Science and Invention

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 November 1911, Page 1

Science and Invention

EOLIPSEiD MOON'S LIGHT. The light of the ooHpeed mocii is oonsiderahly modified hy the oartn s atmosphere, and French astronomers have heen trying to explain tho varying effects.. They suggest that water vapor _might ateort the blue and riolet rays of sunlisht, ing tho famili'ar red of darko'ipd moon. The complete disappearance of tlie inoou may bo due to opacity of our atmosphere from much volcanic dust, and hlue may be light passing through out dry upper air, where ozone Woiild tend to cut out the red. ARMOUR PLATE PIERCED. The United States " Gorenunon fc ha 9 sole control of Mr Hudson Maxim's new explosive, winch is considered the most destructive poseeeeocl by any nation. The valtio of thU now explosive K«e in the faot that it will send a projectile through miv armour now in use. . Mi , Maxim says ha believes the American Qtrvornnient is better prepared than a>iv other for tlie destruction of warship of «iny enemy with higfc-explosive •projectile*?. GROLQGIO WORIC OP ANTS. Professor J. O. Branner hp dosoribed to the GeoiogiVal Societv of America tho immense importance of ants as sreologio agents, especially in tropical resrkms. Ant '■hwrrcAys have "been fonnd at a dApth of four yards, and they ramify over vast areae. The jjeoJoorfc -work performed by earthworms hm been long nv cojarnieed, but Profos«>r Branner lxv. Heves tTiat the ante an dtermitee of tno topics bring n, erreafer amount of earth to the em-fece than do tlio earthworms of tho temperate, son* 1 *;, and nre in man;v ways an ■ equally important factor in the chan.eqa. tHiftfc are goins: on in. the uppeT strata of i/he ground. AUTOMATIC LAMP LTOHTING. The of selenium to vary its electric resistance in with tie. intemitv of tfie ligpht \l\ine: on it has led 1 to the invention «f an appnratiisfo t+Tio automntic Hafb■bincf and extinEpinehiwff of lnm-pe. A selenium ceTl ie so :n a circuit tnnt it actuntw a ewit<*h in one nirention wnen davlig'ht fellp on it and In tlie opposite direction whon darlcnera ensues. Thiie nn el«»cMc lamp or a ots lamp provided wi+li .•» smuil flnmo may be oausM to lisrht itself on the appmacTi nf ntent «nd' to turn itself out at <iavbreak. A similar BTrannrpniPTit r<\r>v be used for ftutonvatieallv turning '-.ff iho srtoTv-oock when a. p-aeligiit Is accidentally extinguished. VELOCITY OF EXPLOSIVES. iTho time for tb« r<r>n\ptote docomnosition in+n combus*!'." pro<7n<>+<i of nn evnl<wn"vc is on ""•'I *VTiiTintmn of +TlO ovnTnpinn." p-nd ih* TflDi'ditv of ig ry»11... orl. 'vnlpitv of rlnif/inn+?r>T|. M Th" duration n.nd vplncit.v arc' diffi*~«it for en/»h_ kind of explosive, and, m the efficiency of tne exp'oßive for a oprfflin purooeo on nndor certn'n conflitioTiß is absolutely upon duration and velocitv it is important tbnt thev ehonM ho mon-Mirpd with tbe utmost precision. A German bas constrii' > t/ v l nn bv mennß of rcVich it is cluing tiiat tbe vpWi'+v c»n bo to tbe ten-millionth part of n second. THE GAi~PLANT. Th<*ro nre two variofTpe of !<,m plnnt. Onp jg tbe mnnufncturixia: estnbliebment, rioal {« rorvprted i'ti+o orns for fluminatinw -nd heatinor -nunyvsog, Tb e otber variety is oailod tbe fraxin<>na.. F«w know, bowpver, wbv tbe ie callod tbe "sms plant." This is because nt certnin iimen H vo--lefl«es n. volatile oil thftt nctually ignite if allowed to come in oflntß<«t , with a lifted mntcb. Th pfrntinollft is niso for fta and lrtnirpvity if not dioturhed. One plant known to tbe writer is doing it 9 bpet to outlive a third I tion, snd ( elsewhere a clump i« still flourishing after no Ip«js tban 8? on grave—one of tho most difficult places for a perennial to keep up a long etruggle for existence. FILTERING PHONOGRAPH MUSIC. The scratching and other mechinloal or metallic eounda that often mar the musical tones of a phonograph, oven though the recorda themselves axe perfect, can be era.dioated, acoording to an inventor, by filtering the music through abont o4ft of tubing filled with peas. The tubing, whioh is of tin, l.Sin in diameter, is connected or folded up in suitable lengths.. The effect of these lengths of tube when empty w to increase the volume of the tones, "but this, of course, also intensifies tbe disturbing noises. Wben the tube is filled with" veas, however, the friction noises, which are short' waves, are practically eliminated, while the mnsical tones although la little dulled, are said to be made purer and rcore natural. Greater ■brilliancy has 'been obtained by using zinc tubes instead of tin, and filling these tuee with fragments of corrugated zinc. A combination of the zino with peas and beane ie .aid to produce delightful effects.