Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 16, 18 April 1907, Page 35

Science Siftings

By *Volt'

An Interesting Discovery., While cutting -up a massive oak tree which he had felled upon the farm of Anderson Bray, near- Sergeantyille, N.J., John S. Sperling discovered the petrified jawbone, of some animal, presumably that of a wolf. ■ The. tree. was two feet in diameter, and the bone was - embedded in the centre ot the trunk, sixteen feet from— the ground. - ' s . - New Incandescent Light. Professor Parker, of' Columbia -.University, has_ invented an incandescent light which he hopes will revolutionise electric lighting. He declares that its efficiency is forty^five times as great as that of an 'ordinary lamp fitted -with carbon filament. Its special feature is a new filament, called helium, -because its "' spectrura is similar to that of* helium. In the tests which have , been made the new light burned steadily from 485 to 1270 hours, with an average of 1000 hours and, it gives a white flame. Mr. Parker says . that it will last twice as long as a carbon filament lamp; besides carrying a large overload of electricity without breaking. ~ - Improved Outfit for -Divers. Groping in darkness or. dim light, the diver has been able hitherto • to make only the simplest makeshift repairs., but with the Yale submarine lamp and recently, invented pneumatic tools it is possible ' for him to do almost any repairing and cleaning of vessels without docking. The lamp comprises a watertight metallic casing enclosing a special regulator. A double glass chamber -beneath the casing is protected by a rigid metal guard, and - holds the carbons. A storage battery or small generator supplies electric current through a suitable cable. The submerged ' lamp, weighing but a few pounds, may be easily carried about, and brilliantly lights a space equal to a large room. Nothing New. The old saying, ' There is nothing new under the sun,' is as true in these days of invention and progress as it ever was (says an English exchange). The theory of the automobile was known to Solomon de Coste of Normandy in 1641. He wrote a book on the propulsion of carriages by steam power. The theory of telegraphing by wire was practicalfy illustrated m 1773 by Arthur Young, long before Professor Morse was 'born. Although, to Robert Fulton, the American inventor is given the credit of navigation by steam power,' Blasco de Guerere, a Spanish sea captain, propelled a ship by steam engine before the King of Spain in 1543 Air-ships, a few of which have been comparatively successful, are called a new invention ; but in 1679 a ' pamphlet was written by Francesco Lana expounding ♦ the theory of ships which would navigate the air as well as the sea. No doubt the Invention of wireless telegraphy was oreshado-wed by a book - o f .philosophy which Appeared in ibi7. This work mentions communication between SSL* 61 !? 418 at dlfferent Poto by means of a loadstone and a needle placed upon a metal dial nrr^Sff^f ° V^ F ° f the circul ation of the blood is accredited to Harvey, in 1629.; but from, "a passage and L S Ü beS?e. learn *** *"■ — two'thoul tn n»f ? orton ' + of Boston, in 1848; was the first man o2e+Es- to P^cal use the administration of an* f* l^. *«* Jor hundreds of years before this the use of various herbs to ease pain and- induce unconsciousness was known. No doubt the use of cocaine °?« a local anaethetic originated from Baron Lanney N a ! Laennec discovered the stethn«:r»r»n£ ici« i. x '