Science Siftings

New Zealand Tablet, 18 October 1906, Page 35

Science Siftings

By '"* Volt •

Electroplating Fabrics. A method- has been perfected in France, by which laces and ether delicate fabrics can be coated with metal, gold, silver, nickel, and bronze. It. is a system of electroplating, and produces wonderfuiT and beautiful effects; The coating is so fine that not "the slightest irregularity can be perceived, and the laces remain soft and flexible. • , ' • A New Use for the- Phonographs Speaking the other day to students at Cambridge University on the use,-. of phonographs, Dr. Karl Broul hoped that it would not be long before they would be able to tai'iie away records — perhaps postneard- records —•of fine portions of impressive speeches delivered within the walls of the University . *It may be added that post-cards containing- living records for the gramaphone are. being, sold at present. - Fire-proof Scenery. M. Moissan, of Paris, has invented an absolutely fireproof scenery for oise in theatres, which has alreadiy bjeen aoiopte|d in several playhouses in France. He discards all paper canvas, and wood, and replaces them with metal, light galvanized iron , tubes, and metallic gauze. The tubing is for the framework, and the gauze is instead of canvas, and on it the scenes are painted. ~ ~ A New Lantern. A new form of lantern has recently made its appearance, which differs markedly both in its optical principles and in the results obtained from the ordinary projecting apparatus which the lecturer is accustomed to use. This apparatus projects on. a screen not only the image of a lantern slide, but-Jeflects as well pictures in books, . specimens of insects, or other natural objects, mechanical models and the like, * and this all in the natural colors of the objects. The lecturer is thus enabled to make use of the countless illustrations in magazines and books, of an innumerable series of color prints, sketches, photographs, and of working models that can be shown in motion on the screen. The Dust Nuisance. Nottingham has solved the dust nuisance to such an extent (says the 'Daily Mail') that although hundreds of motor cars are daily driven through or about the city, they now speed along without the suspicion of a dust-cloud in their trail. The corporation has found that calcium chloride, dissolved in the water with which the streets are sprinkled, keeps the roads perpetually damp. One dressing every three or four weeks is qjuite enough, even in the hottest weather. The cost of keeping a road free from dust by this method tar a year is about £60 per annum. - Utilising Niagara. H. W. Buck, an engineer, makes out that Americans have an expensive luxury in Niagara Falls. The total hydraulic energy of the falls, says Mr Buck, would represent about 3,500,000 horse-power. To generate one , horse-power -continuously for a year by • a steam engine requires about 14 tons of coal. ........ To generate, therefore, continuously 3,500,000 iiorsepbwer by. steam would .require about 50,000,000 tons of coal. , per year. .... , To generate electric power by steam with the" most modern -steam plant costs not less than £10 a horsepower^ a year, allowing for" fixed "charges and operating . expenses. Niagara power can be- generated and sold in large.. quantities for £7 a year less than is possible from the use of jcoal and the steam" engine. _ From the above it will be seen that if all the hydraulic energy of" the falls were utilised for power , purposes there would result to the' country an .annual saving of £7 a horse-power for 3,500,000 horse-powjer -- or £24,500,000, and in addition there would- be ,an - annual'saving in coal consumption of 50,000,000 tons. > This waste involved in prohibiting the developmentof Niagara/ power might be likened to a great con- ' flagration in which 50,000,000 tons of coal were annually consumed. Such a- conflagration might be one of , the most magnificent sights in the, wpxld, and , people might come from all "parts to view it, but the human race would: certainly, be justified infusing 1 every effort to stop the waste by putting out the fire.