SCIENCE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2238, 26 August 1914, Page 7

SCIENCE CONGRESS

SIR E. RUTHERFORD'S GREAT LECTURE. By Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright Sydney, August 25. Professor Sir E. Rutherford, in tho course of a lecture on "Atoms and Electrons," said that the atomic theory had now attained a high degree of probability through recently-mado measurements. One must admit the granular structure in matter, and,also that there were indications, as was pointed out by Helmholtz m 1870, that small quantitios of- electricity existed, all of tho same magnitude. 'These electrical particles were now nailed electrons. Sir Olivor Lodge, who presided, in thanking Professor Rutherford for his great lecture, said tbat tho lecturer was a groat worker in physical science, to whom the world-owed many discoveries, and to whom it was going to owe more. Ha had struck fertile ground, which was certain to yield a rich harvest. 'Professor Dixon gave a series of demonstrations of the extraordinary accelerating influence'of traces, of water on chemical reactions. Ho observed that an ordinary explosive mixture of carbon monoxido (one of the principal constituents of producer gas) and . oxygen could not oe fired if the gases were perfectly cljry. Ho illustrated the difference between the three phases of gaseous explosions—the slow propagation by conduction, tlio_ vibratoring period, and rapid detonation or explosion wave. Tho lecturer described experiments relating to explosions in mines, showing that tho diluting of coal dust- makes tho mixture difficult to ignite. The danger of finely divided inert dust making firedamp more explosive wa3, ho said, proved to bo nonexistent. Professor Nctschajeff, in tho education section, discoursed on Russian pedagogics. -• . - x , v I Professor Turner's paper on the discontinuities of meteorological phenomena showed tho progress of research, and tho possibility ot forecasting the weather for months and seasons. - INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS. (Rec. August 25„ 9.10 p.m.) , Sydnoy, August 25. At tho mooting of- tho Science Congress to-day, Sir Oliver Lodge opened the discussion on wireless telegraphy by comparing wireless and tho . older j telegraphy as one, being like shouting a messago outside and tho other like whispering down a tube; tho difference w-as-so great. The method of.shouting was so natural, yet wireless might easily havo been discovered first, then cam© cabled telegraphy, which had been ah improvement, thereon. Wireless was much cheaper, but lacked secrecy. Sir Douglas Mawson opened a discussion, on Antarctica, which was illustrated with many beautiful _ lantern | pictures. Ho said tho geology indicated 1 that tho South Polar regions were once ! attached to Australia, _ and had land j connection been maintained the cold air from the Polar plateaus would havo made the southern part of Australia unbearable to live in. Professor Atkinson, in discussing tho economic conditions arising out of the war, condemned a retrenchment policy. He advocated the Commonwealth Bank, issuing ten millions in paper money to' enable the necessary works to be kept going. The national credit was so high that it could easily stand this.