Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-25
'|LUCIFERLN," A NEW LIGHT,
HEATLESS AND PERMANENT,
DISCOVERED BY SCIENTIST
Artificial Illumination May
Be SuppIanted in Time by
Substance Extracted From
Shells Of Sea Fish

PRINCETON, N. j., April 22.-
The dawning of an era of perpetual
illumination was seen by scientists
today in announcement, by Professor
E. Newton Harvey, of Princeton uni
versity, that he had developed a con-
tinuous cold light, called "Lucl'
ferin."
This is a step which science re-
CARDS as equal in Importance to IN
vention of the wireless, the tele-
phone, telegraph, monograph, ar
plane, automobile and other modern
devices. Continuous cold light even
tually will do away with all forms
of artificial illumination, according
TO belief Of scientists. 1t Will pc
possible for a man to carry poIIle
of light in his pocket. Permanent
globes of light will be suspended IN
the streets, in public buildings ana
in residences.
Just at present, of course, the new
discovery has not reached anywhere
near that stage OF development. Tx
hibited by Professor Harvey it had
the appearance of a small blue tame
Pickering in water in flask. How
stage of development now, that the
monograph was when it gave forth
faint scratchy sound, and the
movies were in the days when they
were jumpy blurs, hard on the eyes.
The new substance burns forever
with a cold, blue light. Professor
Harvey calls it a protein which he
has succeeded in isolating, after
eight years experimenting from bac-
terra, fungi and insects.
IsOlates Substance
Once he had succeeded in isolating
the "Luciferin,'' Professor Harvey
was confronted with the problem of
making it permanent. 1t would glow
for a while, then flicker out. This
ever, it is possible to read by the
faint glow. 1t is just about in the
was because it burned only so long
as oxygen was applied to it, and the
oxygen also had the effect of de-
stroying it. Now Professor Harvey
has perfected a chemical process
whereby oxygen is separated from
the Luciferin Immediately after the
contact which produces the light,
and then joins with it again. This
produces continuous light rays,
without wearing out the Luciferin.
In it's present stage of development,
however, the light CLOVIS DINNER and
DINNER over a considerable period
of time, but fades so slowly that the
change is scarcely noticeable.
! This is overcome by occasionally
adding small quantities of luciferin.
Further experiments are expected
! to result in q method OF automati-
cally replenishing the luciferin, or
of making the luciferin repleniSh it.
self
Professor Harvey's experiments
started with fire flies and other in
sects which give forth light. How
ever, he took his greatest step when
in Japan he discovered a shell fish,
the size of a flea, which radiated
blue glow. Millions of these made
the sea blaze like fire. He obtained
quantity of these crustaceans and
used them in further experiments
which led to the isolation of luci-
ferin.
Material Plentiful
Material for the manufacture of
''luciferin" is being shipped to Pro
~fessor Harvey in the shape Of dried
crustacea. Each of these tiny dried
shell fish gives off light estimated
at one-thousandth Of one candle
power. By Professor Harvey's proc
ess, these tiny objects are con-
verified into luciferin. The supply of
raw material is unlimited, he said.
The sea contains billions Of the
luminous shell fish.
Scientists have been working on
the problem of continuous cold light
for many years. There have been
several premature announcements
that it had been perfected. Professor
Harvey's experiments were crowned
with success only when he discovered
the process of continuously oxidizing
the luciferin without killing it by the
action of the oxygen. 1t is far from
ready for commercial purposes yet,
Professor Harvey says. There may
be years of experiment before it can
be put into practical use.