Science in 1888.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 915, 13 September 1889, Page 9

Science in 1888.

Scientific Events of the Past Year that Deserve Special Attention. Bare mention of all the leading scientific events of 1888 would deserve more space than our columns afford, but it is possible to touch hurriedly upon a few that deserve special attention. The year has produced, it may be conceded, no epoch-making discoveries, though steady progress has been made in working towards the solntion of the many problems scientific men have been engaged upon. In astronomy much has been done to complete the international work of photographing the heavens. A result of the undertaking has been the discovery of a new nebula in tho Pleiades. The ultimate composition of the universe has engaged a great deal of attention. Norman Lockyer, proceeding from the basis of spectroseopical researches,' has reclassified the various heavenly bodies from the nebulas upward. His results led to an investigation by Professor George Darwin of the mechanical condition of a swarm of meteorites, in the course

of which the latter has endeavoured to reconcile the nebular with the meteoric hypothesis of the origin of the planetary system. The geography of the planet Mars, on which Schiaparelli and Terrotin have been so long engaged, was further studied by M. Terby, who concludes that a large area of the planet is now under the same conditions that prevailed on the Earth during the glacial epoch. Chemistry presents a host of new facte and theories. Mr, Ciodses has pro pounded new views as to the naturo of atoms, tending to show that atoms are, after all, inconstant quantities, not all of one pattern nor of one weight. Investigations by Mr Armstrong into the origin of colour and the constitution of colours convince that scientist that the characteristics of colours are closely associated with the fundamental constitution of bodies. The conclusions of Meyer and Reicke in regard to the shape of the atoms of carbon are considered extremely important. Physics, in certain of its aspects, is with difficulty separated from chemistry. Professor Lindemann has, in fact, attempted during tho past j'car a comprehensive dynamical treatment of physics and chemistry, looking to the iuclneiori of those two tranches of science in one department. The results of the researches of Prof. Helmholtz in regard to the nature and characteristics of gravity are substantially in accord with those obtained by Newton, whose Principia was published just 200 yoare ago. These results are rather negative, amounting to this only, that gravity is inherent in matter and incomprehensible. The question of the existence of oxygen m the Sun was brought again into prominence by certain experiments of M. Janssen of Paris. Not being satisfied that the oxygen lines in the spectrum (really came from the sun, M. Janssen ascended a mountain and tested the matter in the pure atmosphere at .that elevation. He found, as he had expected, that the oxygen lines belonged to our atmosphere. Other physicists, however, contend that his results are not conclusive. How impure our atmosphere is was shown by the resources of Mr Aitkin, who found that the particles of dust in the air number, occording to locality, from 521,000 to 489,000,000 per cubic inch. The investigation by Professor Schwalbe to ascertain the connection, if any, between seismic phenomena and other natural phenomena, points to the coueluaion that there is no connection—that the relative position of the sun, moon, and planets to our globe has nothing to do with the production of earthquakes. The theory of M. Faye, that cyclonio storms are due to commotions which originate in the upper atmosphere is still insisted upon, but with little encouragement from other meteorologists. Professor Parker, the biologist, gives it as the result of his investigations into the vestiges of reptilian structures found in the skulls of birds that birds arose .‘ by secular transformation,’ either from the lowest and most ancient of the true reptiles, or equally with reptiles, from archaic amphibia, low in structure, but ready to become reptile, bird or mammal, as the case might be. The Llittite problem has been brought-a step nea er solution by T. Tyler with the help of recent archaeological discoveries in Egypt. Another fact ot even more interest to ethnologists is the identity of the fellaheen of to-day with the bulk of the population of ancient Egypt, established by Professor Virchow as a result of investigations recently made by that savant in conjunction with Dr Schliemann. It is concluded, aIBO, that the Egyptiau has no negro affinities, but is allied to the Berbers. The Akkas of Africa and other pigmy races of the.fworld have been studied with much interest during the past year. The list of discoveries in geography is too long for recital. It must suffice to say that we are much wiser to-day in regard to the interior of Africa, Burmab, South America, Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland, New Guinea, and Australia than we Were twelve months ago. It remains to add, as a general camment upon the scientific situation, that there are gratifying signs of decreasing antagonism between the religious and scientific worlds, the tendeney being toward a reconcilia Jon of their views.— Baltimore Sun.