Remarkable Discoveries by German Profess[?]

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 31, 15 February 1929, Page 2

Remarkable Discoveries by German Profess[?]

Radio Waves Reflected from Moon Sphere

yuat has been described as one of ~ the most interesting discoveries since that of the Heaviside Layer, has recently been made and part-examined by the eminent German scientist, Professor Carl Stormer. Professor Stormer had been informed by Engineer Jorgen Hals of Bygdo that he had picked up echoes of radio signals broadcasted from the wellknown Philips radio station,.PCJ. First came the usual echo caused by the waves which travel round the earth, and return within 1-7 of a second. Three seconds later, a period long enough for radio waves to travel over half a million miles, another echo was audible, though weaker than. the first. The second echo must have been eaused by. the reflection of the waves from the outside universe-from regions beyond the sphere of the moon.

"THE Professor was greatly impressed by this remarkable discovery, and requested that signals should be sent out at five-second intervals from PCJ, so that he could investigate the phenomenon. This was done, but without the expected results. Later, during his sojourn in Holland, Professor Stormer visited the Philips station, and it was agreed to continue the experiments, this time with twenty-second intervals. Again, results were negative, but after several more attempts, during which the experiments were almost abandoned, success came at a time considered most favourable. It had been resolved to release three successive shocks in certain’ tone heights, and a remarkable succession of echoes were recovered from 38 to 17 seconds after the signals were. first, picked up. In this instance, the signals were so loud that. there was no

shadow of doubt as to their identity as echoes. The professor wired POJ. at once, telling of the success, and received the reply that the echoes had also been heard in Holland, Later than this, signals were not heard by Professor Stormer, and although. Engineer Hals advised that he had picked up ‘echoes again by the time the professor arrived, they had disappeared on account of atmospherie disturbances. e. ‘Professor Stormer marked the’ Ts covery as a very. rare phenomenon, and the experiments are to. be carried on.

"THE scientific explanation was given as due to rays of the North Light, and the fact that there are certain parts of the universe which are impentrable to electricity, and. others that will admit it. The region at which it becomes impenetrable fluctuates to a great extent, thus explaining the varying times at which the echoes were audible. The influence of the North Light is an admitted fact, for with a strong North Light is sometimes happens that communication over long distances is cut off. Further details of the explanation are deeply scientific, and too lengthy to do justice here. If the echo really exists, it would be: exceedingly: interesting to contint with the experiménts. The study "of the movements of North Light rays within the universe is of the utmost importance. The tropics will probably offer the best conditions for such research. The lecture greatly stirred the interest of a large scientific audience, it being one of the most remarkable. heard. Professor Bjerkens congratulated Professor Stormer, and expressed his hope that he might succeed in entirely clearing up the phenomenon.