AIRSHIPS AND RADIUM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 14

AIRSHIPS AND RADIUM

SCIENTIST'S SOAP BUBBLES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, 18th March. "I will first fill a soap bubble with hydrogen, and when a lighted taper is applied to it, it will burn in much the same way as some of you have seen a Zeppelin burn." It was thus that Sir Ernest Eutherford introduced one of his experiments at the Eoyal Institution, when he delivered the second of his lectures on "Bare Gases o.f the Atmosphere." The taper was held to the bubble, and immediately there was a flame and an explosion. "I will now," he said, "fill a bubble with helium." In this case there was a mere sizzle, and the bubble itself extinguished the taper. Sir Ernest, having given these demonstrations, said that during the war there was a demand for helium to be produced in very much larger quantities, because it was an inert and noninflammable gas, and as such specially suitable for balloons and airships. In Canada there were certain natural gases which were drawn into mains and used for the free lighting of towns. It was known that some of these springs contained helium. An examination was made, particularly in the Province of Alberta, and one of the best sources was found to be near Calgary. It was ascertained that the helium itself was only a very small percentage, but by passing the gas though a liquefier and by other technical processes, it was possible in the end to obtain helium of 80 to 90 per cent, of purity. That was collected into balloons and still further purified by another process. Shortly before America came into the war they were also proceeding, with Government aid, to produce helium from their comparatively rich natural gases in Texas. Helium, he said, exists in the air in small quantities—about one part in 250,000 —and is also present in hot springs, such as those of Bath, and in the natural gaaes of Canada and United States, where millions of cubic feet are obtained every year. It had been estimated that from the Canadian natural gases that were actually escaping from the earth we could have retained, if necessary, about 10,----000,000 cubic feet of helium a year. That, said the lecturer, might be sufficient to fill a number of pilot balloons, but it would not be enough for a fleet of dirigibles. It was of interest, nevertheless,, to know that these very large supplies of helium were available in the world, and the question was whether they would be permanent. We could not tell whether these gas springs would continue for ever, or whether the world's snpply of helium, so far from being constant, would diminish. NEON AND ITS USES. By means of the loud-speakei and three wireless amplifying valves, Sir Ernest showed how an electric lamp filled with neon, another rare gas present in the air, can be made to generate oscillations within the range of audibility. By varying the resistance of the circuit, he produced in the loudspeaker rich-toned, musical notes of differing pitches, the effect being that produced by a wireless broadcast of a vio'oncello. As nn illuminant, neon gas gives a brilliant rosy light when oxcited by an electric discharge, and when mercury is also present the light becomes blui«h-violeU

" Madame" said Ebenezer reproachfully, "I've an idea you worked in a brickkila before you met'me. You certainly niake the genuine pre-war brick. But why hide your light under a bushel? Why camouflage it by giving it a coat-, ing of flour, and the norn de plume of 'Scones?' I know I've a rolled-steel lining to my stomach, but even MY rugged pancreas revolts when you bring in your steaming hod of indigestibles." - "H'ml"sniffed Mrs. Ecs disdainfully. "You'd' have something to swallow and something to grouch about if you had to cat the scones poor Hartoffies gets served up to him. Anyhow, I notice you haven't started taking Anti-Acido yet." "That'll come later if I'm still kept on this diet of bricks. I'll probably die a martyr to your cooking, and then what'll you do? Go out to work so that you can buy "flowers to put on my grave.on Sundays,.l suppose." Noticing a dangerous glint in Madame's eye and sensing a domestic tornado, we manfully swallowed the remains of our own scone and .interrupted. . ''::■■ "Speaking of bricks," we said. "I see Nees Hardware arc specialising on bricklayer's tools this week." "Are they?" said Eb'cnckcr immediately interested., "Trot out a few of their specials. . They'll interest Madame." Again the danger signal flashed from Mrs. Ees'S stormy blinkers. We dashed' on. "You judge Mrs. Ecs too harshly," wo said. "Now if you had to eat the scones my wife prepares you'd enjoy a feed of tram rails. Anyhow, lot's get down to items. This week's outstanding value is a W.H.S. Brick Trowel, 2031. for six and throe. '' A W.H.S. Plastering Trowel, twelve mch —five and seven. "A Bolster —two and cightpencc. "Lincpins—two and nine a pair. "A Brisk hammer —five and throe. "Chalk linos —sovenpence. "Joint rules arc marked from one and six' upwards. "Star drills —one and ton. Lower Ghuznco Street is the 'address, as, of course, you know." (It should be noted by all budding bricklayers that "brickies" who have nothing more to learn in the trade always make a bee-line for Necs Hard- - — —.- — —-,-vnd.)