The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1920-03-05
By Dr.. w. n. BaIlou

~ We could discover the secret Of the
lieht produced by the nrcny and by
= certain dccpsea fishes and other lumi-
nous organisms We could not only cut
down materially the high cost of living but
also provide n constant. dependable and
cheap source of illumination. Such dis.
coyery and It's application to commercial
use would be a greater step In progress
than was even EdIson's discovery OF the
electric light In 1873
The light we get at present at high cost
from electric and gas plants represents
only IL per cent OF the energy expended
In manufacturing Il. This means that s5
per cent Of the fuel utilized goes practi.
cally TO waste. As the annual consump-
zion OF fuel for light.making purposes goes
into the millions Of tons. It Is plain at once
what q saving and what reduction In the
price Of coal alone this would bring about g
The phosphorescent Ash and hrohies use
% per cent Of energy in the production OF
their illumination, Furthermore, par
,icle OF their light giving substance rrtains
its luminosity even when diluted in 1900.
900 times its bulk In water
Drs Maynard ~ Metcalf and loyt s.
Hopkins. Of the Obcrln University. Ohio.
have recently made the closest approach
10 the conquerlng OF this secret OF nature.
The result Of their work 20 far is set forth
In a bulletin by the United States National
Museum. In this bulletin the scientists
describe several kinds OF extraordinarily
luminous organisms which exist In masses
IN all OF the salt waters Of tho world, and
which they describe as 'the most brill
inntly luminous OF all marine organisms'
They have also isolated the organisms
which produce this light, and efforts are
now being made 10 analyre them fully with
view OF producing them synthetcally for
everyday use in lighting
This light. 1t has been found. Is not only
entirely heatless. but actually produces
simultaneously with II a,lower temperature
than tho surrounding medium This ex'
traordinsry quality OF cold light has been
Investigated by william W. Coblenz In his
exhaustive study OF the hrefy. published
by the Carnegie institute OF Washington
DR. Cobleni, in writing OF this extraordi.
nary phenomenon, indicates that the ennis
sion Of light from the peculiar substances
involved may be said 10 be accompanied
by an actual absorption OF heat. For eS'
ample. one freHy flashing eighty TO ninety
times Q minute caused cooling eject OF
Hve 10 six ceptimetres aefection In deli.
cate instrument used TO measure heat
Btiil another specimen flashing three times
a second gave a maximum cooling dehec'
tion OF six to seven centimctres" THIS
quality Of hestless light is one OF the most
haflins to science
The researches OF Drs Me,ealf and Hop
kins we're made upon 2f3 colonies OF these
maslmum lishtsiving organisms. and from
them shs experimenters defined thirteen
distinct species and varieties.
The little animals are given the name OF
lyrosooa, and belong to n group known
% funicates. IN many WAYS they are most
Hsariy related 10 the ascidians. forms OF
lifs vhich vsrs the Art 70 sppear in water
an1 vhieh maaage0 70 survtve until now.
ntlssiS ablivious anA un1islurbcd by the
4 s1anoos ~ (c1vulsiess Of this evrrfic
AUepSA 1u11Ge 1afseR of millions Of years.
= onCo eoqmurA - lAsesr than .
~ J. ~ = : 91l1w & luniaoss
Ssss ! - 30. q :.