The New Light.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 252, 29 April 1896, Page 2

The New Light.

The "New Light," as it is called, though, almost certainly, it is only some hitherto undetected rays of the " Old Light " that have been discovered, is still the sensational topic in scientific publications. The new rays, like the actiuic rays, are invisible to us, and it is only by their effects, as in photography, that their existence and activity became known. The peculiarity which is chiefly dwelt upon is that these rays pass through substances, such as animal tissue, wood, and aluminium, which are quite opaque to ordinary light. Much speculation as to how tbis property may be utilised has been indulged in. It has ever been suggested that opticians may yet be able to supply binoculars which will render these rays visible, and enable us to see through wooden partitions, Venetian blinds, &c. A detective equipped with such an instrument would be able to find tbe often desiderated ■' clue " much sooner and with less trouble. But this is not the only singular property possessed or lacked by tbe newly- discovered light. Its discoverer mentions among others the two following:—!. It is not refracted in passing from air into water or glass, which means tbat lenses, such as those of photographic cameras, will be of no use in dealing with it ; 2. It is incapable of regular reflection from the surface of glass, which is to say that we could not by its means see our reflections in an ordinary mirror.