'stars.-. --"-■

. .There are . thousands, on thousands of .stars -that'.;,to the .naked : eye look just .ortUn'aryrstnrs,. that,-. when;seen through. .tiigopd telescope/are found to bo. ; double'.. '■It 'is; a.i common test for of a : telescope .to be able.; to; see I'that. certain stars'.are' double... 1 Examining' these .stars :witk -a, ,'t«lescdpe. armed, with a -prism,, 'the').hydrogen'-'and 1 , other bands areVseen. :'to/pe:-displaced;ririd to'differ-in'such'a: :way'as";to -tell us;that the; double stars, are'revolving; around-oacb',other; v.-They. constitute a .solar system with'two. suns of ten:-differently, coloured. "'.',. ';> Life- on. a planet with a pair of suns -.would.be full of, variety.- .Tile, eccentrici--tios ;.bf ,;,tlie':'mpst;' varied!-; seasons .would be nothing to: it.,■"-. But at present .we are not/interested in the, speculative, poetry !of Science'.'; :;.!We are. ih'-the;realm'.of the: .real. ;.i> Now 'wo : are 'interested 'in! how, ;stars:banie/to .be' : ,wedded;.in, inseparable pairs; '•' Insome;cnses doubtless;there were; ■two ;huolei .formed' in .'the star; mist'- 1 thatgave :,birth:-to'.the -system;-' ; passing,;.'near ' one-- another: :tirfles.r,esult;.in','.wedding;-twb of 'them into - -a.double staiyvßut,the characteristics of. •■ tiese'-i'twin;.sunssuggests; that .most of! been, ;wedded ; by ..'a/partial .impact. ■ .'.The./.mutual-pull ,bf, the.escan-, ing .scarrcd/.suhs that'we-have 'agreed to cail;';"!Eiint:!;sind ; !:Steel," .aided: .by; the; 'pull: ofc.tho;.spark.-.struck, off, may. pre;; !veht.Vtuem '.'iescaping'each;..others- in;,; -fluence;';ahd:their,'strong mutual'atttne;U6nst;'would, make .them; an'inseparable :pair;:.:!..-But;..,the,-;law ; . .of ; orbital .motion 'says//thnt ; - / '.tnto,ugh : tn'o, place'of, .their; fiery encounter and":v!strike.?,'• cosmic'■' '■ ■ sparks '■':,'■•■ as'--' the ■'effect;:;: of : ■:,.their:i^tremendbus , ;. "blows, : a. ■ fight .to .'a.finish instead' 1 of a .wedding.; This.!,fact was .pointed .'out. {by-:Proctor,' but Proctof.'in comirig! to this conclusion, ■- did ./nbt ? allow --/f or ..All the .; agencies -.any '.moreH '-,than', ;/;liord .[J : - Kelvin::;;; did ~';:\in.'coming!! .'coming!! to -the: conclusion of -;- dissipation - ?bf'.eWffy!Varid : :;cMmi'6', l de i :ity of.'flintiand*steel..were;notialaneisufficient towed-therii.- It'needed the/addi-' tional:'''attraction,. bf;; theii-V..mutual.,: ,off"sp'fih'g. Cosmic' Spark;: to render: tbem, -inseparable; '-'But/the ! exploding-.,star, -.Cos-, "inib-Spark, has been 'literally ,hlpwri,\to. atoms by,;the:!hcat-!:of, the impact,: and ,' long before: its parents "cbnimeiice- return-, •ingi tb' ; -'give. ; their second' :blowi: : theSexnlosively! hot central-bbdy. fCo'smiq!VSpark;:has.::becbme;a;yast;'planetary/nebulae outside,..-the ;.orbit' ■'of tne two'scarred suns/' 'Hericb, tho third body s ; Cosmic.' Spark! -ho" longer,;; attracts them :tbwaras',.the':!centre. V'; There; is: only, 'left:their mutual-pull,, and.this will,not 'sunlce'to/bring'-them-near;.each, 'other. ■vMillioiiß''-'o'n''MlHbM''bf : 'Mel ! ':\rill!'separ-' : ate'tbem,at :.tbeir; nearest-approach. So theymever! strike!.again; ! ; butrbyi-keeping !at a'; respectful -'distance /remain;, an /.in-: separable ■' pair; -v- ! There-, arc i. many'.other Vngenbiea:.' at; .work.)modifying; their." or,bits,V;'whicli; -are;•*>' described.;:in.-, rfbrmer, !napers;';'Bbtvthis"'agencyyalbne -.will'sufr, . flee:'to! explain- away 'Proctor's; difficulty.