THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1209, 26 July 1884, Page 3

THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.

Profeasor Mattiea contributes « paper to the Gentleman’* Magazine on the above subject, which may be of some interest in Australia, ft appears that Profesfor Radziszewski has been making experiments upon the Pelagia noctiluca, one of the phosphorescent jelly-fish of the sea. Having dried 180 specimens, he dissolved out of the residue a peculiar kin'd of fat ; this mixed with potassa, or pure potash, gave out, when shaken, phosphorescent flashes. It happens that the living animal when at rest is not luminous, but if shaken or rubbed it flashes. Professor Mattieu himself has made similar experiments with like results. The remarkable feature of the case is that these creatures supply light without heat. The professsr thinks that this may lead to a revolution in artificial light. At present light is not supplied without heat ; a great part of the cost of producing light must be set down to the beat which has to be produced at the same time. All students of light and heat know that a ray of the son mav be separated into its constituent parts, n: d that the luminous factor may be comp!-- ii .-operated from the heat factor. Mattieu says this wastefulness in producing heat as well as light may be illustrated by supposing that we obtain a pooud of the phosphorescent fat of the noctiluca, and divide it into two equal parts, making one part into candles, to burn m ordinary way, and using the other half to give out its light by cold phosphorescence. He says : “ I am not able to give precise figures, but believe I am well within the truth in estimating that the candle would disipate 95 per cent of the potential energy of the fat in the form of heat; giving out but 5 per cent of the amount of light that the other half-pound would admit as cool phosphorescence.” He thinks that we need not despair of solving the chemical problem of transforming mutton suet, or palm oil, or vaseline, into glowworm or noctiluca fat ; and that these will supply the artificial light of the coming race.