BAFFLED SCIENTISTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17222, 4 October 1927, Page 11

BAFFLED SCIENTISTS.

AN EXPLOSION UNSOLVED. After a long and careful inquiry the distinguished scientists, Dr. J. S. Haldane, Hon. Professor and Director of the Mining Research Laboratory at Birmingham University, and Mr G. Scott Ram, have failed to solve the mystery of an explosion at a small shop in Beaconsfleld Road, Acton, England, on February 19, which resulted in the death of Mrs Watcrworth. The inquiry was made at the request of the Electricity Commission. The gas which exploded was produced by the burning of bitumen in an electric cable conduit through the short-circuiting of the cables. Before the explosion a bluish vapour was seen. The scientists are unable to explain how the gas was ignited, but in their report, just issued, they put forward the following theories: — 1. That the gas reached the house at so high a temprature that on mixing with air it exploded. 2. That there might have been sparking between the lead covering of the service cable and the iron tubing into which it passed inside the shop. 3 That the gas, full as it was of small particles, became electrified by friction as it passed into the house, and that a spark produced in consequence of this electrification, ignited the mixture. 4. That metal in a very finely divided condition present in the gas became incandescent as soon as it reached air inside the house, and this ignited the mixture of gas and air. “Whatever may have been the actual cause of ignition," adds the report, “the Acton explosion seems to show I’iat ignition does actually occur in tne absence of any of the ordinary sources of ignition.” The report states that all serious cults on mains have occurred with mains laid in bitumen and with direct current.