The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-09

at the spectra Of rare earths he saw some
lines which he did not recognize. on de-
ve.oping his discovery he presently became
convinced that he had stumbled on a new
element. II is quite heavy as compared
20 some other gases and cur.ously enough
II seems quite readily 10 combine with
other elements. Very little is known about
10 as yet, but Sir william Crookes is
studying il as rapidly as possible.
after all perhaps none of these dis
coveries is quite as interesting TO Ameri-
cans as that Of the new gas which Charles
r. Brush brought 70 light in Cleveland.
O. This gas. named etherion a constilu-
ent OF the atmosphere, seems 10 be allied
closely 10 the ether Itself Mr.. Brush has
proved that conducuvity of heat even
when mixed with large excess of other
gases is something like 100 times that Of
hydrogen the best gaseous conductor here
tOfore known. He cOnjectures that its
conductivty, when obtained in a pure
state viii he 1900 or more times that Of
hydrogen. Supposing the heat conductive
ity of etherion to be 100 times that of
hydrogen, its mean molecular velocity at
freezing temperature. according 70 MI.
Brush. would be more than 100 miles a
second and its density only a thousandth
part of that of hydrogen His discovery
of the gas was quite accidental. He was
trying one day to extract occluded hydro
gen from old broken window glass He
found the hydrogen all right but he also
found traces of the gas which he after
ward developed. This very peculiar sub
stance will pass through glass when sub
jected TO pressure. 1t is also to be found
i'm sand. one other interesting fact sug-
gested fer ii is that it might, possibly be
the medium of conduction for Rontgen
rays.
A mention of one other substance com
pletes the list of new elements discovered
this year. This is polinium. which NJ and
Nine Curie found in pitchblende. They
have so far succeeded in producing a rui-
phlde of the substance but that sulphide
is so very marvellous in its characteristics
that 1t is thought the pure substance. when
obtained. will be little less than magical
II is found in short, that this new sub
stance, when placed in darkness, emits an
invisible radiance or light, which, al
though undistinguishable by the human
eye, is yet capable of affecting a photo
graphic plate. Not only will 1t do this,
but IL has the qualities of Y rays.
Perhaps as was said of Becquerel rays,
here at last is the connecting link between
Rontgen rays and ordinary light.
To return directly to the air itself, 1t is
interesting to note the progress of the va
rious iquefaction processes. In almost
every instance of the discovery of a new
element, the gas has been liquefied In
fact the hquefcation of some of the gases
made possible the discovery of other gases.
Prof. Denver has been most successful in
liquefying various substances. His recent
success in liquefying helium received
worldwide recognition 1t was Olsze-
wsli who liquefed nitrogen gas in 1872.
He reduced his gas to so low a tempera-
ture that he actually froze it, He lique-
fed argon several months ago 1t is
thought that in his hydrogen experiments
he must nave reached minus 243 degrees
centlgrade. Minus 273 degrees cendgrade is
supposed by scientists to be absolute zero
that is, the temperature of interstellar
space Prof Dewer has reached minus pa
degrees centigrade. This was the degree
reached when he liquefed hydrogen. Hell
iUm was also liquetied at this tempera ture.
merely by dipping a sealed tube containing
helium into the liquid hydrogen. The he'll
ium liquefied Immediately, so that perhaps
its least point of duplication is higher
than pa. Ii is said that had Prof. Dewar
obtained his liquefed hydrogen in a suit
able vessel and had suddenly produced a
vacuum for 1t to expand in he might have
gone down Is or twenty degrees further
than he did. If he succeeds it will perpet-
uate his name always in the halls of sci
ence for he win have reached absolute
zero.
In summing up these wonderful things
in the atmosphere, we must not forget the
curious organisms which exist all about
US. DR.. S. +. Telliffe of Columbia Col
lege records thirty species of moulds and
yeasts derived from the air within a
month. They show what a field for study
the atmosphere presents. We must moi
forget the dust particles, the fogs nor the
microbes. An Englishman has calculated
that there are approximately 10000 dust
particles to the cubic centimeter in the
open air and 10000 in a quiet room. This
was In a suburban district. In London
the figures were 100000 in a court and 0,0OO
in a room. This atmosphere of ours is
very far from being the clear translucent
medium it appears to be on bright, sun
shiny day. Theodore Waters.
BAD CUTTING AT PEARSON,