Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 11, 14 March 1907, Page 35

Science Sif tings

By "•Volt 1

Wandering Poles. In addition to the variation of the* .carth 1 s axis produced by the precession of the equinoxes, occupying a period of 25,868 years, it has been shown by Peters (1844) and Nyren (1873) that- there is also a periodical shifting of the axis of rotation relatively to the, earth's surface. This produces a continuous variation of latitudes, a fact which had been suspected by Bessel so early as 1 1817. Prof. Albrecht, who has summarised the results of different observers, rinds that since 1890 the earth's pole has described an irregular spiral around a mean position from which it does not deviate more than 0.3 degrees (three-tenths of^. a second of arc). Mr. S. C. Chandler concluded that the variation „is composed of two terms, one having a period of fourteen months and the other' of a year. With an Alarm Clock. An ordinary alarm clock may 'be made, at any time wished for, to perform various useful services, such, for instance, as un'tioltiaig a door. Detach the hammer of the alarm, if you do not wish it to ring the bell, fix the clock lirmly in a -box fastened to the iwall, and set the alarm overnight for, let us say, seven o'clock. Attach a line to the st/em of the winding handle of the alarm. Keeping the line taut, attach its other end to the knob of ihe bolt to be unfastened. At seven o'clock next morning the- alarm will 'go off,' of course without sounding the gong. While it is so doing, the handle will revolve, and by winding in the line as it does so will thus unbolt the dooir. pthjer adaptations of the same idea will occur to many persons. Miniature Marvels. Almost any commonplace object, magnified under a good lens, will reveal astonishing and unsuspected iorm, structure, and life. For instance — Insects of various kinds may be seen in the cavities of a grain of sand. Mould is" a forest of beautiful trees, with branches, leaves, and fruit. Butterflies are fully feathered. Hairs are tubes filled with pith and ornamented on the outside with scales.. The surface of the human body is covered with scales like a fish. A single grain of sand would covei** 150 of these scales, and yet a scale oovers about 500 pores. Through these narrow openings the perspiration forces itself like water through a sieve. Each drop of stagnant water contains a world of - creatures swimming with as much freedom as whales in the sea. Vitality of Seeds. A highly interesting and well authenticated account is given by Landreth, of an instance of persistent vitality in seeds. Lieutenant Greely, commander of the Franklin Bay expedition, which sailed north in 1881, took- out seeds of various vegetables. Some of these were sown at Fort Conger, 80 degrees 44 mm-" utes north, 'but the attempt was not successful. This station was abandoned in 1883. In 1899, sixteen years later, the abandoned station at Fort Conger was discovered by Lieutenant Peary, 'commander of the North Polar expedition. Among other things found was a packet •of radish seed in an open box in the attic of the fort. These seeds had been exposed during sixteen years to -a winter temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. The seeds were' sent home and remained until the spring of 1905, when thieiy were sown, and 50 per cent, produced perfectly normal plants.- The original seed was harvested certainly not earlier than 1880, and consequently was twenty-three years old when sown. The" question is raised as to whether the electrically charged atmosphere, so constant in the northern- regions, has the eßect of prolonging germinative force. It' has been observed that the atmospheric electric currents add q)uite 100 per cent, to the rapidity of plant growth, and to the development of color and strength of perfume.