Evening star., 1953-11-21
Scientists Acclaim
DR.. CobIentz Here on
His SOth Birthday
By Nelson N. Shepard


Mars first fired the imagination
of fiction and science writer's,
was honored on his 80th birth
day yesterday at the National
Bureau Of Standards.
Recipient of congratulatory
messages from scientists the
world over, DR.. Coblentz genially
laughed aside references to any
MartianS. But he willingly told
how he started researches in the
early 1920s that determined for
the world that human life is
possible and probable on the
much-publicized planet.
While the public knows him
best. perhaps, for this intrigu-
ing scientific contribution, scien-
tigc men yesterday remem-
bered him for half CEN
tury of research that has
benefited an imposing list
of such branches of science as
astrophysics, erythemic reac-
tions, high temperature scales,
photo electricity, radiometry-
semi-conductors and ultraviolet
rays.
Pioneer on Infra Red.
Honoring his birthday, the
Optical Society of America has
devoted its November publica-
ton to papers on infra-red re-
search work, in which field DR..
Coblentz is recognized as the
pioneer. Leading scientists have
undertaken to show how his
work in this realm of science
has spread to other fields here
and abroad.
DR.. Coblentz Joined the staff
of the National Bureau of Stand
ards just so years ago as a phys
iciSt. He founded the radiome-
try section in 1905 and remained
as its chief until he retired in
1945. Since then the scientist
has continued to carry on re-
search at the Bureau of Stand
ards IN a consultory capacity.
At the time of his retirement
he was studying the radiation
energy in the. violet wave
lengths that prevent ricketts, and
similar disorders. This investi-
cation he completed in recent
years.
DR.. Coblentz has received
many awards. The most recent
was the annual award of the
Society for Applied Spectros-
copy in recognition of his pi-
oneering work in the field of
infra-red spectroscopy. The
award was presented this year.
Many Medals. i.
He also has been awarded the
Jansen Medal of the Paris
Academy of Sciences 1920, the
Scott Medal of Philadelphia
Q920, the Gold Key of the
American Congress of Physical
Therapy $3.50, the Rumford
Gold Medal of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences
(193D and the Ives Medal of
the Optical Society of America
u945).
The industrial applications of
his scientific research work are
just now being realized to full
extent. associates at the Bureau
of Standards said. Today the
infra-red absorption techniques
based on the results of his orig
inal work are used almost uni
versally in such fields as pc
troleum, plastics, rubber and
textiles for purposes ranging
from plant control to investiga-
tions of molecular structure.
DR.. A. v. Astin, director of the
National Bureau of Standards.
and associates presented the 30
year-old physicist yesterday with
a leather-bound volume contain
ing hundreds of birthday mes
sages" from leading scientists
and Government officials, includ-
ing many of the former in for
eign countries.
Measured Mars.
The Washington scientist has
been deeply interested in the
stars since he made his first
measurements at Lick Observa-
tory in 1914, he said in refer
ence to his studies of Mars. In
1921 the Lowell Observatory at
Flagstaff, N. Mex, invited him
to continue his work on the stars.
He took his first real measure
ments of Mars the following year.
DR.. Coblentz explained, in get
ting ready for future studies
during Mars period of maximum
brightness in 1924.
Then. in 1926, he said. his
measurements were directed at
finding out if the dark areas on
the planet were warm enough to
sustain life. In this, he was sue
cessful. The temperatures in the
dark areas on Mars during its
summer period, he said, are COM
parable to those on an April day.
1t was this simple announce
ment nearly 80 years ago that |
sent fiction writer's and comic
strip artists of into the flights
of fantasy that have gained mo-
mentum year after year.
"Just lot of talk" DR.. Cob
lentz says. They've got to write
and talk about something"
DR.. Coblentz's wife died two
years ago. She also had been
associated with the Bureau OF
Standards and wrote juvenile
stories. popular with readers
from z to 70 years of age"
friends said. The children's read
ing room of the Cleveland Park |
Branch Of the Public Library is
named in memory of his wife
the Catherine Coblentz room. B