BRITISH SCIENCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 35, 5 November 1917, Page 5

BRITISH SCIENCE

SOME MEW DISCOVERIES. The British Department of Scientific aad Industrial Research, in its second annua! report, says that notwithstanding ■ the strain of war, some pressing problems have been successfully attacked. Three new kinds of optical glass have heen discovered by, Professor Jackson. ' A research on light alloys, such 83 aluminium, zinc, and copper, is important for flying machines. A. new hard porcelain from British materials has been produced. Researches into the recoverv of tin are expected to save the Cornish industry .£30,000 a year. Trade research Associations are being organised and aided out of the .fi1,000,000 State grant to the Department. One is being constituted for the cotton industry and others will follow for the wool, flax, shale oil, and photographic industries.

On a broader I>asis tho Fuel Research Hoard under Sir Georro Beilby -will operate, and a similar plan will bo adopted for fire-proof materials and the determination of standards.

At the universities 3B_ research workers who would have drifted into otlior work were aided bv grants from the Department during the year. The report notes the growing appreciation of'research by business men.