Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-10
H. Science
ANo
: : go 6. Invention
~~N~~@N-%-~O

The "leafless acacia is peculiar tree
that forms forests in Australia. The
tree has no leaves, but respires through
a little stem answering the purpose of
Il leaf.
The little lizard called the gecko has
been supposed to cling to the ceiling,
like the housefly, by means of suctorial
discs at the ends of the toes This
proves to be incorrect and DR.. Schmidt
has found that the underside of the toe
scales have clusters of hair-like, cree
tile bodies by which the animal seems
to cling. 1t is now believed that the
holding power Is due to electricity.
About fifteen years ago an extraor-
Indian ant (Oecophylla smaragdina)
that fastened the leaves of its nest with
threads spun by its own larvae. The
much doubted report has been confirm
ed by late observations of E. Dof1ein
in CeylOn and Z. Goeldi In Brazil Do
fein slightly tore a nest, when five or
six ants arranged themselves in
straight row and slowly pulled the edges
of the leaves together, while others
cleared away the pieces. Other workers
then appeared, each carrying a larva
in its mandibles The Larvae were used
as distaffs and shuttles, and soon fine
threads bound the leaves together and
were crossed in a firm web
One of the most rarely witnessed of
natural phenomena, but one that has
often been discussed in scientific jour
nails, and that always awakens wonder
when seen, is the so-called green flash"
occasionally visible at the moment of
the disappearance of the sun behind a
clear horizon. The observers eyes must
be fixed upon the rim of the sun as it
disappears in order to catch the phe
nomenon. An officer of the British
navy says that he has seen the green
flash, although rarely, at the instant Of
setting Of bright star. Among the
explanations offered is one based upon
the optical principle of complementary
colors. If one looks at the sun and then
closes the eyes, a green disk will be per-
ceived. A sensitive eye might be SINH
larry affected by brilliant star
A jet of burning oxygen from blow
| pipe is now successfully employed to
cut sheet iron, iron tubes and small
bars. The cut made is almost as sharp
and thin as that made by a saw. In
the earlier experiments difficulty was
encountered in clearing the cut of liquid
metal and in preventing the spread of
| the melting effect beyond the borders
| of the cut. In the process as now prac-
| ticed two blowpipes are employed. The
first has an ordinary oxhydrogen fame.
| which heats the iron to redness at the
| place where the cut is TO be made. This
! is followed Immediately by the second
| jet, composed of pure oxygen, which
! instantly burns the metal without melt
| ing The liQuidized iron is blown swift
! ly from the tissure, so that there is no
serious spreading of the heat to the
surrounding parts.
The transmutation of metals-so
much ridiculed few-years ago-is now
thought TO be taking place in nature,
| but the modern alchemist is still as
powerless as was the ancient one to
bring it about by artificial means. If
it ever becomes practicable. the val
liable product Will be the energy re-
leased as electricity or in other form.
| f. Soddy points out that the energy OF
some hundreds of tons of coal would
have to be put into an ounce OF silver
to convert it into gold but that a more
probable change would be from a heavy
| element like lead. the operation Weld
ing energy of great value, with the gold
as an unimportant by-product A sim
liar extraction is going on at our great
power stations-water power, steam
and gas. The fuel or high potential
water is converted into baser products,
and the process abstracts valuable en-
ergy that is converted into useful forms,
ENvar DofiPa that whom Won r1aaixo n