Evening star., 1938-12-28
Scientists
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Scientists
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dinarily appear in the next genera
ton. 1t can be made to appear,
the two scientists have found, by
subjecting the seeds of plants con-
tanning it to irradiation with x-rays.
Step Toward Synthesis?
The significance of the finding,
1t was pointed out, rests at present
chiefly in its implications. For one
thing. it may represent a step
toward the synthesis of chlorophyl
itself and toward an understand
ing of how it acts. There is also
the possibility of producing it in
other plants by similar seed X-ray
treatment. Thus there might con-
ceivably arise new and man-made
flora in the world with all sorts of
strange properties which can hardly
be rredicted-new fruits, new flow
ers, new poisons, new food values.
Chlorophyl is so basic in the life of
a plant organism that it is hardly
possible there would not be far
reaching changes in the plants be-
havior
Jimson weed, for example, pro-
duceS some very potent, Intoxicating
alkaloids which have been used ex-
tensively by primitive peoples and
have found some application in
medicine. One of the most imme-
diate prospects, DR.. Blakeslee point
ed out, is to find whether the same
alkaloids or others with far different
propensities are produced by the
plants with the new chlorophyl.
There is only one other substance
on earth which acts like chlorophyl
in making use of sunlight, purpGsh
pigment found in certain bacteria.
One other material, however, is
chemically almost indistinguishable,
although it does not fulfill quite the
same function. This is hemin, the
red coloring matter in the blood
which is absolutely the basic sub
stance of animal life. The mole
cule Of hemin has the property of
attaching to itself atoms of oxygen
and carrying them through the body
to keep the tissue cells alive. If
anything happened to the hemin an
animal could live only for a few
seconds.
A New Hemin, Too?
But If there can be a new kind
Of chlorophyl. the two scientists
pointed out today, why not new
hemin also? Perhaps it can be
produced by the same X-ray method
as establishes the new green pig
ment in plants. And with new
kind of hemin there would be, for
better or worse, new kind of ami
mails and a new kind of men. Thus
the discovery announced today may
be the key to the gates of a new
world such as it is impossible to
imagine.
The new chlorophyl, DR.. Blake
slee said, is apparently an 'isomer"
of the old with a molecule contain
ing precisely the same number of
the same kinds Of atoms but with
an entirely different arrangement.
Nature now uses about 1000, 900, :
600 tons of chlorophyl year to keep
the earth's life machine running, it
was reported by DR.. F. M. Schertz
Of Washington. He emphasized the
very close resemblance between the
green pigment and hemin.
Astronomical Problem Attacked.
Plans for sending an airplane
carrying crystal chronometer,
capable of receiving time signals in
thousandths of seconds, westward
from Washington at a speed kept
almost constant at 200 miles an
hour, in an effort to solve one of
the most puzzling questions in
present-day astronomy, were re-
vealed to the association today by
DR.. Harlan T. Stetson of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology.
A succession Of time signals sen.
out from the United States Naval
Observatory would be received by
this instrument and an automobile
record made of the times of their
arrival. After proceeding about
1000 miles inland the plane will turn
around and in turn send a success
sion of time signals back to Wash
ington to be received by the observa-
tory instruments.
The problem is to determine
whether radio waves travel faster
from east to west with the rotation
of the earth than in the opposite
direction. The project, DR.. Stetson
said, has already received the in.
dorsement of the American Geophy-
sical Unions Committee on Cosmie
Terrestrial Relations, set up for the
primary purpose of studying the
problem. for upon its solution de-
pend far-reaching conclusions.
Cities Distance Varies.
Ever since exact measurements by
radio became possible the observa-
ton has been made that London
and Washington are farther apart
at some seasons than others. The
difference amounts, at its maxi
mum, to about 20 feet. A certain
star should pass over the meridian
Of London at a certain precise time
This is observed and simultaneously
q radio impulse sent to Washing.
ton. The message. travelling al
!