Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-04-01
klna> Science
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The boiling-points of metals have
not hitherto been very accurately as
certained Recently H. c. Greenwood
had undertaken a new investigation of
this subject, and he gives the follow
ing results for certain Well known
metals: Aluminium, 1900 degrees G.;
copper, 1910 degrees c.; iron, 2,450
degrees c.; lead 1925 degrees c.; sill
yer, 1856 degrees C.; tin, 2,27O de
grees.
Lord Dudley the Goyernor-General
Of Australia has headed a movement
for persuading the federal government
to establish in Australia a solar OBJ
seryatory to act in concert with those
now in operation in England, India
and America. 1t is pointed out that
there is a great break in the chain of
these observatories, extending between
California and India, and covering a
distance of $50 degrees of longitude
The proposed observatory In Australia
would serve to fill this gap. Moreover,
it would possess special value from
being located in the southern hemi-
sphere. With its aid a continuous Sc
ries OF observations of the sun, ex-
tending throughout the "a hours, could
be made.
Among the most interesting of Amer
lean birds is the great yulture called
the California condor, which rivals the
famous condor of the Andes in size,
averaging Az feet in length and 10
feet in spread of wings. 1t nests in
wild and inaccessible places in the
mountains. Its eggs measure AZ by
2la inches. and are very rare in col
Iections. Prof Vernon i. kellogg calls
attention to the fact that this bird car
ries two mallophagan parasites which
are common to it and TO the two other
great vultures Of the American cor
dil1era the Andean condor and the
Linp.yulture. whose combined range
extends several thousand miles north
and south But the parasites are wing
laes whereas the vultures represent
tbrae separate genera. OF which the
individuals are particularly non-gTega-
rious How. then, have they come into
the nossession Of identical parasites?
professor Kellogg believes that the eX-
nIanation must be that the parasites
infested an extinct common ancestor OF
tho three related types of birds, and
hove narsisted. practically unchanged,
~, its now divergent descendants,
Invention during the next two or
tbraa centuries, says Prof. John g.
NcKindrick. will probably be in the
dirartion of initiating the wonderful
oconomy. and the simple, direct meth
"a. ~ nature. Take the electric eel
re electric organ is in no sense d
s.,rs ge-battery. but a contrivance by
mich electric energy is liberated at
tho moment when IT is required. At
rssr the organ shows so small an cleo
trouofive force that good galvanO-
meter is required TO detect II, but
sudden nervous impulse from the cells
sninal cord raises a potential Of many
volts. with very little heat. and so
small an expenditure Of matter as to
DEFY the most expert chemist to weigh
# Firefies. glow worms and many
deap-sea fishes produce light without
heat at q cost which would make the
Drice of wax yesta an extraFagant out
Law" The organic chemist requires all
the resources Of bis laboratory, with
high temperatures and potent agencies.
70 produce alkaloidal substances which
planrs make at a low temperature and
by slow processes.
Even the honest pretzel is crooked