SCIENCE NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2598, 4 September 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCIENCE NOTES.

SEEING BY WIRE. The Danish brothers, Andersen, alreadv known as inventors, have invented an apparatus by the use of which it is possible to see what is going on at the other end of a telephone wire. The technical details of this invention are so far kept secret, but a Copenhagen newspaper recently employed an enginoer of repute to test, the brothers’ claim. This expert declared that claim to be justified, and described the process as entirely new and very simple. The process differs from tho Korn and other systems of phototelegraphy, in that it makes no use of protography, but transmits light and colors directly. A speaker at a telephone fitted with tho apparatus can be seen, and lie can show anything he likes across the wires. The inventors are described as sons of a saddler of Odense, and are aged 28 and 30. They have been eight years at work on the invention.

STONE MOVED BY THE SUN. v An interesting object is to be seen in a cemetery of Ohio—a large granite stone, wenghing two tons, in the shape of a ball which is gradually turning on its axis. _ , It is stated that during the last five years this ball has turned a fraction over thirteen inches. When the call was placed in position, an unpolished spot, six inches in diameter, was purposely left in the socket of the pedestal, whereon it rested. A little latter it was noted, with astonishment, that this spot was turning upwards on the south side of the monument. , This curious revolution of the huge polished ball, to lift which would require a large derrick, is supposed to be duo to the sun’s action, in the following ■manner. • The solar rays heating one side caused the ball to expand to a certain degree, whereas the north side, which rests mostly in the shade, does not expand to- the same extent, thus causing the ball to gradually shift its position by turning. AN ELECTRICALLY-LIGHTED RIFLE. A new type of army rifle is being manufactured at the Springfield armoury U.S.A., which differs from thhe ordinary in having electrically lighted sights for use at night. A battery is fitted in the stock of the rifle and serves to light a pair of miniature electric bulbs, placed at each, side of the gun barrel, at the extreme end. The button which controls the electric circuit is fitted on the trigger guard, and when the operator presses this button the miniature lamps serve to light the rifle sight. The lights themselves are shielded from view. In twilight hours it is often impossible to take any aim with tlie ordinary rifle, although the object fired at, owing to its size, may be readily seen. By illuminating tlie sight in the manner just indicated, the shooter may aim quite accurately. The invention should be valuable for close-range fighting at night.

HUMAN HEART AS A POWER ENGINE. A great physician once remarked that, despite its complexity, there was no organ of the body readier to adapt itself to circumstances or more capable of repaying ordinary care than the heart. This is very true, and an appreciation of that fact should cause us all the more carefully to follow the wise man’s advice and to keep our heart with all diligence. When we have regard to the tremendous work the heart accomplishes, we might well, with Wosley’ say, “Strange that a harp of a thousand strings should keep in tune so long.” Estimated in scientific fashion, a man’s heart, in 24 hours, performs an amount of work which, if represented by the energy demanded for a big lift, would raise 120 tons weight one foot high. STEERABLE TORPEDO. ,

Mention lias already been made of a torpedo craft wbich can be steered, with accuracy by means of Hertzian waves. M. Gabet, the inventor, made some trials with it at Clialon-sur-Saone a, few months ago, and now it is at Maisons Laffitte, writes a Paris porrespondent. It resembles a small submarine. Over a hull 30ft in length is a. sort of deck of cylindrical shape, and above are a couple of masts, each provided with an acetylene lamp and connected. by a wire. In the fore part of the hull is a space for explosive matter, •which may amount to upwards of 900 kilogrammes. In the second compartment is the apparatus for the receptiou of the Hertzian waves, which can steer this odd ciait for a distance of seven kilometres. Behind it are the accumulators, and in the stern is a 200 h.p. motor, which works a reversible screw. M. Gab bet explains that the two lamps are attached to the tiny masts, in order to . enable the operator to ascertain "from his, position on land or in a boat tho natur<3 of the command received, by the craft, as tlieir lights undergo eclipses which o-ive him information several seconds before hand, that such or such a manoeuvre is about to bo effected, and this allows him- time to intervene and. to repair any error that may have been committed, or to cancel a disturbing wave emanating from a hostile station. Thus everything is provided for, so that the craft may advance steadily .and surely in the direction of the warship which it is to attack. When it touches the warship with the end of its deck cone, it blows up, striking the vessel under the floating-lino and under its principal' armour, but a big breach is made in the warship, too. Indeed', M. Gabet says that it can open a breach of sixty square metres in the hull of a battleship. Tlie inventor admits that his craft is a very complicated piece of machinery, and that it perishes with an attack. \ It? ‘will cost about £3OOO or so, but, as ho argues, this is a slight sacrifice when it is considered that it can sink a battleship costing between one and two million pounds and carrying a crew of 800 men.