Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-16
AMERICAN SAVANTS
MEET AT CAPITAL
National Academy Of Sciences
Begins Three-Day Session
at Museum.
NEW THEORY ON CRATERs

That volcanoes probably are hotter
at the surface than they are at lower
depths-contrary to present beliefs and
theories-and that atoms, once believed
to be the irreducible minimum of in
flnitesimaiity, in reality are regular lit
tie solar system, having a central body
with several score Of satellites revolv-
ing about It, were ideas advanced at
the opening session of the American
Academy of Sciences at the National
Museum this morning. The meeting is
to continue this afternoon. with morn
ing and afternoon sessions tomorrow
and an afternoon session Wednesday.
Speaking on tho role OF the gases in
volcanic activity, DR.. Arthur l.. Day,
director of the geophysical laboratory
of the Carnegie Institution, described
work done at the crater of kilauea, In
Hawaii, where samples of gas were cap
tured from red-hot lava before the gas
reached the air. Laboratory study OF
these gas samples, DIR. Day said. made
1t appear probable that considerable
part Of the heat necessary to maintain
an open lava basin like Kflauea in fluid
condition is supplied by the chemical
said, it may follow that in times OF
great volcanic activity temperatures at
the surface are much higher than the
temperatures deeper down.
Prof. William Albert Noyes OF the
University of Illinois told how for a
century scientists believed the atom
was the smallest thing that could ex-
ist. Today. however. he said. it Is
known that each atom is a system in
itself. similar to our own solar system,
with a central body and from one to n
hundred smaller bodies revolving
around it. The differences between hy-
drogen, oxygen. iron. gold radium. etc.
al n 10
Of the central nucleus and in the num-
ber and arrangement of the little satel-
lites.
Paper by Prof. Nicholson.
Prof A. A. Nicholson. head of the
department Of physics of the Univers.
ity Of Chicago. who is to receive the
Draper medal for physics at tomorrow
evenings session. discussed this morn
ing the result Of recent Investigations
as to the tides in relation to the rigid
ity of the earth, the latter, according
to his findings, being about as rigid as
steel. Other speakers at this morn
ings session. with the subjects of their
papers, included DR.. William Morris
the American journal OF Science. who
discussed the coral growth of the great
barrier reef of Queensland, Australia;
a report on the study OF igneous rocks
Of the south Pacific. by DR.. ]. P. Tddings
Of the geological survey and Dr. E. w.
Morley Of Hartford, Conn; DR.. Charles
d. Wa1cott, secretary of the Sn.ithso-
nian Institution. and an authority on
the fossil life now found only in cer-
tain ancient rock formations. who re-
ported on his Identification OF a geo
logical zone In the Canadian Rockies.
and Dr.. w. B. Cannon. Psychologist of
Harvard University. a student Of the
factors Of digestion. who presented an
entertaining article on the nature Of
thirst.
Papers at Afternoon Session.
This afternoon Edwin F. Smith of the
Department of Agriculture read a pa
per on the resemblance of crown gall
to cancer. Others on the program were:
r. J. Anderson and Graham Lusk-
THE Influence Of Diet Upon the Heat
Production During Mechani Work in
the Dog" Jacques Loeb and j. H
Northrop-"What Determines the Nat
ural Duration of Life?" A. G. Mayer
Biographical Memoir of William
Simpson" Benjamin Boss-"Biograph-
ical Memoir of Lewis Boss" First Will
liam Ellery Hale lecture, by Edwin
Grant Conkiin. professor of zoology,
Princeton University; subject. Meth
DDS and Causes of Organic Evolution"
At o'clock tonight the members of
the academy aretto be hosts at a re-
ception to be given in the Smithsonian
Institution.
Tomorrow mornings session is to in
clude papers by Simon Flexner. 7. S.
Citizens S. j. Meltzer, Charles B. Dav-
enport. Henry Fairfield Osborn, w. V.
King Frank r. Little. Herbert J.
afternoon session tomorrow is to be
devoted to a presentation of the work
of the National Research Council, fol-
lowed by general discussion.