Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1906 — Popular science. [ARTICLE]

Popular science.

One ot the moat powerful causes of disease In London, says Prof. Macfayden, Is the Inhalation of dust. The constant Inhalation of particles of dust, particularly at times of fog, has a deleterious effect on the respiratory functions, producing bronchitis, pneumonia and kindred diseases. A shrinkage In the world’s water supply Is predicted by M. Martel, the French explorer of caves. Through the erosion and corrosion of the earth’s surface, ho says, the water level Is being continually lowered, and, unless measures for preventing this are adopted, a large part of the world will, a few centuries hence, die of thirst. Helium proves to be the one permanent gas. Prof. Qlszewskl has suddenly released It from a pressure Of ISO atmospheres at the temperature where hydrogen Is about to solidify, but there was no sign of liquefying, although the temperature developed was estimated at 271 degrees below zero Cent This temperature is within two degrees of absolute zero. A step toward the adoption of the decimal system of weights and measures in Great Britain was taken by the board of trade a few mouths ngo. It was decided to authorize the preparation pf standard weights of 20 pounds, 110 pounds and 5 pounds each. There Is at present a 50-pound weight In use, and the success of thlß as a time and labor saver has contributed toward -the decision In favor of the new weights ahove named. In spectacular geology the Varau volcano la Samoa seems to have a place by itself. The crater Is seven miles Inland, and It forms lava mountains that are slowly carried great distances by the molten sea beneath, as many aa five or six of these shifting mountain chains seeming to be now In existence. The mountains may have a length of four or ’five miles, with a width of a quarter of a mile hi places, and a height.pf two hundred feet. Noting the rapid change la motive power, Bir Alfred Hickman states

that in his own works twenty-four valuable steam engines have been replaced within a few years by electric motors driven by gas engines. This is estimated to have brought a saving in fuel alone of $37,500 a year. If the future motors are to be driven by explosion, be suggests the use of powder or dynamite, and predicts fame and fortune to the man harnessing dynamite for power. In order to protect the interior of ships from the humidity caused by condensation upon the metallic walls during sudden changes of temperature, the Italian marine has experimented with,,a kind of hygroscopic varnish, or coating, the essential component of which is ground Cork, which is consolidated by pressure with copal and litharge, and applied to the Dr. Belli finds that the cork varnish absorbs the watery vapor of the atmosphere to the extent of eight or nine grams for every meter of surfuce exposed