Evening star., 1934-06-19
BY THOMAS r.. HENRY.

The northern lights may afford
science a clue to the nature and
origin of the natural currents of cleo
tricity-the so-called earth currents
which flow continually in the crust
of the earth.
Systematic comparisons by W. j.
Rooney of the terrestrial magnetism
staff of the Carnegie Institution of
Washington, of the records from the
United States polar year station at
Fairbanks, Alaska, show a close con-
nection between the aurora and these
disturbances In the flow Of earth cur
rents, which are often severe enough
to disrupt service on grounded tele-
phone lines.
Mathematical analysis of the rec
ordS indicates that at least half the
effect manifested in these disturbances
can be attributed either to the aurora
or to an unknown common cause for
both phenomena. When the auroral
displays are brilliant and the colorful
rays weave and dart in the Northern
sky the electrical effect is most pro-
nounced.
In such cases rapid and violent
fluctuations in earth currents we're
found not only at the polar station,
but also as far away as the magnetic
observatory Of the Coast and Gf0dftlC
Survey at Tucson. Ariz.. where con-
tinuous records of earth currents are
secured. In exceptional cases the dis
turbance was found to be recorded
as far south as the magnetic equator,
as shown in the records obtained
from the Carnegie Institution station
at Huancaye, Peru.
Known Chemicals Make Up
Far-Flung Universe.
The whole universe, at least so far
as it can be observed by human in
struments, is chemically identical, ac-
cording to the statement of DR.. P. w.
Merrill, Carnegie Institution astrono-
mer, as a result of the studies con-
Quoted at the Mount Wilson, CALI,
Observatory.
The same chemical elements are
found everywhere in the solar system,
DR.. Merrill reports, with little evi-
dence of the existence of any which
are unknown on earth. The proper
tions may be mixed differently in
different kinds of stars, but ne can
find no evidence of any departure
from the table of 90 elements from
which is made up everything on
earth. The only likelihood of new
kind of element, apparently, is in
those portions of creation which as
tronomers have not examined.
Curious Arctic Fish
Has Thick Skin.
Six specimens of the elephant fish"
"a strange creature hitherto unknown
to science-have been Identified by
Prof. Carl L. Hubbs of the University
of Michigan in the fish collection OF
the Smithsonian Institution.
The fish has just been described as
a. new genus by Prof Hubbs on the
basis of a single specimen collected at
Kodiak Island, Alaska. 1t now ap-
pears that it was collected first ap-
proximately 80 years ago by DR.. Leon
hard Stejneger. head curator OF
biology of the Smithsonian Institution
The creature is one OF the most
curious of North American fishes. 1t
was called elephant fish" by DR..
Hubbs because of the very rough,
tough, thick skin and the apparent
extreme clumsiness of the body, both
characteristics of the elephant. 1t
must not be confused with the "ele-
phant fish of Africa" fresh water
fish with an extension of the head
that looks like a trunk.
Elephantichthys as the new fish is
known might be likened to thick
leather bag about eight inches long,
stuffed loosely with vital organs. 1t
has cartilaginous rather than a bony
skeleton. Laid on fiat surface out
of water it flattens out. To a certain
extent it is compressible in the hand.
1t is almost mollusk-like in the soft
ness of its body.
The elephant fish" is member of