Evening star., 1933-12-14
NOTABLE PROGRESS
IN SCIENCE SHOWN
Secretary Abbot Tells Smith
sonian Regents of Re-
cent Studies.

Notable progress in scientific investi-
cations of far-reaching significance
were reported to the regents. of the
Smithsonian Institution at their annual
meeting today by Secretary Charles G.
Abbot
Chief Justice Hughes. chancellor of
the institution, and his fellow members
Of the Board of Regents. were told of
studies dealing with some of the basic
problems OF animate nature. of expedi-
tions to little known parts of the world
in search Of biological. geological and
anthropological material, and of rapidly
increasing museum collections.
Wave Length Measurements.
Among the problems to which special
attention has been devoted during the
year. Secretary Abbot reported. is that
Of the measurement of very long wave
lengths in the solar spectrum. which
appear to be intimately associated with
terrestrial mperature-especially to the
quantity and absorption of earth rays
by atmospheric ozone. 1t is believed
that the temperature Of the earth may
depend intimately on the variable ab-
sorption Of outgoing radiation from the
c.
An especially sensitive radiation meas
uring device has been invented by DR..
Abbot for the measurement of these
long wave lengths.
In connection with the institution s
study of the suns radiation, a new
solar observing station has been es
tablished through the support of John
A. Roebling in the Sinai Peninsula.
In the division Of radiation and
organisms. which is concerned witt,
determining the precise effects of
light and heat radiation on plants, the
year has been notable. it was reported,
for further perfection Of necessary
instruments. especially for CROWN :
important food plants, under rays Of
single color, measured intensity and
with measured humidity, temperature
and carbon dioxide
The institution, DR. Abbot reported
sent out or participated in z5 expedi-
tions to gather specimens and data es-
sential to the investigations in prog
ress. These parties worked in %
States of the United States, as well
ss in Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico
Yucatan, Panama, Ecuador and Siam
The most notable of these, tile
Johnson Smithsonian deep sea ex-
pedition. financed by Eldridge Il. John
son of Philadelphia. spent nearly two
| months in exploring the Puerto Ric-
deep and initiated one of the most
extensive programs of oceanic inves-
tigation ever entered into by the insti-
| tuition.
Still another expedition found i'm
| portant relics of early man In the Big
Bend region of Texas. Another
searched for rare minerals in the
| Rocky Mountains. Still another ex-
pedition in which the institution par
| ticipated studied the invertebrate life
of the Galapagos and other Pacific is
| lands Dr. Hugh NJ Smith continued
explorations in Siam, taking part ir
an expedition to the mountain-forest
jungle in the northeastern corner OF
that kingdom. DR.. D. C. Graham
Smithsonian collaboration, has resumed
geological explorations in Western
China DR.. Alan Motley, awarded the
institutions Walter Rathbone Bacon
travelling scholarship, reported sue
cessful season in the study of the
mollusks of Siberia.
348,012 Specimens Added.
A total of 348.0l2 specimens wa:
added to the collections of the Ma.
| tional Museum. A large number oi
| specimens were examined and reported
upon, exchanged with other institu-
tions and given to schools. Important
occasions in ethnology included art OBJ.
jects and articles from the Philippine.
and West Africa, and unique collection!
from the Chama Indians OF the Ucayal
River region of Peru and from severa
Jivaro groups of Eastern Ecuador. Tht
department Of biology received tota
of 295,782 specimens, more than dou'
AL .I@A~ h
previous year. A great many of thest
resulted from the Smithsonian John
son expedition. Among the outstand
ing acquisitions was the skull of {
bow-head whale from Point Barrow
Alaska, the only one of its kind in an!
American museum.
Twenty-Five specimens of meteorite
were added to the collection of tht
department of geology as were numer
Gus specimens of rare minerals, pre-
cious stones and fossils throwing ligh
on the life of the. world millions o
years ago. A notable event in the in
stitution's history was the removal t.
Washington of the 100000 Gallatl,
collection of paintings and art objects
comprising 1000 separate pieces. I'm
portant accessions from the Near ant
Far East were added to the, Free
Gallery collections and archaeological
work continued in China. Among tn
significant Smithsonian activities wer
those dealing with the archaeology ant
cthnology OF the American Indians
carried out by the Bureau OF Americal
Ethnology.
At the National Geological Park, owe
1900 animals were added to the collec
ton by gift, purchase. and exchang
and 1,l00 were lost through death an
exchange, leaving the Zoos population
, at the end of the year at 2,4s6 animal
The total number of Zoo visitors wa
2,403, $50.