The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-19
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
Items Which viii Prove Of Interest to
Our Readers.

1t has been suggested liz England that
the telephone may be advantageously
used to transmit messages between per-
sons affected with contagious diseases
and their friends.
All the cables of the Brooklyn bridge
are found to be magnetized in the di-
reetion of their diameter, the upper sur
/ face of the cables throughout their
I length being of south, and the lower of
/ north polarity.
Zinc dust has been found by an Eng
! lish investigator to absorb hydrogen
from moist atmosphere at moderate
temperature. 1t has. in fact, the power
/ OF occluding the gas after the manner
of spoDgy platinum.
A long series of determinations of the
amount of carbonic acid contained in
the air has been made at Liege, Belgi-
um, the average result being 5.125s by
weight and 3.3526 by volume IN every
10000 parts of air.
Prof. Dangley's recent researches
have led TO conclusions which imply
that, in the absence of the absorbing
atmosphere, the earth would receive suf-
hcient heat to melt an ice shell $50 feet
deep over the. globes entire surface.
observations on the incandescent cleo
trio light, which decreases in Iuminos-
ity after a certain strength of current is
reached, lead French investigator to
conclude that heat radiaCions. which
are at first dark and then luminous.
passing from red to white, ultimately
go beyond the violet rays, and at great
intensity cease to be visible.
The weight of scientific opinion now
favOrs the view that flying fish, do
not fly. The muscles of flight in birds
average in weight one sixth of the whole
body, those of bats one thirteenth. while
those which have been supposed to ena-
Die the fishes to fly are only one thirty
second. The impulse to the propulsion
OF the flying fish is probably given while
they ale still in the water by the excep-
tionably powerful muscles which cover
both sides of the body.
become
practical reality, large establish |
ment for the manufacture of rails of
compressed paper being projected at ST.. |
petersburg. Among the advantages /
claimed for this material are extrerne
durability, a cost about one third as
great as steel, lightness, greater adhe-
non to the driving wheels of the engine.
md reduction in the wear and tear of
both road and rolling stock.
1t may seem a little surprising TO the
'areiess observer, but it is nevertheless
rue, that a piece of iron or any heavy
will rapidly sink to the bot
ON OF the sea, even in the deepes. pIa-
es. However great may be the pres
ure produced at great depths bv the
uperlncum5ent mass, the specific gray-
ty of the water is but little greater than
{ the surface. Hence substances like
tone' clay, shells, etc., exist at great
epths with but little variation. EXCEPT
rom the effects of decreased light.
The principal astronomical event of
$50 will be total eclipse of the sun on
ne 29th of August. The line of total
} III this eclipse will cross the Atlantic
,ean. traversing land in the West In
les shortly after sunrise, and in Soutb
frica towards sunset. On the coast =
Benguela the total phase lasts nearly
Ve minutes, and at Grenada, in the
est Indies, the duration will be nearly
ur minutes. Three comets of known
'Tlod are expected to return during The
ar. Oiber's comet. with a period of
years, viii probably reach perihelion F
ward the close of the year. A small P'
met discovered by Pons in 1915. and
discovered by Winnecke in 1858. is n
ie THIS year, as is also the comet first
en- by Tempel in 1869, and again oh
ryed by Swift in 1880. The period of
ch OF these two comets is about ~
ars.
proctor argues that every celestial ye
dy must at some time pass through a -
supporting period, which must be ce
~ short compared with the duration
TIE worlds own existence. Concern
the data of the life era in other
flds than ours, he remarks: 'sTn the
ssence of time intervals seem to he at
CO infinitely great and infinitely Iit- CC
Infinitely great compared with the !"
iatlon OF our earth, and infinitely lit
by comparison with the eternities 90
10 which they are lost-what reason
we have, when viewing any orb in
zee from our little earth. for saving "a
" Is the time when that orb is Iike Oo
earth, the abode of life ? Wbv
'uld life on that orb synchronize with
on the earth Are not, on lbe
ltrary, the chances Infinitely great
INST such coincidence ? Tf ne
lmholtz has vel! remarked. the dura-
OF life on our earth is but the
lutest ripple in in the infinite ocean
lime, and the duration of life on anv
Ell planet of like minuteness. what
son nave we for supposing that those
iute and in no way associated wavas 10
lie must needs be abreast of each
er on the infinite ocean whose sur
they scarcely ripple /? ant
more probable that life is wantino nre, rne
Chat life exists at this present ing
e. Nevertheless. it is at least as hea
oaole that every member of everv =, a
sun, galaxy, and SO on
q 10 higher and higher orders end
ly-has been, is now, or will here 4