The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-16
POPULAR sc'ENcE.

POPULAR SCIENCE.
Calcic carbide. known commonly az
csrbide, is compound Of lime and
carbon; water is oxygen and hydro
gen. When these two compounds
come into contact each is decomposed,
the hydrogen crosses over to join the
carbon and form the peculiar hydro
carbon known as acetylene gas; the
oxygen and lime also cross over and
form q refuse remainder, ''slacked"
lime.
4 German Investigator, by steriliz-
ing each element of milk separately.
has found that the altered appearance
and taste are due to caramelizing OF
the milk sugar, with the formation Of
8 small amount Of Tactic acid, also
that the albumin was coagulated, and
the casein partially precipitated.
Pasteurizing produces the same alter
ations in slighter degree. His tests
prove that sterilizing milk does not
render 1t any less digestible.
It has been shown that, while Nam
sens observations prove that the
North Polar region is a great ocean
cavity, nearly two miles deep, the
South 4olar region, on the contrary,
is, apparently, vast solid mass OF
land, surrounded by belt of water
about two miles in depth. The area
of the South Polar continent IS esti-
mated to be about four million square
miles, one million more than that Of
the United States, excluding Alaska.
The expedition sent from England
about a year ago, under G. ". An
drews, to explore Christmas Island
(south OF Java, has returned. Among
the curious things in its report is a
statement that the forest is so dense
that the natives never penetrate more
than half mile from the shore; and
that ordinary rats. evidently from
wrecked ships, have multiplied on the
island, where, unable to find sufficient
food in. the ground, they have taken to
climbing trees for fruit and other
things.
Sir Robert Ball, the great English
astronomer, in lecture recently, dis
cussed approvingly the theory Of Dar-
win that the moon was thrown off
from the earth years ago by tidal
action, and then touched on the ques-
ton of the future of the earth itself.
In regard to the end of the world, he
put forward a new theory that it
might he brought about by explosion.
the water of the ocean breaking
through great crack in the crust
down into the hot core forming the
interior of the globe. Being vapor-
lied By the heat the consequent out
burst of steam would fracture the
earth and destroy it as habitable
world. Sir Robert emphasized his
theory by photographs of the huge
craters and cracks on the moon and
the markings on Mars as evidence OF
tremendous explosions on these
bodies, which indicated the future
fate of the earth.
| A process likely to develop into
| great value in the arts is that brought
forward by Professor Henry, Of sar-
bonne, France, viz, a device for
catching colors. The object to be
colored, saga sheet of waterproof
paper, a plate of glass or smooth
| board. ia placed wfaaAzald leYalin-a
| tank or basin, and water ls then let
in, through numerous little jets, from
the bottom of the tank until the object
is covered to slight depth; drop or
two of volatile solution of some gum
or resin, insoluble in water, is allowed
to drop in the water, and at once
spreads itself into thin layer over
the surface. When q portion of the
volatile solvent has evaporated, lea7-
ing an exceedingly thin film Of the
resin reposing on the surface of the
water. the professors plan is to whistle
q tune over it, and the water and the
film are thus thrown into rhythmical
undulations, each representing GER.
tain tone. In short time the solvent
vanishes entirely and the film of resin
is left floating on the water; the latter
is now very gently and slowly with
| drawn from the basin, and the film is
thus gradually lowered to the surface
Of the paper, glass or wood object, as
the case may be. When it comes into
actual contact, the object carrying the
film is removed and allowed to dry,
preserving all the time the attractive
/ display of colors that it presented
while on the water.
A Se1f-PropeiIing Boat.