SCIENCE NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 73

SCIENCE NOTES.

Where Comets Come From.— Professor Elis Stromgren, director of the Copenhagen Observatory, has carried out, with the aid of Mr J. Braae, an investigation to determine whether comets come originally from interstellar space, as has been commonly supposed, or originate within the solar system. His method of research involves the backward computation of planetary perturbations for eight comets. The conclusion reached is that all cornets heretofore observed have originated within the solar sjstem. The Number of Dark Stars.— It is reasonable to assume that the number of stars in space, having a temperature so low that their radiations do not affect our eyes or photographic platen, is extremely largo. That these invisible stars are far more numerous than the luminous stars Is suggested by Mr F. .A. Lindemahn, who attempts, in the Monthly Notices, a rough calculation of their relative number, based on the assumption that new stars (novae) are due to collisions. He concludes that there are about 4000 times, as many dark stars as bright ones. Flow Old Are Oysters?— As the result of examination of the surface lamellae of the shells of over 600 oysters of known age, and of various ages, from 16 months to six years, made by Miss A. L. Massy, and noted in the Scientific Investigations under the section on fisheries, the fob lowing conditions prevailed as to the relation between age and tho number of surface lamellae, or growth rings. Miss Massy states that an oyster* of 18 months or two summers appears to possess at least two rings, but may have as many as five; one of three summers has at least two rings, hutmay have six. A four-year-old oyster may have only throe rings, or may possess seven or eight. Why a Watch Varies.— Tho accuracy of running under very diverse conditions of so delicate a mechanism as the watch is one of the marvels of science, yet tho record of its deviation from simply hanging up at night comes as _ a surprise. On taking up tho work of the late Professor Milne, Mr J. J. Shaw was led to investigate the irregularity of tho Watch ho suspended from the rail of his bod at night. When suspended by the bow in the observatory, the watch began to vibrate like a pendulum, and the effect upon the balance wheel was shown in a gain of more than two seconds an hour. In another watch the rate of running was increased by more than seven seconds an hour. Tiro watch continued its quickened rate so long as it was hanging vertically, but changed to losing when placed m an inclined position. The experiments suggested that the varying rate of a watch when carried by different persons might be due to a difference in activity and rhythm of motion of the 5 individuals. Vitiated Air and Appetite.—It is well known that tho researches of such specialists as Dr Leonard Hill and tne staff of tho New York State Commission on Ventilation have discredited the old idea- that the air of occupied and illvcntilatod rooms becomes “ poisonous ” through containing tho products of respiration, or through any other change in the chemical constitution or its contents. Siuch ill-effects as may be produced by such an atmosphere are ascribed to temperature and humidity only. However, a recent paper by Messrs O. E. A. Winslow and G. T. Palmer brings to light a hitherto unsuspected effect of vitiated air, evidently due to its chemical rather than its physical qualities. In a scries of experiments several persons were kept in a room in which the supply of fresh air, as well as the temperature and humidity, wore under control Tho effects o£ ample ventilation and no ventilation, with constant temperature and humidity, were compared. After tho subjects had been in tho room from two to three hours, a luncheon made up of weighed portions of known calorific value was served, and the amount of food left uneaten was weighted to determine the difference in tho amount consumed. Tho general result of the experiments was that the air of an unventilated occupied room contains substances which in somo way, and without producing conscious discomfort or detectable physiological symptoms, diminish the appetite for food. Electricity in Hospitals.— The extent to which electricity enters into a modern hospital is brought homo very vividly in connection with the equipment of the Sick Children’s Hospital at Yorkhill, Glasgow, which was opened somo months ago by his Majesty the King. The buildings are electrically lighted throughout by somo 2000 incandescent lamps. The 13 lifts, and the whole of the laundry, kitchen, and other machinery, are operated by this agent, for which some 40 motors have been installed. Ventilation depends exclusively upon electric fans. The iotercommunicat-

ing telephone system has 30 stations, in addition to the postal instruments. The clocks aro controlled upon the magneto system) while further extensive _ and varied uses of electricity are shown in connection with electro-surgery, Rontgcn ray, high-fre-quency, and other special apparatus. The installation is considered to_ be one of the most complete in Groat Britain. Albumen from Ammonia and Sugar.— German scientists have discovered a new method of producing albumen which _is likely to have far-reaching results. Its immediate effect in blockaded Germany is to increase the consumption of simar and to make it still more valuable. The story of the discovery is told in the Kolmscho Zeitung (Berlin), which says: —“As is known, there are plenty of carbohydrates at hand in Germany* derived from potatoes, sugar, and food boots. So far, however. foodstuffs rich in albumen, such as barley, we have had to import. _ Now the Institute for Fcrmontation-industrie, at Berlin, has succeeded in inventing a nrocess by which feeding-yeast, with more than 50 nor cent, albumen, is produced from sulphate of ammonia and sugar. The now process is very simple, and existing yeast factories can start immediately the manufacture of the new article without changing their installation. By the now process 1001 bof sugar and 52H> of sulphate of ammonia yield 2701 b of dry feeding-yeast, containing 50 per cent, .albumen. Being in the position to produce ammonia from the nitrogen of the air, wo may say that in the future albumen will be made artificially from the air.” Germany imports annually about 6,000,000 tons of feeding-stuff's, principally barley for cattle. This amount of provender contains about 10 per cent., or 600.000 tons, of albumen. Accordingly, it would require about 440,000 tons of sugar to replace by the now' process the forage which cannot be imported at present owing to the war. The discovery will not only restrict future importations of barley, but affect many industries, albumen being used in making photographic materials (plates and films), calico printing, and in numerous other lines.