Year: 1866

From the Scientific American.
| 1t two bodies were placed 10 space without
any force acting upon each other than their own
gravity, they would Immediately start toward
each other, and would rush together The sun
aud planets, which constitute the steller system,
to which our solar system belongs, are prevented
from running together into one mass by their
revolutions about each other. The revolutions
OF the planets around our sun, and of the satel-
iites about their primaries, have been ascertain
ed, with that wonderful precision which is the
just pride of astronomical science, and as.rono-
mers are now engaged in the sublime problem of
unravelling the revolutions Of the countless suns
that make up our stellar system. Already the
cluster of the Pleiades is indicated as the proxi-
mate locality of the centre around which our
sun, with his attendant planets, is sa eeping his
vast orbit; and it is suggested that it is proba-
bly, the common centre of the orbits of all the
sans of our stellar system.


If the force of gravity extends across the in
conceivable spaces which separate the several
stellar systems of the universe, those systems
must rush together unless they are held apart
by revolutions around each other.


If light we're an emanation, as held by New
ton, the spaces between the solid bodies of the
universe might be absolutely empty; and in that
case, the revolutions of the bodies around each
other light 60 forever. On the other hand,
if light is vibration in subtle fluid the fluid
must obstruct the motions of bodies revolving
in it, and they must finally come together in
one mass. The experiment so ingeniously de-
vised by Arago, and carried out with such hon
orable regard for the frame of its designer by
Messrs Foucault, Fizeau and Bereque, to deter
mine whether there is a difference in the veloc-
ty Of light in its passage through air and water
has demonstrated that light is vibration. 1t
follows from this that, as far as light extends
space is filled with material fluid which resists
the motion of bodies revolving in it, and bodies
within this space must gradually wind their way
inward, and ultimately come together into one
mass.


The moon must be drawing very slowly nearer
aud nearer the earth and the two bodies, in the
far distant future, will come together The
solid crust of the earth will be broken up by the
shock, an immense quantity of heat will be gen
Grated by the destruction of the moons motion,
and the two bodies will fuse together into one
molten globe. AS the new and enlarged earth
is cooled upon its surface, second series of
geological deposits will be constituted, accom-
panied, perhaps, by strange and inconceivable
forms of animal and vegetable life.


At the same time, the earth is winding its
way inward toward the sun, and must ultimately
fall an inconsiderable pebble, into the vast glow
ing mass The same fate awaits all the plan
nets, and our solar system must one day be but
single globe. When this globe is cooled to
the right temperature, it may be covered with a
multitude of inhabitants, and astronomers may
rise who will watch its revolutions among the
associated suns of our stellar system. If their
knowledge and intellect are equal to the science
of our astronomers, they will foresee the ulti-
mate coming together of all these suns into one
common globe. And not this only, for they
will predict the final coming together of all the
stellar systems Of the visible universe into-one
mass of matter.


When this mass is first collected, it will be
intensely hot from the destruction of motion in
the several suns and systems Of suns they
come together. The heat will be radiated out
ward into the universe, and the one mass Of
matter will be gradually cooled. During the
interchange of heat, light, electricity magnet
ism, and other imponderable forces that is now
upon this earth. AS the cooling proceeds the
action of these forces will diminish; when 977
degrees is reached, light will cease and darkness
will fill the universe. AS each vibration of heat
leaves the material mass, it will expand outward
at the rate of 1872, 900 miles per second in all
directions, in the form of swift swelling hol
low globe. When the temperature of absolute
cold is reached (-493-2 degrees,) the last
vibration of heat will leave the mass of matter
and will expand outward through all ininity of
space and time.


Supposing, however, the ethereal fluid which
fills the visible portion of the universe is limited
in extent, that the last vibration of heat will
reach its boundaries and cease, what then be-
comes of the force of the universe and of the
doctrine of the conservation of force.