Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 12, 22 March 1906, Page 29

Science Siftings

By 'Volt'

A New Explosive. A new explosive, called vigorite, has been perfected in Switzerland. It burns in the open air without exploding, is not affected by friction, shock, or concussion, nor is it injured by wettins, or freezing. And yet, according to its inventor, it has a strength about ten times greater than any other explosive. Paper Kettles Preparations have been made to furnish the soldiers of the German army with paper kettles. It is understood that the new devices are a Japanese invention. Although the utensils are made of pliable paper, they hold water readily. By pouring water over them they can be hung over the fire without burning for a length of time sufficient to boil the water. One kettle can be so used ab)out eight times, and the cost is only a penny. The chief advantage in favor of the uniqjue receptacles is that they are much lighter to carry than anything else yet devised. A Novel Lighthouse. The most extraordinary of lighthouses is to be found on Arnish Rock, Stornoway Bay — a rock which is separated from the Island of Lewis by a channel over 500 feet wide. On this rock a conical beacon is erected, and on its summit a lantern is fixed, from which, night after night, shines a light which, is | seen by the fishermen far and wide. The way in which this lighthouse is illuminated is this : On the of Lewis is a lighthouse, a/nd ifrom a window in the tower a stream cf light is projected on to a mirror in the lantern on the summit of Arnish Rock. Cannon Carved in Rocks. When the island of Malta was in possession of the Templars those knights defended their forts by the use of cannon cut into the solid rock. Each was capable of containing an entire barrel of gunpowder, and could throw ten thousand pounds of projectiles. As these natural cannon could not be aimed, fifty were cut cut of the rock guarding , the various channels of approach, and the vessels of that time were unable to approach within their own range before being; annihilated by these huge weapons of defence. Although the fame of these cannon was spread far and wide, they were not duplicated elsewhere, and they remain the only rock cannon of which there is any record. The Tailor-Bird. The animal world is still a mystery, and the admirable instinct of certain birds 'astonishes us without our being able to give a plausible explanation of their intelligence. Who showed birds of passage theirf route ? Who taught thet swallow the art of construction ? Who taught surgery to quails and snipes that are sometimes found with a bandage or splint for a broken limb ? The swallow builds 'houses '-and lother birds know tiow 'to sew. Such are the bamgalies, of India, whose 1 nest is covered wiih a kind of sack made of leaves sewn together, their leaks serving as needles and filaments of cotton and wool being utilised for thread. The whole is very firm, and cannot be torn apart without the aid of scissors. The Common House-Fly. In ordinary flight it makes with its wings about fiOO strokes, -winch carry it five feet every second. But if alarmed, their velocity can be increased six or seven fold, or to 30 or 35 feet in the same period. In this space of time an Arab steed "would clear only 90 feet, which is at the rate of more than a mile a minute. Did the fly eqjual the racehorse in size, .and retain its present powers in the ratio of its magnitude, it would traverse the globe with the J rapidity of lightning. Flies at best are not desirable visitors in our houses, but it is evident that they act as scavengers on a tremendous scale by devouring obnoxious substances, which might be productive of zymotic and other diseases. It is also evident that if we were to keep our homes absolutely free from all impurities, we should not be so much troubled by these visitors. Flies will not remain long in a house tlat has nothing to feed them.