The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25
SCIENTIFIC.

Methel benzylsulphinid, a new sweeten-
ing agent, is stated to be 500 times as sweet
as sugar.
Uranium rays" literally lighted the way
to the discovery of polonium, this new ele-
ment of pitch blende having attracted notice
by rad1at1Ons much stronger than those of
uranium itself
The atmosphere ordinarily contains not
only carbonic acid gas, but something that
produces it, if we are to accept the inves-
legations of two French chemists Air thor
oughly freed from this gas was found soon
10 contain small proportion, due, it is
supposed, to the slow oxidation of some or
ganic carbon the atmosphere must have
held.
An excellent mucilsge, said to resemble
that from gum arabic. is prepared by DIR.
George EichelbaCm from the refuse of the
beet-sugai ir dustry. After the root has
been exhausted of its sucrose the mass is
phurous acid, the insoluble metapectinic
acid being thus converted into soluble
arabinose.
The expectation CT some magnificent me-
teoric showers will cause shooting-star OBJ
servations to be popular during the next
two or three years. A catalogue has been
prepared by Mr.. W. F. Denning to show
the principal radiant points-fifty in ali
from which minor showers are seen to
come at the six periods corresponding to
seids, OriOnidS, Leonids and Geminids
The great telescc pc of the Paris exposi-
ton is to have an aperture of forty-nine
inches and a focal length of 1877 feet. The
usual equatorial mounting and dome being
impracticable for such a gigantic instru-
ment, the tube will be rigidly fixed in a
horizontal position on masonry supports,
and will have the light from the heavenly
bodies rejected into it by movable plane
mirror six and Cne-half feet in diameter.
The plane mirror is thirteen inches thick,
its weight being nearly four tons. AS it is
thought that a nsgLifying power of 5000
and occasionally of 10000 may DE usefully
employed, while the highest power OF ex-
listing telescopes does not exceed 1900, in
teresting results are expected. The tele-
scope is being constructed by M Gauter,
the French optician, the estimated cost be-
ing $2SOOO0.
1t is well known that water and other
liquids often hold in suspension for a long
time finely divided matter of much greater
density than their own. The presence of
salts in solution or heating the liquid will
suffice to bring about precipitation and NJ.
w. Spring, the Belgian physicist, has just
noticed that water containing fine silica
or other nonelectrolytic matter begins to
clarity soon as an electric current is
Iassed through it between platinum cleo
trodes. This has suggested the theory that
the turbidity is due TO modification of
ticles. The presence of a dissolved salt or
acid renders the liquid conductor, and the
discharge of electricity causes the particles
tC collect in focculent Masses while con-
nection currents produced by warming give
rise TO electric currents having the same
effect NJ Spring proposes to explain the
fall of rain in thunderstorms on the same
theory.
one of the later surprises of science is
that we have yet so much TO learn concern
ing the air about us. constituent little
understood, although its presence near cleo
trical discharges was noticed century ago,
is ozone which is pure oxygen i'll con-
densed FORM so Unstable that it never has
been obtained as a pure gas. It's instability,
giving 1t a powerful oxidizing action as it
passes to the condition of ordinary oxygen,
is it's most valuable property Among the
uses suggested or attempted are the bleach
ing of various substances the preparation
of drying oils and the ageing OF liquors.
TO it on account of its efficacy in destroying
germs in organic matter and thus cleansing
wounds, and purifying the air of buildings.
Ozone is best prepared by the action upon
the air of very fine sparks multiplied into
of Siemens induction tube being cOnven-
tent In small experiments. NJ Andreoli's
new apparatus consists. for manufacturing
purposes, of serrated aluminium grid-wath
not less than l7,76o points-as conductor,