Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-16
SCIENCE In 1855.
Scientific Events of the Past Year That
Deserve Special Attention.

Deserve Special Attention.
Bare mention of all the leading scientific
events OF 1888 would deserve more space
than our columns afford, but it is possible
to touch hurriedly upon few that deserve
special attention. The year has produced,
it may be conceded, no epoch-making dis
coveries, though steady progress has been
made in working toward the solution of
the many problems scientific men have
been engaged upon. In astronomy. much
has been done to complete the international
work OF photographing the heavens. A
result of the undertaking has been the
discovery of a new nebula in the Pleaides.
The ultimate composition of the universe
has engaged great deal of attention.
Norman Lockyer, proceeding upon the
spectroscopical researches, has reclassified
the various heavenly bodies from the nebulap
upward. His results led to an investigation
by Professor George Darwin of the mechan-
ieal condition of swarm Of meteorites, in
the course of which the latter has en-
deayored to reconcile the nebular with the
meteoric hypothesis of the origin of the
planetary system. The geography of the
planet Mars, upon which Sehiaparelli and
Terrotin have been so long engaged, was
further studied by NJ. Tcrby, who con-
cludes thata large area of the planet is
now under the same conditions that pre-
vailed on the earth during the glacial
epoch. q
Chemistry presents a host of new facts
and theories. Mr.. Crookes mas propounded
new views as TO the nature of atoms, tend
ing to show that atoms are, after all, In
constant quantities, not all of one pattern
nor of one weight. Investigations by Mr..
Armstrong as to the origin of color and
the constitution of colors convince that
scientist that the characteristics of colors
are closely associated with the fundamental
constitution of bodies. The conclusions
of Meyer and Riecke, in regard to the
shape OF the atoms of carbon. are consid-
cred extremely important. Physics, in
certain of It's aspects, is with difficulty sep
arated from chemistry. Professor Linde-
mann has in fact, attempted during the
past year comprehensive dynan1ical
treatment of physics and chemistry, look
ing to the inclusion of these two branches
of science in one department. The results
of the researches of Professor Helmholtz.
in regard to the nature and characteristics
of gravity are substantially in accord with
those obtained by Newton, whose Principia
ewas published just 200 years ago. These
results are rather negative, amounting to
this only, that gravity is inherent in mat
ter and incomprehensible.
The question Of the existence of oxygen
in the sun was brought again into promi-
nence by certain experiments Of III. JAMS
sen, Of Paris. Not being satisfied that the
oxygen lines IN the spectrum really came
from the sun, NJ. Jansen assembled a noun
tain and tested the matter in the pure at
mosphere at that elevation. lie found, as
he had expected, that the oxygen lines be-
longed to our atmosphere. Other physi-
cists however, contend that his results are
not conclusive. How impure our atmos-
phere is was shown by the researches OF
Mr.. Aitkip, who found that the particles
OF dust in the air number, according TO
locality, from 521 900 to 100000 per
cubic inch. The investigation by Professor
Sehwalbe to ascertain the connection, If
any, between seismic phenomena ndotlier
natural phenomena, points to the conclu-
sion that there is go connection-that the
relative position Of the sun, moon and
planets to our globe has nothing to dowith
the production of earthquakes.
In the field of meteorology the result Of
the study in this country, in Europe and
India, in 1888, OF the influence Of forests
on rainfall has been TO show that such in
fluence is nil. The Influence, it appears, is
the other way; il is the rainfall that en-
courages forests. The theory of NJ Faye
that eycionic storms are due to connections
which originate in the upper atmosphere
is still insisted upon, but with little en-
enlargement from other meteorologists
Prof. Parker, the biologist, gives it as the
result of his investigations into the YES
tiges of reptilian structures found in the
skulls of birds, that birds arose a. by secu-
lar transformation either from the lowest
and most ancient of the true reptiles, or
equally with reptiles, from archaic am
phibia, low in structure, but ready to be-
come reptile, bird or mammal, as the case
might be.
The Hittite problem has been brought
a step nearer solution by T. Tyler, with
the help Of recent archaeological discover
les in Egypt. Another fact of even more
interest to ethnologists is the identity of
the fellaheen of to-day with the bulk of
the population Of ancient Egypt, estab-
lshed by Professor Nirchow as a result Of
investigations recently made by that
sarant in conjunction with DR.. Schlie-
mann. Ii is concluded, also. that the
Egyptian has no negro afinities, but is
allied to the Berbers. The Akkas, of
Africa, and other pigmy races of the world
have been studied with much interest dur
ing the past year. The list of discoveries
in geography is too long for recital. Il
must suffice to say that we are much
wiser to-day in regard to the interior Of
Africa, Burnnah, South America, Alaska,
Northern Canada, Greenland, New Guinea
and Australia than we we're twelve months
ago. Ii remaias TO add, as general COM
ment upon the scientific situation, that
there are gratifying signs Of decreasing
antagonism between the religious and sci
entifc worlds, the tendency being toward
reconciliation Of their views Baltimore
Sua.
a lazy genius in Maryland has invented
an automatic fishing pole which, by the