Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-02-08

means of his radiometer. The most
noteworthy point in Mr.. Crookes's ex-
periments is the revelation of a kind of
comes into play when the number of
molecules in given space Is enormous
" reduced. Here molecular reflection
occurs, obeying the laws of light, and
molecular foci are formed which can
raise to incandescence platinum foil
Moreover, in this state the molecular
stream readily obeys the influence of a
magnet. All Mr.. Crookes's recent as
well as his previous experiments have
given a remarkable confirmation of Mr..
tombstone Stoney's theoretical views
concerning the action of the ridiOmeter.
The last named physicist has lately
placed his theory upon a firm mathe-
NAUTICAL basis in series of valuable pa
pers contributed to the Transactions
of the Royal Dublin Society," society
which during the past year has exhibit
ed remarkable scientific activity. A
great deal of important work has been
registered in connection with spectre
scopic research. We can only mention
Abney's new method of photographing
the least refrangible or red end of the
spectrum as one of the great achieve
ments of the year in this department.
THE GREAT AMERICAN PHENOMENON
EdisOn's photograph belongs to the
past year, so far at least as its an
nouncement is concerned. II has not
yet realized the expectations formed as
to its practical value, though it has been
of great service in connection with re-
searches on sound, and especially on
the human voice. In this resrect the
experiments of Fleming Jenkin and
Ewing, Ellis and Barrett on the wave
forms of articulate sounds are note
worthy. The telephone itself has TN
dergone various Improvements during
tee year, adding much to its prsctical
utility; the most marked advance be-
ing the int oduction in America of Edi-
sons carDOn telephone. But perhaps
of most popular interest in this direc-
ton is Hughes's micropnone. As SEN
sitive to heat as the microphonc is to
sound is Edison's microtasimeter, which
was brought into play at the eclipse of
July. We need do no more than refer
to the subject of electric lighting, the
great popular scientific sensation of the
year-Of more practical than purely
scientific interest. In this connection
we should mention Tyndall's expert
ments in fog signals, which, besides
their great practical importance, have q
distinct scientific value. Early in
the year Joule announced the re-
suits of new determination of
the mechanical equivalent of
heat, the value now given being 772 55
foot pounds. Out of much other valua-
Bile work during the year in various de-
partments of physics we can only men
ton De La Rue and Muller's elaborate
researches on the phenomena accompa-
nying electric discharge in gases, which
have their complement in the researches
on similar phenomena by DIR. Macfar-
lsne, described in the 4" Transactions of
the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Sed-
ley Taylor's curious experiments on the
color-fgures produced on thin films by
varying sounds. Cores researches on
the thermO-electric properties of liquids;
Capt. Evans's important contribution
to knowledge of the earth's magnet
ism and its remarkable changes, in his
Geographical Society lecture; G. II.
Darwin's various papers on the viscosity
of the earth, which have both physica,
and geological bearing. The invaluable
paper of Thomson, at the United Serv-
ice Institution, on compass adjustment
in iron ships; the duplexing of long SUBJ
marine cables. Among works of i'm
portance published during the year we
can only mention Diapers "Scientitic
Papers," Rayleigh's Theory of
SOUND" and the first part of valuable
" History of Physics" by the late Prof
Poggerdorff, just issued.
LIQUEFACTION OF THE GASES.
OF course the mathematicians have
haa L.