SCIENCE & INVENTION.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 5 February 1923, Page 2

SCIENCE & INVENTION.

INFLUENZA CERM IS ISOLATED. HOPES OF FINDING ANTIDOTE. NEW YORK, Feb. 3. Hie Rockfeller -institute lias announced that two of its doctors, Frederick Oates, and Peter Olitzky, have succeeded in isolating the influenza germ. Experiments m antidotes and anti-toxino are now progressing. Hie germ is • called bacterium pneuinonsintes, because it weakens lung tissues, it is sc small that it requires to be inagnifie < l(k.u times before it becomes visible.—A. and N.z.. Cable.

DISCOVERY IN NEW ZEALAND SAND LONDON, Feb. 2. The announcement of the isolation of the new oxide “hafnium,’' from the black sand from New Zealand, by Doctor Alexander Scott in a London laboratory, was speedily followed by a statement by Copenhagen chemists that they had ascertained the existence of an unknown element of the metal group in winch titanium and zirconium occur, but they have not yet isolated the element. Dr. Scott has Deen analysing New Zealand black sand since 1913, but was too busy to examine the deposit which he,had been collecting, until he heard of the Copenhagen discovery. When the tests 'proved that, the oxide he had obtained was hainium, this achievement was regarded as the most important since the isolation of radium. It'is pointed out that the black sand deposit in New Zealand is seven miles long, and of a depth unknown. If hafnium is commercially valuable; it can be produced in bulk. It may be valuable in the making of gas mantles. Dr. Scott suggests that oberanium is a better name than hafnium. Dr. Scott was constantly consulted by Lord Carnarvon regarding the preservation of Tutankhamen’s relics.-—A. and N.Z. Cable. MUCH INTEREST. LONDON, Feb. 3, The discovery of the new element by Professors Coster and G. Hevesy, of Copenhagen, is arousing world-wide ‘interest. Dr. Alexander Scott examined the black sand of New Zealand, -find isolated a c.nnamon Coloured powder, which'proved to be the element of an atomic number 72. Dr. Scott says: “The Danish scientists got C:<, Ghost, but 1 got Hamlet.” He hopes that the clement may I,; useful for ineaudcscenl mantles, in .. unmeltable crucibles, as it is allied ro titanium. The isolated element Was the result of creating safid with strong sulphuric acid, boiling for three weeks. Finally, after a year’s occasional work, Dr. Scott obtained twenty grains of wheat. He thought it was a new oxide, and put it aside, until lie heaixl of the spectroscopic discovery of hafnium. He then isolated the new ■T tit.—A. and JjfcZ. Cable. [Dr, Alev-atafw Sbott, F.R.S., D.Sc., is PL-e’etor.dfiScieaiilje Research at .the British Museum.]