SCIENCE SIFTINGS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 54

SCIENCE SIFTINGS

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'’ Microbe Manufacturers.. - -X •<A new microbe has been discovered whereby 10,000 tons of waste hops can be made to yield annually half a million gallons of alcohol suitable for motor spirit. It is a British discovery, and another proof of the value of chemical research. - r " -L Until two chemists made this discovery, brewers paid large sums every year for the carting away of their “waste” hops. - Now not only can motor spirit” be extracted from this so-called waste, but a further result is the manufacture of acetic acid, essential in many industries. - This useful microbe develops so much heat by its evolution that it kills all antagonistic germs and greatly stimulates the process of fermentation. Apart from motor spirit, 15,000 cubic feet of gas, suitable for internal combustion engines, is also rendered available by the process, and the whole discovery has aroused keen interest in the chemical and commercial world. What is Agar-Agar? Agar-agar is a pearly white, shiny product invaluable to medical research, to the hospital, to the kitchen, to the coton mill, and to the brewer. As a culture medium for bacteria it is unrivalled, for it is the only gelatinous substance that can stand the necessary temperatures. Medical men say it has chemical properties which will displace many drugs, and is without their harmful aftereffects. It is also very useful as a size for textiles, and for stiffening the warp of silk. The chef uses it as a thickener in jellies and soups, and the brewer for clarifying beer. Until lately almost the sole supply for the world came from Japan, but there is a movement for establishing factories elsewhere, although there are to-day over 600 in Japan alone. Its raw material is seaweed. The newest industry of Los Angeles is the manufacture of agar-agar, and the process of manufacture takes seventytwo hours. Steering the Boat. - * It is not as easy as it looks ot steer a rowing boat. Most people make the mistake of pulling the rudder much too hard to one side or the other when the boat’s head swings a little way out of the proper direction. The rudder acts as a brake, and if you keep on pulling it right over, you are giving the rower a great deal of extra work to do. Don’t wait until the boat is right off its course before you apply the rudder. Watch carefully, and directly it begins to swing a little to one side pull the proper tiller line quite gently. If you do this, the boat will never get far out of the straight line which its course should make. When you come to a bend, if you are on a river, do not wait until you are at the corner and then pull the line fiercely; apply gradual pressure just before you come to the turn, and bring the boat round quite gently. Straighten the rudder before the turn is finished. If you do not do this you will find suddenly that you are swinging towards the bank.