The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-02-26
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|PopuleT 9ience.
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Is Switzerland to lose its glaciers?
The subject bears a close resemblance
to that as to the exhaustion of the
British coal beds. 1t will scarcely be-
come acute In our time; but nonethe-
less scientific observations of the move
ment of the glaciers during 1905 shows,
as similar observations in previous
years have shown, shrinkage in the
surface. Some Of the glaciers have
shrunk as much as 200 yards since
1900. In no instance has growth been
reported.
The city Of Vienna has undertaken
the installation of what is perhaps the
most remarkable electric, or electrical
ly lighted, fountain in existence. 1t is
situated In the Schwartzenbergplatz.
Underneath the fountain, In a huge
cemented chamber, are placed twenty
seven rejecting lamps, capable of pro-
ducing seventy different luminous and
coiored effects The light is transmit
ted through the waters of the fountain.
The light power of the plant is esti-
mated as equal to 900,0O0,O00 candles.
According to the results Of recent ex-
!periments the flame of acetylene is per-
haps the hottest known except that of
the electric arc. The following figures
have been given by Mr.. Maffi Bunsen
burner, 1871 degrees; acetylene flame,
2,54S degrees; alcohol flame, 1,705 de-
grees; Denayrouze burner-half alco-
hol, half petroleum-2,0 2,053 degrees; hy-
drogen flame, in air, 1000 degrees gas
Jet flame, with oxygen, 2,200 degrees !;
oxygen flame, 2,420 degrees. These are
all Centigrade degrees. One degree
Centigrade equals one degree and eight
tenths Fahrenheit.
The lowest temperature yet recorded,
says medical journal, is that reached
recently by X. Olszewski in an attempt
to liquify helium. BY the aid of solid
hydrogen he cooled the gas to minus
259 degrees s. Under 1S0 atmospheres
pressure then, suddenly releasing the
pressure to that of the atmosphere, a
degree Of cold was created which, by
calculation from Laplace and BLOSSOMS
formula, amounted to minus 271.3 de-
grees c. Helium, however, did not
liquify, and he accordingly assumes
that Its boiling point must be below
minus 271, and that there is but little
prospect of reducing it to liquid.
A French scientific writer points out
| that mere gain in weight should not
| In itself be taken as an Indication Of
improved bodily condition. 1t Is, ac-
cording to him, rather question Of the
density than the quantity Of tissue
which covers the bones. When in
creased weight results from increased
density, then the health Is really i'm
proved. In order that this principle
may be practically applied he suggests
the use Of baths containing a known
quantity Of water and supplied with
appliances for measurement whereby
the density Of the immersed body may
be calculated, in the manner In which
Archimedes ascertained the density Of
King Hiero's crown Of adulterated gold.
So rapidly has the utilization of
water power for generating electricity
advanced that already tendency may
be seen to classify rivers and streams
according to their peculiar qualifica-
tions as furnishers of raw power. For
instance, French engineer has point
ed out that the glacial streams of
France and Italy, which have been so
largely availed Of for electric purposes,
are not well suited to supply power for
lighting stations, because their flow Is
at maximum In summer, when the
mountain SHOWS are melting whereas
the greatest demand for light is in win
ter. On the other hand, the slower
navigable rivers of France are better
adapted to furnish light, since their
flow reaches maximum in the winter
season.