Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-07-09
|kMxSCience
: Ss31lVentiOn


Recent observers have found that
plumb lines for accurate work should
be of copper or bronze. A steel wire
in a deep shaft was slightly detected
by the earth's magnetism.
In his latest researches Professor
Curie has found that radium keeps
its own temperature at l.5 degrees Y.
above that Of the atmosphere. This
paradoxical substance emits more
than enough heat to melt Its own
weight Of ice. yet there is no combus-
ton nor chemical nor molecular
change.
Peat fuel In freight locomotives IN
Sweden has hauled the maximum load.
the cost being about the same as with
English coal To avoid the expense
OF an extra fireman. however, the peat
is now mixed with an equal weight
of coal, and the mixture has proven
so satisfactory that 1t is to be tried
on passenger trains,
A new form OF safety lamp, giving
no heat aud possessing no flame, has
been invented by Professor Hans Mo-
lisch, and described before the Vienna
Academy of Sciences, but 1t n.1y not
prove commercially successful. 1t con-
sists OF a glass jar lined with a COM
pound of saltpeter and gelatine, in
which colony of luminous bacteria
is caused to develop. Such lamp
gives bluish.green light. sufficient to
render coarse print legible, and to
make faces recognizable at two yards
distance, and the luminosity lasts for
several days.
An English invention for the use Of
current Of electricity instead Of
steam to heat a radiating surface con-
sists Of a layer OF powdered carbon.
placed between enameled iron plates,
and kept in position with asbestos
cardboard. This constitutes the ra-
diator, into which are led three cop
per strips, one at the center and one
at each end. and continuous current
Of electricity is passed from the cen
ter strip TO the end strips. With a
current Of eight amperes, at 200 volts.
heating surface Of 25 square feet
can be kept at an average temperature
OF 100 degrees Fahrenheit
A new kind OF glass that resists
great heat as well as sudden changes
Of temperature is made from Brazilian
quartz pebbles. The pebbles are heat
ed red hot and then thrown into dis
titled water. The purest pieces are
next selected. and welded with the
oxyhydrogen blow pipe into long stems
like knitting-needles, from which glass
vessels Of any shape can be made. At
present the quartz glass is chiefly en-
ployed for making laboratory appara-
tus. Into a test-tube made in this
way a white-hot coal can be dropped
without breaking It Vessels of other
forms can be heated white-hot and
then plunged into cold water without
cracking.
Records are now being searched for
notices Of the rare white water. or
phosphorescent fog. of the Indian
Ocean and other seas This appears
as a weird haze, but proves to be a
luminosity without mist. and 1t has
been encountered as an ocean river a
mile wide and as broad area through
which a vessel sailed fifty miles with
out touching the limits. One observer
found the sea to the depth Of foot
to be densely packed with luminous
fishes an inch long, while at another
time microscopic animals were obtain
ed in chains three inches long. The
phenomenon has been seen before vio-
lent storms, and it has been suggested
that some unusual atmospheric condi-
tions may drive the luminous ocean
animals in shoals to the surface.